The Cape Playhouse

39 Steps (seen on 8/31/2024) was outstanding! The actors, three of whom played multiple roles, were truly amazing!! However, if you're expecting a serious thriller, as the original Hitchcock film was, you should be aware that the Monty Python runs strong and deep in this version, making it laugh-out-loud funny! Seeing a production at the Cape Playhouse is both stepping into a wonderful slice of history and seeing a broadway-quality summer show all rolled up in one glorious experience! Highly recommended!!

What a great place to see a show. I recently saw Anastasia and was blown away by the pageantry and the use of props on such a limited stage size. The actors were Exceptional. I was so impressed, I went back to see it a second time with a friend. I'm a season ticket holder as of this year and will be again if this is the caliber of shows that appear there !

A good selection of musicals every summer for many years. Recently attended Rent and it was outstanding. Housed in an old Cape Meeting House. You must be able to climb stairs and tolerate uncushioned seating. Lovely to spend intermission outdoors on a summer evening!

This place was an insanely cool place to watch a play. Old wooden beams everywhere. Highly recommend.

Historical building. We didn't know that until we were there. Not a lot of leg room for tall people but cool venue. Great show.

"Old Cape Cod." The vibe. Specifically chosen events here draw you into the storyline keeping your interest enjoyably laser focused from the beginning to the end. Arrive 45 min early. I'm now a local resident who's been enthralled by the many masterpieces here for decades, bringing my family & guests from out-of-state. Casts for musicals & plays maintain joyfull, happy, authentic expressions full of energetic, radiant energy that flows into the experience of the audience for the full duration. My most recent occasion was "Come From Away." The ensemble is true top-notch talent. There's an alternative entry on the side for easy access from even just a simple printout of the tickets. At all of my attendances there's been no noisy talkers during showtime because they've all been engaged with the performance. There's always lively music with great acoustics. It's a great view from section A to the back balcony vantage point. The Cape Playhouse is celebrating 100 years in 2027. It's full of history with many well known famous actors having had their very first start here. This is a little known highlight of Cape Cod that yearns for a deserving endowment & a wider recognition. Upon returning home I've felt I was actually part of the resonating action. I've been to fantastic Rockefeller Center which was wonderful on all occasions but came home feeling like I'd only just observed something. Every New Yorker must include The Cape Playhouse in their vacation. Also, set-up & safely leave your own chair, towel or blanket at the Chatham Band concert every Friday night in the summer. Take a trip to Nauset Light Beach in Eastham to listen to the roar of the large waves pounding the shoreline & you might be lucky enough to view an occasional seal. The close growth surroundings of the beautiful, aromatic Cape Cod Rail Trail with birds chirping & crisp air can be ridden by renting from bicycle shops sprinkled nearby everywhere. Just shortly off the CCRT is the Salt Pond Visitor Center which has a water bottle fill-up station & very clean facilities open 24/7. Coast Guard Beach can also be reached from there on the hilly Nauset Bicycle Trail. There's plenty of parking at the Center for those who want to walk the same trail to the beach. Engineers might enjoy Marconi Beach which is on the CCRT going towards Wellfleet. Right next to the CCRT in Orleans is the Hot Chocolate Sparrow (written about in newspapers) which even has cheerful Tiramisu with whipped cream on the side (ask for it) & a piece of their chocolate on top. Also in Orleans is Rock Harbor with a large fleet of private charters for Striped Bass & Bluefish for anyone who wants a fishing trip where you'll be certain to take many photos. Some Captains will depart from Dennis at your request if it'll make your drive shorter. Skaket Beach (with no sharks) is best for children & has expansive tidal flats at low tide for walking. There's great lobster everywhere to dip in hot liquid butter. Ask for it to be cracked for you. Get yourself some local Cape Cod potatoe chips which have Nauset Light on them (the original chips - not the "low-fat"). Throughout Cape Cod it's much more scenic to travel on 6A instead of 6. It's normal to expect just a small amount of sand in your steamed clams (also dipped in hot liquid butter) because that indicates how fresh they are. Enjoy as many fresh lobster rolls you'd like all over the Cape. Go to parlors for ice cream cones of multiple flavors & sundaes with large varieties of toppings. Ask for Rum Raisin ice cream which's in a back room of some parlors if you'd like to indulge in my favorite flavor. When I used to drive to the Cape from PA I immediately caught the scent of the enchanting salty air as soon as I got on Route 6. The Cape Playhouse was always part of my vacation.

Visited today for the first time saw Came From Away. Absolutely an amazing and wonderful experience, incredible true story, what a GEM this place is. This venue Is a must visit if you are visiting Cape Cod. Can’t wait to go back.

Just went to a performance of Anastasia. The cast and crew were fantastic! I hadn’t been back to this theater since my grandparents took me as a kid and it felt like catching up with an old friend. What a place!

