85 Performing Arts Venues Around Rochester

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 past, it gives you a sense of what is out there. Dig in and see what’s coming soon.

Theaters

1. Kodak Center
2. Rochester Association of Performing Arts (RAPA, Kodak Center Theater)
3. Blackfriars Theatre
4. Rochester Broadway Theater League (RBTL, Auditorium Theatre)
5. Geva Theatre Center
6. Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
7. Downstairs Cabaret (Locations in Rochester & Brighton)
8. Multi-use Community Cultural Center (MuCCC)
9. CenterStage Theatre
10. Cobblestone Arts Center
11. The Kingfisher Theater
12. Lyric Theatre
13. Hochstein School of Music & Dance
14. Bristol Valley Theatre

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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 what the production title. I intend to update this every school year. Many high schools offer a weekday performance to senior citizens for free, making this a cost-effect way to spend an afternoon!

1. Aquinas Institute Nov 15-17, 2018 Pride & Prejudice; Mar 28-30, 2019 Into the Woods
2. Bishop Kearney Dec 7-8, 2018 Clue: The Musical; Apr 5-6, 2019 Addams Family
3. Brighton Oct 26-27, 2018 45 Seconds from Broadway; Feb 7-9, 2019 Newsies
4. Churchville-Chili Oct 12-13, 2018, 12 Angry Jurors; Mar 28-31, 2019, TBA
5. East Irondequoit Nov 15-17, 2018, TBA; Mar 21-23, 2019, In The Heights
6. East Rochester Mar 22-23, 2019, TBA
7. Fairport Nov 15-17, 2018, TBA; Mar 14-15-2019, Fiddler on the Roof
8. Gates-Chili Mar 21-23, 2019, Guys & Dolls
9. Greece Arcadia Apr 5-6, 2019, TBA
10. Greece Athena Feb 1, 2, 8, 9, 2019 TBA
11. Greece Odyssey Feb 22-24, 2019, TBA
12. Greece Olympia Jan 17, 18, 25, 26, 2019, TBA
13. Hilton Nov 16-18, 2018, Little Mermaid
14. Honeoye Falls-Lima Nov 9-10, 2018, The Curious Savage; Mar 21-23, 2019, The Addams Family
15. Irondequoit Nov 29, 30, Dec 1, 2, 2018, The Death and Life of Larry Benson; Mar 14-17, 2019, Hairspray
16. McQuaid Jesuit Nov 14-17, 2018, TBA; Apr 13-16, 2019, TBA
17. Our Lady of Mercy Nov 8-11, 2018, Little Women: The Musical; February 14-16, 2019, The Odd Couple
18. Penfield Nov 15-17, 2018, 12 Angry Men; Mar 21-23, 2019, Fiddler on the Roof
19. Pittsford-Sutherland Dec 13-15, 2018, Pygmalion; Apr 4-6, 2019, Evita
20. Pittsford-Mendon Dec 6-8, 2018, Clue: The Musical; Mar 14-16, 2019, Chicago
21. Rush-Henrietta Nov 1-3, 2018, TBA; Mar 21-23, 2019, TBA
22. School of the Arts Shows throughout the 2018-19 school year including Romeo & Juliet, Streetcar Named Desire, and Rent
23. Spencerport Nov 15-17, 2018, TBA
24. Webster Thomas Oct 19-20, 2018, South Pacific; Nov 16-17, 2018, The Admirable Crichton
25. Webster Schroeder Feb 7-9, 2019, Anything Goes
26. Wheatland-Chili TBA

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Companies

1. Eastman School of Music (Eastman Theater) free, almost-daily performances
2. Hourglass Play Reading Series (Blackfriars Theater) Feb 2018 Black Like Us
3. Kalidas (India Community Center)
4. Out Of Pocket, Inc (venue varies; Blackfriars, MuCCC) Feb 2018 Jake’s Women
5. Rochester City Ballet (venues vary) Feb 2018 Slavonic Dances
6. Greece Performing Arts Society (venues vary)
7. Webster Theater Guild (Webster Thomas) Jan 2018 Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
8. Off-Monroe Players (Salem United Church of Christ) Jan 2017 Foggerty’s Fairy
9. PUSH Physical Theatre (venues vary)
10. Penfield Players (Penfield Community Center)
11. Penfield Symphony Orchestra (Penfield High School stage)
12. Rochester Community Players (MuCCC and Highland Bowl)
13. Everyone’s Theater Company (MuCCC)
14. Pittsford Musicals (Pittsford-Sutherland stage)
15. WallByrd Theatre Co. (Shakespeare in the Park at Highland Bowl, Avyarium theater & performance space) July 2018 The Two Gentlemen of Verona
16. Neighborhood Acting Company (Wayne Central High School Performing Arts Center)

Children’s Theater

1. TYKEs (Theater Young Kids Enjoy) (JCC CenterStage) Feb 2018 Snow White
2. Spotlight Theater for the Performing Arts
3. RAPA Family Theater (Kodak Center Studio Theater) April 2018 Oliver
4. A Magical Journey through Stages
5. Terry Fyke’s Main Street Players (The Norman Howard School)

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College Performing Arts

1. Roberts Wesleyan Jan 2018 Anything Goes
2. Nazareth College
3. RIT Visual & Performing Arts
4. University of Rochester Institute for the Performing Arts
5. Monroe Community College
6. The College at Brockport
7. St. John Fisher
8. 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:

1. Blue Cross Arena
2. Abilene Bar & Lounge
3. Montage Music Hall
4. Lovin’ Cup
5. Anthology
6. Flour City Station
7. Bug Jar
8. Funk n’ Waffles
9. Main Street Armory

Music Festivals & Reoccurring Shows

1. Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival
2. Lilac Festival
3. Fairport Music Festival
4. ROC the Park Urban Music Festival
5. Party in the Park
6. Bands on the Bricks
7. Concerts by the Shore

Are there other performing arts venues we’ve missed?