Community Theater in the Open

Dynamic Youth Arts & Educational Programming

Youth Arts Collaboration

Theater in the Open

Theater in the Open is dedicated to bringing creative and innovative community theater to the cultural landscape of Greater Newburyport. They stage high-quality original productions each year for the enjoyment of the community and they are dedicated to theater that is free and open to everyone! Theater in the Open is headquartered at Maudslay State Park and they offer youth arts education programs in addition to the free outdoor performances for the community.

Theater in the Open has been bringing theater performances to the public since 1979 when Anna (Clopton) Smulowitz launched the Newburyport Children’s Theater & Arts Education Program. They have also been central to the local arts scene on the North Shore. Throughout their history, the organization has been deeply involved in youth arts education. They provide wonderful opportunities for young people to express themselves and develop skills in theater, dance and visual arts. Theater in the Open hosts workshops that foster constructive, positive, creative experiences for young people. Their highly respected Summer Arts Workshops, provide programming for children aged 5 to 17, offering kids a range of enriching creative opportunities.

In 2017, Theater in the Open was selected by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to be the Curator of the Maudslay Gatekeepers’s House. This means that for the next 20 years, Theater in the Open will remain in Maudslay State Park and continue their incredible performances and dynamic youth arts education programming.

Theater in the Open brings the Circus Smirkus Big Top Tour to the community each year. This is the biggest fundraising event of the year in support of Theater in the Open. Circus Smirkus is an original full-length show held under a European-style one-ring big top tent at Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm.

Discover Theater in the Open’s quality performances. Simply bring a picnic blanket to Maudslay State Park to watch the creativity of this talented community theater company on display!