Second review. Second wonderful show. Waitress served up a great entertainment experience!

Truly love this playhouse and the productions are top notch. The new director of the theater is a wonderful new addition. The last two years have been amazing performances by NYC actors. Truly wonderful. HOWEVER, it is truly unbelievable that they have the most uncomfortable seating of any venue we have ever attended - and we are theater people. They are old church pews with a very minor cushions but with absolutely ZERO arms - thereby making it impossible if you have shoulder issues or simply any structural issues to get comfortable. I have seen people (including us) bring their own pillows and cushions. I have spoken to many other patrons and they ALL say the exact same thing "horrible uncomfortable seating" and this often keeps them from seeing more performances. For the price of the tickets, there should be some focus on the comfort of their patrons by management. It sadly keeps us from getting seasonal tickets because we just can't sit there during an entire performance without getting up and dealing with pain for a long time afterwards. I would donate a lot of $$$ if they were funding new seating. I think a lot of patrons would support this improvement if asked. I cannot believe the trustees of this venue have not redone or raised $ to create a more comfortable seating type for their clearly older clientele. Other Cape Cod venues have wonderful seating - the Playhouse could take a field trip and learn what works here.

This is a must do when on the Cape. What a cute theater. Beautiful inside and out. They have a lovely gazebo and two different areas to buy wine and snacks. The seats are wooden. I am guessing it is an old church, but they are cushioned. They were very comfortable. We saw Noises Off. Oh my! I don't think I have laughed that much or that hard in years. If I was going to be on the Cape longer I would have gone and seen it again. Next week is Death Trap. Hope to see you there!

They get one star only because they seem to have a Covid protocol where you have to show your vaccine passport but don't tell you that when you purchase a ticket. So if you show up with your ticket in hand and not a passport you can't get in! NO exceptions. The House Manager would not listen to any reason. Also, she explained that there will be NO refund! We'll see about that when the credit card company gets involved. If you have a Covid protocol that's fine, but tell people before they purchase a NON REFUNDABLE ticket!!!!

Buyer beware. Second rate money hungry theatre. Not friendly, and don't care about their patrons. Very uncomfortable seats. 50 year old shows. Just another Cape Cod tourist trap. Also, masks are required, so if you wear glasses be prepared to watch the show through your fogged up glasses. Lots of better theaters on the Cape to go to.

We went to the Wednesday matinee of "Jersey Boys." It was awesome! The cast were professional actors, several of them had played their role on Broadway. We sat in the "loge" which was the balcony on the right side, right about the stage. The view was perfect. However, to get there you had to climb rickety stairs. The chairs were uncomfortable straight back wicker chairs. The show was so amazing that I didn't mind that I was sitting in discomfort. Someone posted that the tickets were expensive. First of all, this was not local theater where the actors aren't career actors; and secondly, you would pay three times this in NYC. One of my friends went to the Thursday Matinee and told me that on Thursdays the actors come back out to the audience for a Q&A session. Someone asked what it cost to put on this production. They were told $450,000. So I guess they have to charge enough money to put on this show. I have had the good fortune of seeing musicals in London and NYC. This show was as good, if not better, than those productions. I hope they will bring it back next summer. If they do, I'll go every night they play. It was that good!

How ridiculous to be requiring a mask! Get over it! We live in a free country and masks should be optional! Follow the science...masks and shots don't prevent you from getting the virus.

Signed my grandchildren up for theater camp. Camp was canceled and for over three weeks I have tried calling. I have left messages. I have tried messenger. No one person has tried calling me back. Looking for my $100.00 deposit. It is truly so disappointing. 8/15 still no one calling me back

This theater has a wonderful history but extraordinarily uncomfortable seats! The atmosphere makes it a true theater experience.

Sometimes change is good... Sometimes it is not. They have lost this season ticket holder. The staff changes, quality of production, and shows chosen are too much of a change. Where are the big musicals? Where are the stars? Where are the ushers to keep the doors closed during the performance?

The Cape Playhouse has a charm all of it's own. It's entirely made of wood and looks like it could go up in flames pretty quickly. I wouldn't smoke in it. However, the playhouse is pretty neat looking. We saw "An Evening with Lucille Ball". Intermission is neat. Everyone is asked to go outside (hope the weather is nice for you) and they have a small concession stand where you can buy ice cream, lemonad, cookie, water, etc. They have a nice little gazebo that you can sit in as well while you wait for Act II!. The only reason I can't give this place 5 stars is that the seats (at least in the balcony) were completely UNCOMFORTABLE. Even with the cushions. Otherwise, I highly recommend this playhouse. It's cute, charming, and definitely has character and history.

everything we saw during the regular season was great, That being said, Don't waste your time or money on second city. very poor, no laughter in the audience, forced and political Wait till next season and save yourself $50.

