Boston, September 16, 2025
News Summary
Boston’s 2025 theater season will feature high-profile shows, including the 2024 Tony Award® winner for Best Musical, THE OUTSIDERS. The season will open on October 13 and includes a variety of plays and musicals across multiple venues. Major productions feature ensemble-driven storytelling, recognizing local talent and community engagement, while providing diverse programming that caters to all theater enthusiasts.
Boston
Boston’s 2025 theater season opens and closes with high-profile shows and a slate of acclaimed productions, highlighted by the 2024 Tony Award® winner for Best Musical, THE OUTSIDERS. The season features new musicals, returning favorites, ensemble-driven plays, and a series of awards and recognitions that underscore the city’s active theater community. Key dates include an opening night on October 13, 2025 and a season closing on the same date, with many productions running across multiple venues in the city.
Top-line details
The season centers on a mix of newly staged works and established plays. THE OUTSIDERS, based on S.E. Hinton’s novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s film, features a book by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine, music and lyrics by Jamestown Revival and Justin Levine, and direction by Tony Award® winner Danya Taymor. The production is set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1967 and explores themes of self-discovery, friendship, family and belonging.
Major productions and programming
The season’s lineup includes a range of plays and musicals that will run at several Boston venues. Key productions listed for the year are:
- Sojourners (Mfoniso Udofia)
- John Proctor Is the Villain (Kimberly Belflower)
- Leopoldstadt (Tom Stoppard)
- Trouble in Mind (Alice Childress)
- The Antelope Party (Eric John Meyer)
- King Hedley II (August Wilson)
- The Minutes (Tracy Letts)
- Laughs in Spanish (Alexis Scheer)
Several notable runs and events are scheduled across Boston venues through late 2025 and into 2026, including Mamma Mia through October 6, 2025 at the Citizens Opera House, the National Ballet of Ukraine on October 10, 2025, a Rocky Horror Picture Show stage performance on October 25, 2025, and & Juliet from November 5–17, 2025 at the Citizens Opera House. A centenary celebration by the Martha Graham Dance Company is planned for November 22–23, 2025 at the Cutler Majestic Theater.
Awards and recognition
The season includes notable awards and special citations recognizing sustained excellence and community contributions. Kathy St. George will receive the 2025 Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence. Special citations are being presented to several local organizations, and the 2025 Elliot Norton Arts Education Award will be given to Rehearsal for Life. These recognitions reflect both artistic achievement and community engagement within the theater sector.
Directors, company trends, and community focus
The 2024 season acknowledged several directors for their work, including Dawn M. Simmons, Margot Bordelon, Brooks Reeves, and Mariela López-Ponce. Programming trends show a renewed confidence in staging larger-cast productions and a return to ensemble-driven storytelling after the COVID-19 pandemic. The theater community has emphasized collaboration and collective effort as central to mounting new and revived works.
Upcoming events and venue specifics
The Citizens Opera House will host additional programming, including a run from March 31 to April 12, 2026, at 539 Washington Street. The primary address associated with season operations is listed as 106 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116. For ticketing and box office inquiries, the theater ticket office phone number is (888) 616-0272. Audience members seeking the latest deals and updates are encouraged to sign up for TheaterMania’s newsletter.
How the season matters
The combination of award-winning musicals, established dramatic works, dance performances, and post-pandemic ensemble productions demonstrates a broad and active performing arts calendar. The programming mix aims to serve diverse audience interests and highlights the city’s continued role as a regional theater hub with national connections.
Contact for further coverage
For additional information on Boston theater happenings, the contact provided for further coverage is Don Aucoin (email: donald.aucoin@globe.com).
FAQ
When does the 2025 theater season open and close?
The listed opening night is October 13, 2025, and the closing night is also listed as October 13, 2025, with many individual productions running on different schedules before and after those dates.
Where are the main venues for the season?
Primary locations include 106 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116, and the Citizens Opera House at 539 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111. Additional shows play at venues including Emerson’s Greene Theater, Emerson’s Paramount Center, Huntington Calderwood, Cutler Majestic Theater, and others.
How can I buy tickets or get updates?
Ticketing inquiries can be made by calling the theater ticket office at (888) 616-0272. Audiences may sign up for TheaterMania’s newsletter to receive deals and updates about upcoming shows.
What is THE OUTSIDERS production?
THE OUTSIDERS is the 2024 Tony Award® winner for Best Musical, adapted from S.E. Hinton’s novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s film. The book is by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine; music and lyrics are by Jamestown Revival and Justin Levine. The production is directed by Danya Taymor and set in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1967.
Who received major honors this season?
Kathy St. George is the recipient of the 2025 Elliot Norton Prize for Sustained Excellence. Special citations and the Elliot Norton Arts Education Award for 2025 recognize several local theaters and education groups.
Quick reference table
| Item | Date(s) | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season Opening & Closing | October 13, 2025 (opening and closing dates listed) | 106 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02116 | Season-wide scheduling varies by production |
| Featured: THE OUTSIDERS | 2025 season | Various Boston stages | 2024 Tony Award® Winner for Best Musical; set in Tulsa, 1967 |
| Citizens Opera House Run | March 31 – April 12, 2026 | 539 Washington St, Boston, MA 02111 | Venue hosts multiple productions including Mamma Mia and & Juliet |
| Martha Graham Dance Company | November 22–23, 2025 | Cutler Majestic Theater | Centenary celebration with classical and modern works |
| Ticket Office Phone | (888) 616-0272 | Box office inquiries and ticket purchases | |
| Contact for coverage | donald.aucoin@globe.com | Contact provided for further theater information | |
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Additional Resources
- Boston Broadway: THE OUTSIDERS
- WROR: Boston Theater Hosts Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
- Boston Globe: The Year in Boston Theater
- TheaterMania: The Jury Experience
- Boston.com: Most Intriguing Performances in Boston Theater District
- Wikipedia: Theater in Boston
- Google Search: Boston theater news
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Theater
- Google Scholar: Boston theater
- Google News: Boston theater
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