Theatre by the Sea is a jewel. This small venue in the Matunuck section of South Kingstown presents 4 shows per summer, plus a few daytime family shows, and we have always had a great experience here. From strolling through the gardens before the show, to sipping a drink at the outdoor bar, to the show itself, the whole Theatre by the Sea experience is lovely from start to finish. There is also a bistro where you can enjoy dinner, but we have yet to experience it. We most recently saw "Always" (the Patsy Cline story). The acting was fantastic, and the singing voices of the two leads was top notch. Last year we saw Beautiful, the Carol King story and again, the talent was incredible. Our first show at Theatre by the Sea was Mary Poppins, and it was so much fun watching Mary fly over the audience with her parrot head umbrella in hand. We opt for orchestra seats whenever possible and have always been able to see the show weel from the floor. We have sat in the balcony before, but once you get beyond the first two rows of balcony seating, it is difficult to see over the heads of the people in front of you. We love it there and I hope that once you visit Theatre by the Sea, you too will be captivated by this venue's charm and talent, and you will find yourself returning there over and over again. read more

See all

Expectations should be set for a small, older theater! Small seats, fairly flat floor. If you're short you'll want to be towards the front or balcony. They added AC and I was perfectly comfortable during a daytime childrens show in July. They do have booster seats for small children available. They did not have concessions available during the children's show, but I was able to bring in snacks and a drink for my daughter! read more

Theatre by the Sea - Post show Frozen meet and greet! Long line but they kept it going efficiently - Performing Arts Near Me - Wakefield, Rhode Island

Saw A Chorus Line opening night. It was fantastic! Bummer that the Wine Bar was closed, but that's okay. read more

See all

90 years of memories. Re: a/c. There is an outdated review on here that says no air conditioning - this is not the case. Though it can still get hot if the place sells out, especially if you sit in the balcony, there are split level air conditioners, plus fans. Re: handicapped parking- a majority of the parking is directly across the street. But there is plenty of handicapped parking in the adjacent lot next to the building, on the same side of the street as the theatre itself. Re: expectations. Appreciate it for the charming, historical locale that it is and you won't be disappointed. If you "require" a slick, professional performance, this is not your scene. Def recommend the family friendly events. This year we went to Mutt-town Comics and Bubblemania. Both were really fun for my 6 year old. Next time I'd leave my 2 year old at home - just a little too long for his attention span. Would recommend the family shows to anyone with elementary schoolers at home- and maybe middle schoolers too, depending on the kid. Babies welcome, not a big deal if your baby is crying/ needs you to stand on the side and rock. read more

Theatre by the Sea - Bubblemania 2023 - Performing Arts Near Me - Wakefield, Rhode Island

See all

Parking employee are too busy talking with patrons to park cars, always have to call the office for the handicapped entrance to be opened , seats need to be upgraded . read more

90 years strong. Theatre by the Sea has survived so much since her build 90 years ago and has not lost her charm despite modern upgrades. TBTS still features lush gardens, sea air, solitude of being outside the city. There is a restaurant on site with a full service gazebo bar for between show drink purchases. Brick walkways have been redone in recent years, updated lighting, and most importantly, air conditioning! Shows are Broadway caliber.... A must visit for tourists or locals alike! The only negative is, it's only open in the summer. read more

See all

I've been coming here most summers for most of my years (about 25!). All the performances have been great! The theater itself however could be better. They had no AC for many years, even now that they have it, it just can't handle that many people, so I recommend you bring a little handheld fan with you! The seats are super tight too, a bit of a squeeze, so bring the smallest purse you can. These things are mostly because of the age of the building. The courtyard is GORGEOUS; especially at night. Fairly new ladies room in the courtyard too, much bigger than it was. Ticket prices are pricey (what isn't now a days) but not too bad compared to some other theaters around. And all of the performances I've seen there have be GREAT; we once had balcony tickets to see Mary Poppins, but they needed the spots where our seats were for her pulley system, so they called and said "hey, mind if we move you....to a second row on the floor center?" We got a total upgrade! read more