The shows are great and the actors are very talented. I just wish it was so hot inside.

America's Oldest Professional Summer Theatre, the legendary Cape Playhouse has been bringing professional Broadway actors to Cape Cod for 80 years. Here's where Bette Davis got her start--as an usherette. (Does anyone out there remember her?) Years ago, I saw a wonderful play with Rex Harrison and Cloris Leachman (can't remember the name of it). It's always a thrill just to go to this theatre because of its history. Never mind the hard seats.

Have been a regular visitor over the years. I recently attended a production of Steel Magnolias. As always it was top notch. The cast was spectacular, the lighting and music were fantastic. The whole evening was wonderful. If you are looking for a nice summer evening please check out the schedule and buy a ticket. The website is good too, easy to use and efficient.

Great off Broadway environment. Really impressed with real live professional actors up close and personal. Bumped into Joanne Worley in the gift shop and helped her select a scarf. She was simply gracious and funny.

Saw Altar Boyz last night and loved it! Great energy, singing and dancing! Treat yourself to a fun filled evening!

Attended opening night of Sylvia last night. It was wonderful! A play that was beautifully written and incredibly well executed. These fine actors had the audience laughing all evening.

i went to the performance of "Hairspray" last year and really enjoyed it. I recently went to "legally blonde", not as impressive as hairspray but still great. The performances are fantastic. The problem is the venue. In previous years ive sat in many different sections including the balcony. There's really no great seat. I was in the second row balcony this year and i would've been just as good behind a wall. The only thing i got out of the performance was the sound because i couldn't see anything. The seating is very uncomfortable and to be honest, i feel like the place is going to collapse when i walk inside. Acting and singing is great I just wish the actors had a better place to perform their talents.

The Playhouse is fun. We try to go each summer. However, they are NOT ADA compliant with the parking. There are rules for the number of "Handicap parking" slots you are required to have. The rules are based on the total number of parking slots. If there are over 400 seats in the playhouse and you figure, based on that numb er, there should be 200 plus cars in the lot. Obviously the "infield" parking cicle does not bold that many so people park all over the place. WHat I am trying to say is that they need to increase the "Handicap" slots to double what they have in order to be compliant. SO the management needs to check it out, use the proper number of "handicap" slots and avoid being sued - which will be next on my list.

Charming venue, nice ushers, not crazy about the two shows I saw this season ("Almost Maine" and "Pump Boys") but at least they are trying to mix it up and not do one musical after the other like in years past (which I like but not a continual diet of them!) I heard from other patrons that the musical earlier in the season "1776" was the best they'd ever seen. The upstairs is too steep and the seats too uncomfortable for the less than footsure (anyone over 70 should be downstairs) but the history and quality of the overall venue is second to none. This is, by the way, the oldest continually running summer theatre in the US! So it's worth the trip and putting up with a few creaking seats in my opinion.

We are season ticket holders (Orchestra section) and have come back this year after a couple of years of absence. Prior to our absence we were season holders for 15-20 years. The first show this year was great and we enjoyed it so we were ready for a good season and getting back in the enjoyment of good theater... Until Saturday's (7/11) performance. The high speed ceiling fans ruined the evening. We asked the usher when were they going to turn the speed down on the ceiling fans so that we would not feel like we were in a wind tunnel. She said that they would most definitely would have the speed (and noise) turned down when the show began. It was suppose to be "automatic" Folks all around us huddled under shawls, sweaters and jackets. My hair was moving in the wind!!! Noticed that the folks all around us had the same problem. Hoping all through the first act and watching the clock time that the wind would stop we left at intermission. We sure hope that management will correct this problem or they will loose us as season ticket holders and those around us. The show was great and the performers were outstanding, but too bad it was all ruined by the noise (times we could not understand "the man in the chair") and speed of the winds.

I love this place. The only reason I can't give it 5 stars is because the seats, even with the cushions, are uncomfortable. When I was little my mom would take me to the childrens' theatre here, and I definitely recommend doing that, although sometimes the characters can look a little scary to a kid, so be careful with that. When I got a little older my parents took me to the real theatre here. This definitely prepared me for when I saw shows on Broadway when I was even a little older. It really is like a little taste of that down the Cape. I love the old feeling of the place too, like you've kind of gone back in time, with the old lights flashing for intermission, and the look of the concession stand outside. It's nice to get a snack and just walk around outside during intermission, and try to hang out in the gazebo. When I was little I used to climb trees around there too in-between meeting the actors. This is always a place I check to see what's playing at before it's time to head down the Cape. Oh! Another problem can be the parking though. I recommend showing up a little early so that it won't be, although then you may have to wait when the show gets out, so be prepared for that.