Rochester has a robust performing arts scene! Here you’ll find plays and musicals performed by high school and college students, local professionals, and touring companies.
I’ve noted some of the upcoming productions, and will periodically update them since I’m as interested as you are in live theater. Even though some of the productions may have passed, it gives you a sense of what is out there. Dig in and see what’s coming soon.
Theaters
- Kodak Center
- Blackfriars Theatre
- Rochester Broadway Theater League
- Geva Theatre Center
- Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
- Downstairs Cabaret
- Multi-use Community Cultural Center
- CenterStage Theatre
- Cobblestone Arts Center
- The Kingfisher Theater
- Lyric Theatre
- Hochstein School of Music & Dance
- Bristol Valley Theatre
Children’s Theater
- OFC Creations
OFC Creations Theatre Center, Brighton - TYKEs (Theater Young Kids Enjoy)
JCC CenterStage - Spotlight Theater for the Performing Arts
- A Magical Journey through Stages
- Terry Fyke’s Main Street Players
The Norman Howard School
Companies
- OFC Creations
OFC Creations Theatre Center, Brighton - Eastman School of Music
Eastman Theater free, almost-daily performances - Hourglass Play Reading Series
Blackfriars Theater - Kalidas
India Community Center - Out Of Pocket, Inc
venues vary: Blackfriars, MuCCC - Rochester City Ballet
venues vary - Greece Performing Arts Society
venues vary - Webster Theater Guild
Webster Thomas - Off-Monroe Players
Salem United Church of Christ - PUSH Physical Theatre
venues vary - Penfield Players
Penfield Community Center - Penfield Symphony Orchestra
Penfield High School stage - Rochester Community Players
MuCCC, Highland Bowl - Everyone’s Theater Company
MuCCC - Pittsford Musicals
Pittsford-Sutherland stage - WallByrd Theatre Co.
Shakespeare in the Park at Highland Bowl, Avyarium theater & performance space - Neighborhood Acting Company
Wayne Central High School Performing Arts Center - Perinton Concert Band
Minerva DeLand School, Fairport
High School Performing Arts
Each school is linked to their events calendar or performing arts department page, though I found it easier to contact the schools directly in some cases. Most calendars only list the date for “Spring Musical” or “Fall Play” but not the production title.
I intend to update this every school year, but if you’re here between updates, click through to view each school’s performance calendar. And, if you know about an event we’re missing, please contact us! We’re happy to update this information!
Many high schools offer a weekday performance to senior citizens for free, making this a cost-effect way to spend an afternoon!
2019-2020 High School Musicals
- Aquinas Institute
Nov Godspell
Mar A Midsummer Night’s Dream - Bishop Kearney
Oct 12 Angry Jurors
Mar Grease - Brighton
Nov The InComplete Works of Shakespeare: Some Comedy
Feb High School Musical - Churchville-Chili
Oct Clue
Mar Beauty and the Beast - East Irondequoit
Mar Footloose - East Rochester
Mar Wizard of Oz - Fairport
Nov The Odyssey
Mar TBA - Gates-Chili
Mar Les Misérables - Greece Arcadia
Apr Honk! - Greece Athena
Feb Cinderella - Greece Odyssey
Feb The Addams Family - Greece Olympia
Apr Matilda - Hilton
Nov Mamma Mia
April The Great Gatsby - Honeoye Falls-Lima
Nov Twelve Angry Jurors
Mar Bye, Bye Birdie - Irondequoit
Mar Beauty & The Beast - McQuaid Jesuit
Nov Shakespeare in Hollywood
Mar My Fair Lady - Our Lady of Mercy
Nov The Secret Garden - Penfield
Nov Born Yesterday
Mar Guys & Dolls - Pittsford-Sutherland
Dec Once in a Lifetime
Mar Pippin - Pittsford-Mendon
Dec An Unspeakable Triumph of Supreme Brilliance
Mar Rent: School Edition - Rush-Henrietta
Nov Anne of Green Gables
Mar Bye Bye Birdie - School of the Arts
Shows throughout the 2019-20 school year, including 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, It’s a Wonderful Life, Laramie Project, and Grease. - Spencerport
Nov Annie
Mar TBA - Webster Thomas
Mar The Music Man - Webster Schroeder
Sep Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Feb 6-8 Chicago - Wheatland-Chili
Mar Sister Act
Outside Monroe County:
- Wayne Central
Mar Sound of Music
College Performing Arts
- Roberts Wesleyan
- Nazareth College
- RIT Visual & Performing Arts
- University of Rochester Institute for the Performing Arts
- Monroe Community College
- The College at Brockport
- St. John Fisher
- Niagara University
Music Venues
Stages dedicated to concerts will be a completely new post someday soon. The Rochester music scene is vast, with venues for bands both big and small, indoor and outdoor, ticketed and free. I’ll mention only a few for now:
- Blue Cross Arena
- Abilene Bar & Lounge
- The Record Archive
- Montage Music Hall
- Lovin’ Cup
- Anthology
- Flour City Station
- Bug Jar
- Main Street Armory
- Johnny’s Irish Pub
- Fairport B-Side
- Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
- Pelican’s Nest
- Nashvilles
- Little Theatre
Rochester Music Festivals & Reoccurring Shows
- Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival
- Lilac Festival
- Fairport Music Festival
- Westside Music & Food Festival
- ROC the Park Urban Music Festival
- Party in the Park
- Rochester Summer Soul Music Fest
- Bands on the Bricks
- Concerts by the Shore
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Eastman Theatre is the primary performance space for Eastman School of Music students, home of the RPO, and host for world-renowned performances.
Are there other performing arts venues we’ve missed?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Your insight and experience is invaluable!
Would like to receive notices.
Thank you.
Love! Love!! LOVE!! Live Theatre and try to get to as many as I can..especially the HS plays with their great talented performances, but NEVER have found such a great compiled list as yours!! Have added it now to my “Theatre List” and will be checking back often to see what’s being offered and marking my Calendar! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING!!
I have found with most of these articles, if it doesn’t exist you have to create it yourself! I do my best to update the high school lists seasonally, viewing the new calendars online in September or contacting the schools directly if the musically isn’t specified. I’m so happy you find it helpful as well, Mary Anne!
Don’t forget WallByrd Theatre!
Great recommendation! I plan to see The Two Gentlemen of Verona this week at Highland Bowl.
The HS list is great!
One mistake is that McQuaid Newsies is March 13 – 16 2019, not April.
Thank you for the update, Jim!
What a great webpage! So helpful. The only high school i can think of I didn’t see is Bishop Kearney which i know is doing Oliver. Thanks again so much for compiling this.
http://bkhs.org/bk-life/bk-musical
Thank you for the recommendation! Of course, BK puts on some of the best musicals in the area!