Theatre by the Sea - Most recently saw Waitress in July of 2025, AMAZING production, would recommend to anyone (who likes musicals)! - Performing Arts Near Me - Wakefield, Rhode Island

Is there a better place to attend summer theatre, I think not. We had the privilege of seeing The Four Seasons last week. Just excellent! Sitting in the Theatre is always superb for viewing and comfortable. First we had a cocktail at the outdoor bar, then we saw the most amazing production. (We also saw the play in Chicago a few years ago, but the Chicago production pales in comparison to the Theatre By The Sea production.) We will be back next year for sure! Wonderful! We are grateful that TBTS continues to maintain such high standards. read more

Matunuk Theater by the Sea has been here since I was a child if not longer. It's a fun place for a play. I love that it's in a relaxed coastal town and they have an adjacent eatery and gardens. The drawbacks are no air conditioning, inadequate restrooms for the amount of people and some of the handicapped parking are across the street and in a dirt parking area. The cost per ticket averages around 65.00 per person which in my opinion is excessive. The seats are bother lower level and balcony. They're a little cramped and foot room is low. There are also no elevators. read more

See all

We have had a season subscription (it consists of 4 shows) for many years. I don't know why I haven't posted a review sooner. The manager is terrific and accommodating. The ushers are always pleasant. They have a lovely courtyard outside with plenty of places to sit and relax while taking in the beautiful flowers/foliage surrounding. They offer an outside bar in the center of the courtyard. Prices are reasonable for drinks and more than reasonable for the performances. It's always packed and is just a great time. The shows are top notch. They also offer a Bistro for dining before or after the show. read more

my cousin is in the Hairspray production currently performing this summer. my entire family went to the Sunday 5 PM show. we were ask to leave about 30-35 minutes into the performance for being " disruptive" I didn't know cheering on my cousin at the appropriate time when everyone was clapping was considered disruptiv?! they embarrassed us and even called the police! why was that warrented?? and to clarify no one was drunk! I was sipping my on a glass of wine! I will never go to this theatre again! I have never been treated so poorly by staff and had an small matter completely blown out of proportion read more

Very cute venue. I came here with my aunt and some cousins today to see Mamma Mia. This was my first time here. They have an outdoor area that sells drinks before the show and during intermission. Tip for women: use the restrooms outside the theater (8 stalls) instead of waiting for the one single-stall right inside the theater. The show was great and I liked how they used the aisles for the cast members too. If you're seeing Mamma Mia, make sure to stay until the very end because there was a lot of extra dancing and singing of ABBA songs at the end. For parking, there are two lots. We had a handicapped placard because my aunt is 80 so we parked in the lot closest to the theater. If you get there a little later you might find yourself parking across the street at the alternate lot. Overall, really unique venue and I hope to return the next time I'm in Rhode Island. read more

Theatre by the Sea - Mamma Mia! - Performing Arts Near Me - Wakefield, Rhode Island

First time going and I must say Tootsie was amazing!!! I had such an enjoyable evening! I will definitely be back to see another play

Just, wow. From the venue (including an adooooorable gazebo w/ thematic cocktails) to the talent (so dang good), TBTS is incredible. We saw "Chicago." An awesome, lightning-speed production - never a dull moment. Cast and sets were superb, certainly better than anything I saw in NYC while I lived there (and for 1/2 the price). "Cell Block Tango," "We Both Reached for the Gun" and every-single-thing Mama Morton did were among the many highlights of the show. One minor challenge: There is an unmarked parking lot for guests with disabilities. The gentlemen controlling the lot was a bit rough (yelling "handicapped only!" as I pulled up). It was an unfortunate start to an otherwise great evening. Still, hardly worth losing a star over. The venue is a converted barn with charm to spare, providing a truly unique theatre-going experience. Go, go, go. read more

