Music and theater are alive and well on Cape Cod. In fact, with a rich history of live entertainment, arts and culture on Cape Cod thrive year-round. Scattered around the region, theaters, music venues, and arts centers feature such luminaries as Broadway actors, world-class musicians, and popular musical artists in intimate settings.
Our inn on Cape Cod is blessed to reside literally across the street from one of the most diverse cultural centers in the area, the Cape Cod Cultural Center. Offering programs that span the spectrum from culinary arts to visual arts, the center is a valuable asset to the community and to our guests.
Let us introduce you to some of Cape Cod’s most popular arts and theater venues, presented here in alphabetical order, with contact information to access for more details. While this list is not exhaustive, it will familiarize you with the wealth of cultural opportunities that await you on your getaway to Cape Cod.
Academy Playhouse
120 Main Street, Orleans, MA
(508) 255-1963
Presenting a venue for theater and hands-on learning — the Academy Playhouse is a vital resource for arts and entertainment. The summer 2022 line-up includes musical comedy, animated films, and crowd-pleasing farce.
Barnstable Comedy Club
3171 Route. 6A, Barnstable, MA
(508) 362-6333
Celebrating 100 years of community theater, the Barnstable Comedy Club is the longest-running live theater on Cape Cod. Producing 4 main shows annually, including a musical and 3 theatrical performances, the Comedy Club is not a traditional stand-up comedy venue. Rather it considers itself a community theater, a gathering spot for locals and visitors alike.
Cape Cod Cultural Center
307 Old Main Street, South Yarmouth, MA
(508) 3947100
Building its programming around the theme of “all the arts for all of us,” the Cape Cod Cultural Center embodies its philosophy by presenting instruction, entertainment, and exhibitions that embrace literary, visual, and performing arts. Numerous galleries and artists’ studios share space with a performance hall and gift shop. Next door in the Education wing, you’ll find a culinary arts center, recording studio, pottery studio, and a digital arts studio.
Cape Cod Melody Tent
21-41 West Main Street, Hyannis, MA
(508) 775-5630
The iconic tent that looms above West Main Street in Hyannis, MA is a welcome sight for locals and visitors each summer. Each summer it presents its annual program of musicians and performers in a classic theater-in-the-round style. World-class entertainers and performers grace the rotating stage of the Cape Cod Melody Tent from June through September.
Cape Cod Theater Company
105 Division Street, West Harwich, MA
(508) 432-2002
This vital and vibrant theater in the heart of Harwich provides a medley of performances for a multi-generational audience. With a mission to educate, inspire, and empower students of all ages, the Cape Cod Theater Company has had a successful run for more than 70 years.
Cape Playhouse
820 Route 6A, Dennis Village, MA
(508) 385-3911
This small-stage summer theater venue has been bringing Broadway stars to Cape Cod since its inception in 1927. Billed as the “place where Broadway goes to summer,” the Cape Playhouse is the longest-running professional summer theater in the country. Among the names featured on the playbill throughout the years are Betty White, Julie Andrews, Henry Fonda, and Ginger Rogers.
Cape Rep Theater
3299 Route 6A, Brewster, MA
(508) 896-1888
This theater company, composed of local talent, produces 4-5 indoor shows throughout its season, as well as a summer series of children’s plays in the outdoor theater. In addition to live performance, the Cape Rep Theater provides professional instruction for aspiring actors and playwriting classes for anyone with a desire to try their hand at writing for the stage.
Cape Symphony
744 West Main Street, Barnstable, MA
(508) 362-1111
Providing a rich array of music and dance, the Cape Symphony strives to present an eclectic program of performances. Under the management of the artistic director and conductor, Jung-Ho Pak, ticket holders will be entertained by classic and contemporary performers throughout the season.
Cotuit Center for the Arts
4404 Falmouth Road (Rte. 28), Cotuit, M
(508) 428-0669
Educate, entertain, illuminate, and inspire are the guiding principles of the Cotuit Center for the Arts. Offering an extended array of classes in a variety of media, the center’s hope is to be a hub for students, performers, artists, and audiences from around Cape Cod. The gallery features rotating exhibitions that are free and open to the public. Tickets for concerts and special events can be purchased online.
Eventide Theater Company
713 Main Street (Route 6A), Dennis, MA
(508) 233-2148
The Gertrude Lawrence Stage, located in the Dennis Union Church Fellowship Hall, is the home of the Eventide Theater Company. Founded in 1998, this company strives to present issue-oriented theatrical performances by local artists including concerts, plays, and arts-related lectures. The stage was named for the famous English actress, popular at the turn of the century, who called Dennis home when she wasn’t acting.
The vast array of arts and culture on Cape Cod may astound you. Our very community-driven population continues to maintain and preserve a variety of cultural opportunities to inspire and entertain both locals and visitors. Come visit us soon at the Captain Farris House in historic Bass River and let us introduce you to the wealth of art, music, and theater that await you on this charming spit of sand surrounded by the ocean.
