The Salem Playhouse

10/09/2026

Salem's darkest hours hold the greatest mysteries... 🔮 With renowned magician Caroline Gayle as your guide, uncover the mysteries of Salem at our exclusive Dark Séance experience. Limited tickets available. Visit https://www.salemplayhouse.org/dark-seance for more info!
Photo Credit: Courtney Brooke

10/07/2026

Free Sea Shanty Night at the Salem Playhouse Thursday 10/8 at 7:00pm with Crowninshield Punch. All are welcome!

10/01/2026

YOUR STORY. OUR STAGE.

Submissions are officially OPEN for LORE: The Stories of Salem. Live. Unfiltered.

This year’s theme:

“This year, I am thankful for…”

We’re looking for real people with real stories to share on the Salem Playhouse stage. No acting experience. No storytelling experience. You don’t even need a finished script.

Submissions are due October 13.
LORE takes the stage November 21.

Think you have a story worth telling?

Visit https://www.salemplayhouse.org/lore for submission details and The Laws of LORE.

LORE is a live storytelling event at the Salem Playhouse featuring real people sharing true, personal stories on stage. For our first LORE, storytellers will build their stories around the theme:

09/23/2026

DIRECTOR ANNOUNCEMENT

We’re excited to announce that Rachel Miller will direct our upcoming staged reading of William Shakespeare’s JULIUS CAESAR!

Rachel is no stranger to our Shakespeare productions, having previously appeared with us as Fabian in Twelfth Night and Stephano in The Tempest. We’re thrilled to welcome her back, this time in the director’s chair!

Our annual Julius Caesar staged reading has quickly become one of our favorite traditions, bringing Shakespeare’s story of ambition, loyalty, conspiracy, and betrayal to the stage just in time for the Ides of March.

And if you’ve been looking for an opportunity to perform but can’t commit to a full production schedule, this could be the perfect chance to join us!

Like our other staged readings, Julius Caesar will have only a handful of rehearsals, giving actors the opportunity to tackle Shakespeare, collaborate with other local performers, and get onstage without months of rehearsals.

PERFORMANCES: March 13 & 14

Audition sign-ups, audition dates, and rehearsal information will be announced soon!

09/21/2026

SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT 7

Love is in the air…and on Broadway!

This February, the Salem Playhouse is celebrating love in all its forms with an evening of some of our favorite songs from the Broadway stage.

For the LOVE of Broadway
A Musical Cabaret

Under the musical direction of Phil Naroian, For the LOVE of Broadway will bring together local performers for a night of songs about romantic love, friendship, heartbreak, family, unrequited love, and everything in between.

Because Broadway has written a song for pretty much every kind of love imaginable.

And we’re looking for performers to join us!

VIDEO SUBMISSIONS OPEN: November 1
VIDEO SUBMISSIONS CLOSE: November 14
IN-PERSON CALLBACKS: December 15
REHEARSALS: Tuesdays throughout January
PERFORMANCES: February 5 & 6

More information about video submissions, song selections, and what we’re looking for will be released as we get closer to November.

09/15/2026

SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT #6

Every person has a story. Salem has thousands. We want to hear yours.

Introducing LORE, a new live storytelling event at the Salem Playhouse.

The stories of Salem. Live. Unfiltered.

For one night, we’re handing the stage over to you.

On November 21, storytellers will take the stage to share true, personal stories built around one theme: “THIS YEAR, I AM THANKFUL FOR…”

Funny. Heartbreaking. Unexpected. Awkward. Inspiring. Profound. Completely ordinary. We’re not looking for professional actors or experienced storytellers. We’re looking for real people with real stories worth sharing. (although actors and storytellers are certainly welcome)

SUBMISSIONS OPEN: September 29
SUBMISSIONS DUE: October 13

Send us a 2–3 minute video introducing us to your story, along with a short pitch telling us why you and this story belong on the LORE stage.

Selected storytellers will work with us to hone, shape, and build their stories into a 6–10 minute live performance.

You don’t need a script. You don’t need acting experience. You just need a story.
This November, come tell yours.

09/09/2026

We are excited to announce the new Salem Playhouse Writer’s Group, a playwriting collective under the leadership of Salem playwright and theatre educator Brit Barone. This group will focus on fostering new works from individual writers, generating collaborative writing amongst participants, and editing works based on positive and constructive group feedback.

Writers of all experience levels are welcome! There will be opportunity to share previously-written selections, as well as plenty of prompts and activities to create new works.

The Writer’s Group will begin as a monthly meeting this fall, increasing in frequency in 2027 to build toward a showcase of new works. Join us for our first meeting to see if the Writer’s Group is right for you! There is no need to bring previously-written material to the first meeting. 18+ participants only.

Fall Dates:
Friday, 10/2
Friday, 11/6
Friday, 12/11

Our first meeting is Friday, October 2nd from 7-10pm. Sign up by visiting the link https://forms.gle/qyKsQBfw9RtG8Kpw9

09/08/2026

SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT #4

It’s becoming a tradition.

Beware the Ides of March…

This March, our annual staged reading of William Shakespeare’s JULIUS CAESAR returns to the Salem Playhouse, performed on (well… just before) the Ides of March!

JULIUS CAESAR - March 13 & 14

Like all of our staged readings, Julius Caesar requires only a handful of rehearsals, making it perfect for actors who may not have the time to commit to a full production but still want to tackle a great role, meet other artists, and perform for a live audience.

Audition sign-ups, audition dates, casting information, and rehearsal details will all be announced soon.

Until then…

Friends, Romans, countrymen, mark your calendars.

09/03/2026

👑 SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT #3

You already know Hamlet is coming to Shakespeare in the Park next summer… but that won’t be the only place you see it.

The Salem Playhouse is excited to announce a special staged reading of:

PRINCESS HAMLET

Conceived and edited by Sophie Leiton-Toomey
Directed by Sophie Leiton-Toomey & Amelia Smith

This unique take on Shakespeare’s Hamlet will hit the Playhouse stage for two performances this May!

PERFORMANCES
May 21 & 22

And if you’ve been looking for an opportunity to get back onstage without committing to a full production schedule, this one is for you.

With only a handful of rehearsals, Princess Hamlet is an ideal opportunity for performers whose schedules can’t accommodate weeks of rehearsals, but who still miss the chance to dive into a great role, work with other artists, and perform for an audience.

AUDITION SIGN-UPS OPEN: April 1
ZOOM AUDITIONS: April 25

Something familiar. Something different. And a whole new way to experience Hamlet.

09/02/2026

⚓️ SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT #2

What happens when you put a room full of strangers together and teach them a sea shanty? We’re about to find out.

Beginning this September, the Salem Playhouse is teaming up with Crowninshield Punch for MONTHLY SEA SHANTY NIGHTS! Join us on the second Thursday of every month for a completely free, low-pressure night of singing, community, and maybe a little maritime mischief.

No auditions.
No rehearsals.
No long-term commitment.
No experience necessary.

Just show up.

Over the course of the evening, we’ll come together as a group, learn a sea shanty or two, find some harmonies, and by the end of the night, turn a room full of strangers into one very loud crew.

Whether you’re a seasoned singer, haven’t sung since high school chorus, or are convinced you can’t carry a tune, we want you there.

FIRST SHANTY NIGHT
Thursday, September 10
7:00 PM
Salem Playhouse
FREE — ALL ARE WELCOME

Come alone. Bring some friends. Meet some new ones.