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Vineyard Playhouse

dance-nuno-duareA Vineyard experience doesn’t have to be all about the beach. After washing off a long day’s accumulation of sand, salt and oily sun block, why not discover the island’s superb theater offerings? Many visitors are amazed at the amount and quality of the professional entertainment available here.

One of the most established venues is The Vineyard Playhouse in Vineyard Haven, a non-profit professional theater offering a rich selection of plays year round. Their summer season consists of three main stage plays, beginning on June 17th withFLY, a new play about the heroic Tuskegee Airmen of WWII.  Call 508-696-6300 to reserve.

For a more relaxed evening, pack a picnic dinner and join them at The Tisbury Amphitheater for this year’s Shakespeare presentation of SHREW, which will be performed every Wednesday through Sunday at 5 PM (weather permitting) July 22 – August 9. Tickets at the box office only. Also at The Amphitheater, The Fabulists, fun for the whole family, Saturdays at 10 AM, July and August. You can get the full schedule and full information at The Vineyard Playhouse website.

Also, not to be missed, is The Yard in Chilmark. Established in 1924 by Patricia Nanon, it originally began as an outlet to bring talented choreographers to the island. Now, under its current director Wendy Taucher, the theater has expanded to include world class events of music, opera, and an artists’ program throughout the season, with many free family matinees. The Yard kicks of its season on June 26 with an evening of dance, dessert, and champagne. Call 508-645-9662 for reservations or go to The Yard website for full schedules and information.

So swim, bike, and knock yourselves out during the day, then clean up, sit back, and prepare to be surprisingly and delightfully entertained all evening by some of the best theater available anywhere.

Image courtesy of Nuno Duarte

 

Spend a Day at the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest
See the Next Big Thing at a Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival
A Guide on How to Get to Martha’s Vineyard
A Look at the History of Our Edgartown Hotel
Celebrate the Season | A Guide to Christmas in Edgartown
Where to Get the Best Lunch in Edgartown
Go Exploring with the Best Martha’s Vineyard Tours
Treat Yourself to Fine Dining at the Top Edgartown Spots

kids-rainConsidering the total amount of rainfall on the Vineyard this June, I’m hoping that the subject of this blog will soon be moot. However, my car mechanic tells me he remembers a Vineyard summer one year that never happened.  So, just in case…

Imagine you are finally here, under the roof you paid for three months ago and looked forward to with such gleeful anticipation, but it is the third day of rain, and if you hear ”Mom, what can we do?” one more time, you are going to go jump off Big Bridge at the state beach and continue swimming out to sea. Or maybe you happen to have a little one who, for some reason, just doesn’t like sand between her toes. Do not despair. There is life beyond the beach for our younger visitors and peace of mind for their parents.

I’ll start right here in Edgartown. Have a real farm experience, complete with crops and livestock at the Farm Institute in Katama. Visit as a family or sign the kids up for one of the Children’s Programs, for ages 2 – 17.

Every week, the Edgartown Library on North Water Street has Toddler Time for ages 1 – 4, and Story Hour for 3 – 5 year olds.  They also offer special events, such as learning the phases of the moon using Oreo cookies or the Bear’s Picnic, that you can bring your favorite stuffed pal to.

The Martha’s Vineyard Museum has Kid’s Arts and Crafts each week and also have special events, like Archaeology for Kids.

If the rain lets up a little in the evening, grab everyone and go on the MV Trustees of Reservations (Not-So-Creepy) Creatures of the Night Family Hike.

And that’s just Edgartown. Featherstone Gallery in Oak Bluffs has Children’s Artsweekdays from 2 to 5 PM. There is also Children’s Art daily at the Stone Gallery in West Tisbury. The Vineyard Playhouse’s Summer Stars Theater and Art Camp in Vineyard Haven is a favorite of 9 -14 year olds, and The Yard in Chilmark offers Creative Theater, Music and Movement. And don’t forget the MV Adventure Camp or tennis lessons at theVineyard Tennis Center. I could go on and on.

So don’t let a little drizzle put a damper on your family vacation. By the time the sun comes out again, you and the kids will be totally exhausted from all these activities and ready for a lazy day on the beach again.

 

Spend a Day at the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest
See the Next Big Thing at a Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival
A Guide on How to Get to Martha’s Vineyard
A Look at the History of Our Edgartown Hotel
Celebrate the Season | A Guide to Christmas in Edgartown
Where to Get the Best Lunch in Edgartown
Go Exploring with the Best Martha’s Vineyard Tours
Treat Yourself to Fine Dining at the Top Edgartown Spots