Maine has long cultivated and treasured its beloved summer theaters, historic venues that have delighted visitors for many years.

They sprouted as aspiring Broadway performers and producers flocked to theater colonies at lakeside villages and seaside resorts, using the theatrical spaces for tryout productions. These became the training grounds for promising young talent and productions that went on to be featured on Broadway and in movies and television.

Deertrees Theatre in Harrison was founded in 1936, while The Ogunquit Playhouse is one of the last theaters that were a part of the Straw Hat Circuit, the original  New England theaters where summer stock began. The Hamatack Playhouse in Berwick, the Theater at Monmouth, and the State Music Theater in Brunswick are also venerable stages and offer Broadway-style shows.

Check out the Boothbay Opera House and the century-old Lakewood Theater in Madison, the country’s longest-running summer theater. It is here that many Broadway musicals premiered, including “Life With Father,” one of the longest running plays on Broadway. The Acadia Repertory Theatre in Somesville is a 148-seat performance space while the Carousel Music Theatre in Boothbay Harbor offer a dinner-theater experience.

Go to Visit Maine for more details.