See all

Footloose was a disappointment. Not even a curtain call. The cast members playing the Reverend and the daughter delivered solid performances. The rest...lackluster at best. Just very very disappointed in first live performances I have seen in two years. Looking forward, with fingers crossed, to Kinky Boots. read more

Decent shows. Theatre is on beautiful grounds. Outside bar and clean bathrooms. Easy parking. The biggest issue is the lack of air circulating in the venue. It was stifling in there tonight-took your breath away,literally. read more

See all

Went to see Kinky Boots yesterday with wife and friends. Enjoyed the show; great singing, dancing, plot, funny, heart warming. The parking and restroom situation was not enjoyable. We initially skipped the parking closest to the theater because my wife thought it was only for handicapped parking and parked across the street in their huge parking field. The parking attendant came by after we parked and said we could not park there because there was a big cast. A big cast ? This large parking field could hold 500+ cars ! So, saying we could not park there because of a large cast was clearly , in the words of Sherman Potter of Mash 4077 "bull hockey". WHAT WAS THE REAL REASON WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO PARK THERE ? Then at intermission staff locked the restroom near the restaurant. WHY LOCK THAT RESTROOM DURING INTERMISSION ? Both these decisions by the staff reflect an arrogance and disrespect for the theater goers. I for one will not be returning. read more

Enjoyed Newsies yesterday with friends. The location is perfect and the ushers are friendly and always helpful. The performers were awesome and has such high energy and enthusiasm for the show! It was a hot day and it seemed air conditioners were not always being used. Despite the energy of the show I was almost nodding off because of the heat at times. Also, more bartenders outside during the intermission would alleviate the long lines and increase tips for the bartenders. read more

This place is a gem! Friendly staff, easy parking, reasonable theatre prices and a gorgeous venue. Come early to grab a drink in the garden and enjoy the evening. Seats are quite cramped which is the the only reason for deducting one star. read more

Superb local theatre - I am always impressed! Just saw The Producers which was as good as any on Broadway theatre! Excellent dancing coupled with top notch acting ! If you haven't tried Bistro by the Sea - the onsite restaurant you are missing a great way to enhance your theatre experience by sharing a wonderful dinner with family or friends! Support first rate theatre in our Rhode Island backyard!! They are working so hard to provide us excellent theatre at a great price! read more

The cast is very professional. Productions are very well done. Food is ok. However, the seating is terrible. Why not have a capital campaign and change the seating similar to stadium seating at the cinemas. We are very short, less than 5'5", so seeing the stage is almost impossible with someone who is taller is sitting in front of you. I'll return when you have better seating. Good Luck read more

I normally go with my family and enjoy the plays. Usually the plays are incredible, and we all have a fantastic night out. However, this one play we went to... cinderella, wasn't very good. The play was canceled on and off for a good two years. We still kept buying the tickets due to the fact we heard it was a very well written play. The music and voices we phenomenal, however the acting wasn't what we anticipated. It was like a middle school play my child was in. I'm general every play my family and I go to is amazing, however this one in particular wasn't what we thought. It was rather disappointing due to the fact we had anticipated it to be a well written play. read more

Best place to catch a show... period. There's really nothing else like it, and when it comes to feeling like your part of the performance. Theater by the Sea cannot be beaten. read more

Bought season's tickets this year because we always have loved this theater. So far, the shows have been amazing. Cats was a true broadway quality production. The talent in the group of actors was huge! The only reason that I didn't give 5 stars is because the seats are not staggered. So if you end up behind a larger person, the show tends to disappear. And with shows this good, you want to catch them all. And we always have dinner at the Bistro. Great food and very convenient. read more

