5 regional theater productions worth the trip this June

As this year’s Broadway season concludes and Tony wins reshape the ticket landscape, regional theaters across the country are raising the curtain on new works, modern classics, and Shakespeare.

Considering a summer road trip? Put these five destinations on your radar for live theater and more cultural finds.

‘Brokeback Mountain’ at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Chicago

Jack Cameron Kay as Jack Twist and Harrison Ball as Ennis Del Mar in Chicago Shakespeare’s North American premiere production of Brokeback Mountain. Photo by Jeff Sciortino. — Jack Cameron Kay as Jack Twist and Harrison Ball as Ennis Del Mar in Chicago Shakespeare’s North American premiere production of “Brokeback Mountain.” Photo by Jeff Sciortino.

Brokeback Mountain’s Ennis del Mar and Jack Twist are back in the saddle, this time in a play by Ashley Robinson with songs by Dan Gillespie Sells. The stage adaptation of Annie Proulx’s short story about the years-long secret relationship between two cowboys in Wyoming circa 1963 makes its North American premiere. Don’t expect a dance break, though. The live country western band infuses the storytelling with the landscape of the West, as audiences bear witness to one of the most heartbreaking gay love stories of the 20th century.

Performances through June 28, 2026.

‘You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World’ at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Ashland

Tim Getman (center) and Ensemble. Photo by Jenny Graham.

“When you go, what is gone? What is left?” asked director Zi Alikhan when considering how to approach Keiko Green’s You Are Cordially Invited to the End of the World. The existential question provides ample source material for the story of Greg Murphy, who, after being diagnosed with cancer, goes down the meaning of life rabbit hole. Infused with magical realism and a quirky cast of characters, Green finds buoyancy and tenderness in the chapter of our lives most of us would prefer not to read.

Performances through August 21, 2026.

‘Mister Halston’ at Bay Street Theater, Sag Harbor

Promotional illustration for Mister Halston

Matt McGrath (Amazon’s American Classic) stars as the iconic fashion designer in Halston, a solo work by playwright Raffaele Pacitti. One of the biggest names in the industry throughout the 1970s and 80s, Halston’s rise and fall were filled with stage-worthy escapades. From his celebrity client list, which included Lauren Bacall, Elizabeth Taylor, and longtime muse Liza Minnelli, to his frequent presence at Studio 54, Halston lived most of his life front and center. A perfect fit for the stage.

Performances through June 21, 2026.

‘Othello’ at Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington, D.C.

Wendell Pierce and Olivia Cygan with Em Whitworth, Melanie Field, and Cole Sitilides in Othello at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Photo by Teresa Castracane.

One of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, Othello returns to the stage, this time starring Wendell Pierce (Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, The Wire) in the title role. Director Simon Godwin sets the power-struggle play in modern times—not too hard to imagine, given the current political climate. Othello and Iago’s fatal game of manipulation unfolds against a sleek, military-inflected world where paranoia, jealousy, and toxic ambition feel disturbingly at home.

Performances through June 28, 2026.

‘The Lunchbox’ at Berkeley Rep, Berkeley

(l to r) Benjamin Mathew, Savidu Geevaratne, and Vishal Vaidya in The Lunchbox. Photo: Kevin Berne.

A new musical based on the 2013 film, The Lunchbox unpacks what happens when a note from a Mumbai housewife ends up in the hands of a middle-aged widower. Tony winner Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown) directs the world premiere, featuring music by The Lazours. Tony winner Mimi Lien’s towering scenic design stacks the teeming layers of Mumbai life floor by floor, making the city itself a character.

Performances through July 5, 2026.