North Shore Music Theatre Unveils Expanded 70th Anniversary Season for 2025

Award-winning theater adds four debut productions, including ‘Waitress,’ ‘Rent,’ and ‘The Cher Show’ to celebrate seven decades of exceptional entertainment.

North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) is raising the curtain on an extraordinary milestone as it announces an expanded lineup for its 70th Anniversary Season. The beloved Beverly, MA, institution has captivated audiences since 1955, and the 2025 season promises to continue this legacy with an impressive mix of debut productions and timeless classics.

Four Exciting Debuts Highlight Anniversary Celebration

Theater owner and producer Bill Hanney expressed enthusiasm about the landmark season: “The team at North Shore Music Theatre is hard at work creating an entertaining 70th Anniversary Season. We are very excited for a season of musicals, plays, concerts, and children’s shows including three musicals in the subscription season that have never been on our stage before.”

The anniversary celebration begins early with “The Shark is Broken” (May 2-11), a captivating one-act comic play that offers a behind-the-scenes look at the tensions during the filming of the iconic 1975 blockbuster “Jaws.” This off-subscription production coincides with the film’s 50th anniversary, making it a perfect addition to the season.

A Season of Musical Debuts and Beloved Classics

The subscription season officially launches with NSMT’s debut of “Waitress” (June 3-15), featuring music by Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles. This heartwarming musical follows Jenna, a talented pie-maker trapped in a troubled marriage while working at a small-town diner.

Summer brings the family-friendly classic “The Wizard of Oz” (July 8-20), a lavish production featuring the beloved story and songs from the 1939 MGM film. It is followed by the high-energy hit “Grease” (August 12-24), which transports audiences back to 1950s Rydell High.

The fall season introduces two more debuts to the NSMT stage:

• “Rent” (September 16-28): The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning rock opera that redefined Broadway when it opened in 1996.
• “The Cher Show” (October 21-November 2): A dazzling musical packed with 35 smash hits spanning six decades of the legendary performer’s career.

The season concludes with the return of “A Christmas Carol: A Musical Ghost Story” (December 4-21), New England’s brightest holiday tradition that more than one million people have seen since its premiere in 1989.

Beyond the Mainstage: Concerts and Educational Programming

In addition to the mainstage productions, the 2025 season features:

• Concerts including Captain Jack and the Strangers, Barry Goudreau’s Engine Room, and Dark Desert Eagles
• Shakespeare & Company’s northeast touring production of “Macbeth”
• Several children’s shows, including “Curious George: The Golden Meatball.”
• Student productions from NSMT’s Education Programs

Tickets and Packages Available Now

Theatergoers can secure their seats for this historic season with various options:

• Single tickets for all shows
• Five-show subscription packages
• Three-show musical discount packages
• Gift cards and e-Certificates

All are available online at www.nsmt.org, by phone at (978) 232-7200, or at the Box Office located at 54 Dunham Road in Beverly, MA.

Since its opening in 1955, North Shore Music Theatre has become one of the most attended theaters in New England, with approximately 250,000 patrons annually. With a national and regional reputation for artistic achievement, NSMT has received numerous industry awards and has continued to produce exceptional entertainment under Bill Hanney’s ownership since 2010.