I sent the following email to the theater owner/director. "My family attended the August 5th performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. We vacation in Westerly every summer and previously saw The Music Man and Man of LaMancha. Although I enjoyed all of the performances, I have to complain about the balcony seats. When we saw Man of LaMancha, I sat in the orchestra and the we were able to see the stage. When we saw The Music Man, we had the two seats at the end of the row and my husband, sitting in the aisle seat, could not see the stage. Fortunately, there were some empty seats and we were able to move to seats where we could see better. For the last show, we had 3rd row center seats. We could barely see the stage. (The people seated in front of us were not particularly tall.) At times, the performers went into the audience and we could not see them at all. Although we enjoyed the music, we barely saw the show. You have to do something about the balcony seats. I will not be coming back to the theater unless I have orchestra seats...and they are not always available. Please do something to improve the balcony seats." The response I received was curt and dismissive. I will not be returning to this theater. read more

This is great local theater. I bring my kids every year. Make sure to buy your tickets on Black Friday for 50% off even though they are worth the full price. They have added air conditioning to this barn theater. Can't beat it. read more

This was our first time at this attraction. It couldn't haven been better. I surprised my wife with this as a babymoon and we sat in balcony. My only regret was that we didn't sit in the lower level. We saw the wizard of oz and the cast was absolutely amazing. I don't think you can see a better local show for heirs price!!! I'm looking forward to extending this tradition with my son as he grows up.....The cast and show was amazing and I recommend if your looking forward to seeing this show, it was a must see. I can't wait to see many more shows from this theater and being family and friends read more

If you're going to charge people 60+ dollars for a Sunday matinee, you should probably have PLENTY of money to revamp the seats so that someone like myself (5'4) can actually see and enjoy the show when sitting in front of someone over 6 feet. read more

Awful, Awful, Awful describes the Las Vegas Revue I saw there Aug 26 2019. I always loved to support this local theater but for Bill Hanney to bring in this show and then charge money for it was not fair to us regular supporters or anyone, for that matter! I stuck it out to intermission ( many walked out earlier) and then lamented with fellow theatergoers in the parking lot as we left! Unacceptable! I will not be returning.. read more

I LOVE this theater. I haven't been in a few years, and it seems they've really stepped up their productions. I saw "Beauty and the Beast" last night, and it's at the top of my favorites list. The many sets were gorgeous, the acting excellent and the music superb. If you've never been, don't miss it. There's not a bad seat in the house. read more

I grew up going to this theater and it holds some of my fondest childhood memories. The productions are first rate. Wonderful performances and a quaint bistro with a cabaret after the show. My one complaint is the lack of comfort in the theater itself due to the age of the theater. The seats are old, cramped and not set up in stadium style. So, if a tall person sits in front of you, you're out of luck. Every time I order tickets, I pray for a cool evening because there is no air conditioning in this place. I made the mistake of seeing a matinee of Cats a couple of summers ago. The temperature in the theater well into the 90's and humid, I spent the show fanning myself and worrying about the actors getting heat stroke in their fur costumes. Despite the discomfort, the theater is quaint and historical. It's a lovely place to spend a summer evening and get a glimpse of Broadway in Matunuck! read more

This is actually a 4 1/2 star review (when are they going to start allowing half stars?). Went here last night to see Annie. And old favorite of mine this didn't disappoint. Pretty landscaping, and a little Tiki bar outside where you could mingle and get your drinks. Beer was $4, Wine $6 and mixed drinks $8. I got my wine, and stayed outside for a bit before we went in as it was such a nice night. The parking is ample there by the way, and there's two or three parking lots that you could park in. Drawbacks (and these are EVER so minor) It's in the middle of nowhere Rhode Island. I mean it. You drive to nowhere Rhode Island, take a left turn, and twenty minutes later you're in the middle of nowhere. Drive another ten minutes and you arrive at the theatre. Secondly, just before the performance (I believe because they don't have air conditioning, but I really don't know), they opened the side door. I was thankful of that, as it might have gotten hot in there, but if I was sitting in the row next to the door it might have gotten distracting. It wasn't dark out yet when they opened that door, and cars on occasion drove in and out of that parking lot, which was gravel. As it was, I was about three rows above it, and I got distracted. The play was fantastic, set changes were seamless, and the actors were great. The interior of this place is like an old barn, so it's beautiful in it's own antiquey way. Also, one more small thing, the seats were not staggered, which made me crane my neck in an uncomfortable way. read more

