Many theatre audiences may associate summer theatre in Ontario with the Stratford and Shaw festivals, the two largest repertory theatre companies in the country. But there are also dozens of other theatres across the province, many of which are preparing to raise their curtains on the summer season. Here are 10 productions to watch outside of Toronto and the Stratford and Shaw festivals.
Sister Act at Drayton Entertainment, Penetanguishene and Drayton
Yes, singing nuns. But no, this is not another revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music,” a perennial favourite among regional theatre companies. Rather, this is the Alan Menken musical “Sister Act,” based, of course, on the 1992 comedy starring Whoopi Goldberg, about a singer who witnesses a mob hit and is forced to take cover in a convent. This new Drayton Entertainment production, directed and choreographed by Julie Tomaino, stars Karen Burthwright (Broadway’s “Paradise Square” and “Jesus Christ Superstar”) as Deloris Van Cartier. From June 10 to 27 in Penetanguishene and July 2 to 26 in Drayton.
Sisters of ‘78 at Blyth Festival, Blyth
In 1978, some 80 women working at an auto-wiring factory near London, Ont. walked off the job to protest unsafe working conditions, poor pay and repeated incidents of sexual harassment. The job action, known as the Fleck Strike, lasted more than five months, and proved to be a seminal moment in history for the Canadian women’s movement and labour rights movement, eventually leading to updates to Ontario labour laws. It’s also the basis of Kristen Da Silva’s new historical drama, “Sisters of ‘78,” set to receive its world premiere at the Blyth Festival. From June 10 to Aug. 9.
Crees in the Caribbean at Lighthouse Theatre, Port Dover and Port Colborne
The Lighthouse Theatre in Port Dover and Port Colborne has long championed the works of Canadian writer Drew Hayden Taylor, whose long list of works include “Cottagers and Indians” and “Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth.” Next up at the festival: Taylor’s fish-out-of-water comedy “Crees in the Caribbean,” about a pair of Cree elders celebrating their 35th anniversary at a Mexican beach resort and the friendship they strike up with a young housekeeper. From June 17 to July 4 in Port Dover and July 8 to 19 in Port Colborne.
Something Old at Talk is Free Theatre, Innisfil
Talk is Free Theatre, one of the most exciting indie companies based outside of Toronto (though frequently bringing shows into the city), is set to wrap up its 2025-26 season in Barrie with Keara Voo’s “Something Old,” directed by the multi-talented Richard Lam. This world premiere, filled with cross-generational conflict, has a compelling premise: After she’s engaged, Lily dreams of throwing a traditional Chinese wedding, with the support of her grandmother. But Lily’s mother, Stephanie, has other plans for her daughter. From June 18 to 27.
Come From Away at Capitol Theatre, Port Hope
“Come From Away” is having a moment. Now that the rights to the hit Broadway musical are available for license, it seems every regional theatre company in Canada is clamouring to put it on. This year alone, you can find productions of “Come From Away” in London, Sudbury and Gananoque. But Capitol Theatre’s upcoming run this summer, directed by Rob Kempson and choreographed by Genny Sermonia, stands out because of its cast, including Julie Lumsden (Shaw Festival’s “Gypsy”) as Beverley, Beau Dixon (“Passing Strange”) as Oz and Donna Garner (“Once”) as Diane. From July 10 to Aug. 2.
Macbeth at the Tower at St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, Maitland
This abridged, 75-minute revival of “Macbeth” is unlike any other: It’s an immersive, walkabout production set at the 198-year-old Maitland Tower, a former flour mill that was once the second largest in Upper Canada. Director James Wallis’s staging moves between five locations, all within a short walk of each other and offering a highly intimate experience. The production is one of two Shakespeare plays being presented this year by the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival, the other being a new adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet,” featuring the music of Joni Mitchell. From July 24 to Aug. 7.
Wild Irish Geese at 4th Line Theatre, Millbrook
This ensemble play by Megan Murphy tells the story of the thousands of Irish immigrants to fled the famine and settled in Scott Plains — the area now known as Peterborough. After a sellout premiere last summer, “Wild Irish Geese” returns to 4th Line Theatre later this summer in a production directed by the company’s artistic director, Kim Blackwell. Like all shows put on by 4th Line, this remount will be presented on an outdoor stage at Winslow Farm. From Aug. 4 to 29.
Lungs at Yes Theatre, Sudbury
Former Tarragon Theatre artistic director Richard Rose will return to his hometown of Sudbury to direct Duncan Macmillan’s stunning two-hander “Lungs,” about a couple grappling with the ethics of bringing a child into an increasingly unstable world. Tender and mercurial, with dialogue punctuated with sharp wit, this 90-minute play stretches and compresses time. In his 2014 review for the Toronto Star, former theatre critic Robert Crew described the work as a “beautifully crafted love story that is not only intensely personal but also poignantly universal.” From Aug. 4 to 29.
The Last Five Years at Thousand Island Playhouse, Gananoque
Jason Robert Brown’s chamber musical “The Last Five Years” is almost Sondheimian in its sound and structure. At its centre are Jamie and Cathy, whose five-year love story (which ends in heartbreak) is retold from opposing perspectives: he recounts in chronological order, while she relives it in reverse. It’s a tender, at times slippery show but also one that feels deeply resonant. Thousand Island Playhouse managing artistic director Brett Christopher, who’s marking 10 years at the helm of the theatre, is set to direct this new revival at the company’s smaller venue, the Firehouse Theatre. From Aug. 4 to 30.
Suzannah at Here For Now Theatre, Stratford
Canadian director Peter Hinton-Davis, one of this country’s finest auteurs, is always one to watch — known for his bold esthetic paired with incisive textual analysis. He seems like the perfect fit to take on the Canadian premiere of “Suzannah,” a highly experimental drama by Norwegian playwright Jon Fosse about Henrik Ibsen’s wife, who had an immeasurable impact on the playwright’s life and output. Rosemary Dunsmore, Fiona Mongillo and Brianna Rodrigues will play Suzannah at various ages in this new production at Stratford’s small but mighty Here For Now Theatre. From Aug. 19 to 30.