We love this place and we make a point to go at least once every summer. This week we went to Beauty and the Beast and it was outstanding!! We ate dinner at the Bistro before the show and it was delicious with great service. Thank you Theatre By The Sea! read more

CHICAGO was very good. Acting and voices were lovey. What makes me give it a three-star rating is the seating. I was in the balcony and paid $50+ for my ticket. I am only 5'3" so leg room shouldn't seem worse than being in coach but it was. There is no way to shift or stretch out legs and no elbow room whatsoever. My knees ached after an hour. I understand the theatre is old but there is no way people should be stuffed into tight seats where one cannot move. It was also difficult to see with people seated so tightly in front of each other. It was also fairly warm and definitely stuffy. read more

What a cute little play house! My yearly beach vacation to Rhode Island isn't complete with out seeing a play at Theater by the Sea. Both Evita and The Full Monty were great plays with a talented cast. The pros come in the form of all the charm Theater by the Sea has. The cons (as all charming things possess) are the small seats/lack of leg room, and the situation of the seats. I would recommend getting the upper deck for seats. This year we were on the ground level and I strained my neck trying to see around an old man's head the whole night. It still didn't damper the night. Still... though... my favorite part of the evening was the journey my husband and I went on during intermission to the sea. Find that path and take it on a full moon night. You won't be disappointed. live well, carolyn read more

Saw Singin in the Rain on Saturday June 22,2019. Lead male was injured during a dance act. Curtain came down. After a bit the show went in with understudy. He was not prepared! Missed line, stumbled and fell, didn't know where to stand in stage. He had to finish the show with his script in hand. I was disappointed that the understudy was not prepared. read more

Great late night cabaret hosted by Sabrina Blaze following the show on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.

Wishing we had read some of the see reviews BEFORE making plans to visit this venue yesterday. Like other posters, I wish YELP allowed for half-star ratings. So I'm settling for middle ground with 3 stars for over all experience. We attended the matinee of The Producers. The actual performance of actors/singers/dancers was TOP NOTCH and very well done. So that part of experience is 4 stars. As for the physical set up of the theatre I get it - it's old. It looks like an old barn on the main level. The prices they charge for wine and mixed drinks before the performance and at intermission seemed very VERY high. Unfortunately if you're short like me (5'1") and if tall people are seated directly in front of you, oh well you're out of luck!! Too bad!!!! The seats are very very tightly spaced as well. I won't EVEN mention the joys of sitting this-close to someone who fidgeted to put it politely through out the entire first act. Which was nearly 90 minutes long. For the price we paid for both tickets - nearly $150 with all restoration fees blah blah blah - I felt like we were charged WAAAY too much for overall experience. I also found another commenters remarks about "drive to the middle of nowhere RI, make a U turn", drive further into the "middle of nowhere", and your ALMOST there. We live in far Northern RI and will NOT be visiting this theatre again. read more

Great performances, great staff! Sure, you wont be able to lay down and recline in your seats and it's a bit steamy during mid-summer, but that's the charm of it! Would love to go to another show soon. The Theatre is one of the best local places to visit hands down. read more

Saw my first play at Theatre by the Sea, The Full Monty, which was excellent! The best play I have ever seen and I don't like plays! I like musicals with alot of dance, modern jazz, latin, etc.. so wasn't sure what to expect. It was so funny, an excellent cast who gave it their all, etc. etc. I loved it. It's also a beautiful setting "by the sea" with beautiful gardens. Anyone visiting RI should go to Theatre by the Sea. I think the Full Monty is playing thru Aug 29th. read more