Saturdays at 10 AM

Nearly every Saturday morning in July and August, Paul Padua and his company of incredible performers welcome families and young audiences to the beautiful Tisbury Amphitheater, to laugh out loud and celebrate the magic of live theater together. Fun for the whole family, featuring a rotating lineup of original plays that encourage audience participation, improvisation, and imagination, it’s the perfect way to kick off summer weekends!

Written and Directed by: Paul Padua



Starring: A rotating cast of Martha's Vineyard Playhouse actors and artists

Gates open at 7 p.m.; the film begins at approximately 7:45 p.m.

Experience this classic film like you never have before...at the Vineyard’s Drive-In! Winner of three Oscars (including one for John Williams’ thrilling score), the epic tale of man vs. shark was shot on the Island in 1974. See if you can spot your favorite beaches and local talent.

If pre-sale parking spots are sold out, we’d still love to see you! Try your luck at the gate for any unclaimed parking spots, or park nearby, grab a lawn chair, and walk in. No car? No problem! Walk-ins are also pay-what-you-can, suggested $10 per person.

Dir. Steven Spielberg | Drama / Thriller | U.S.A. | 1975 | 2 hrs. 4 min. | Rated PG

​Presented in partnership with the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard.

Followed by a discussion with director Zach Heinzerling

Last month, we screened the first episode of this Emmy-nominated docuseries. Now we present the finale. In this last episode, Spanish tennis champion Rafael Nadal reflects on the resilience that defined his extraordinary career. Pivotal victories, devastating setbacks, and the relentless fight against injury reveal the determination that kept him competing against the odds and cemented his legacy as one of tennis’s greatest players.

Dir. Zach Heinzerling | Documentary | U.S.A. | 2026 | 1 hr. 1 min. | Rated TV-MA | Spanish and English, with English subtitles

Followed by a discussion with directors Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff

Billie Jean King didn’t just dominate tennis; she helped redefine what was possible for women in sports. Drawing from rare archival footage and candid interviews, this new documentary traces her rise from champion athlete to cultural force, capturing the battles she fought for equal pay, professional opportunities, and broader social change. Alongside her public triumphs, the film reveals the personal costs of living under intense scrutiny while carrying the weight of a movement.

Dirs. Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff | Documentary | U.S.A. | 2026 | 1 hr. 41 min.

Alice Howe & Freebo have undeniable chemistry. Rock bass legend Freebo weaves his fretless stylings into Alice’s soulful, impeccably-tuned vocals, for a harmony-driven performance showcasing two uniquely compelling songwriters.

​Presented in partnership with MVYRadio

When a mysterious album of Nazi-era photographs arrives at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, archivists uncover a story that reverberates far beyond its pages. A Pulitzer Prize finalist based on real events, this award-winning play explores what these images reveal about the perpetrators of the Holocaust, and our own humanity.

Written by: Moisés Kaufman and Amanda Gronich

Directed by: Scott Barrow

Starring: Kathleen Chalfant, Nemuna Ceesay, Tsilala Brock, Brooke Hardman Ditchfield, Chris Roberts, Don Wildman, Grant James Varjas, and Joshua Olumide

Made possible by the generosity of Tectonic Theater Project and Concord Theatricals

Gates open at 6:45 p.m.; the film begins at approximately 7:30 p.m.

In the summer of 1959, four 12-year-old boys from a small Oregon town set out to find the body of another boy who has gone missing. Believing he is deep in the nearby wilderness, they travel along train tracks and through rough terrain, confronting danger, personal fears, and the realities of growing up too soon.

If pre-sale parking spots are sold out, we’d still love to see you! Try your luck at the gate for any unclaimed parking spots, or park nearby, grab a lawn chair, and walk in. No car? No problem! Walk-ins are also pay-what-you-can, suggested $10 per person.

Dir. Rob Reiner | Adventure / Drama | U.S.A. | 1986 | 1 hr. 29 min. | Rated R

​Presented in partnership with the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard.

Followed by a discussion with directors Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes, and producer Raney Aronson-Rath

Filmed over ten years, this new documentary follows Syrian refugee Israa from childhood to adulthood. We first meet her at age 11, as she and her family are preparing to cross the Aegean Sea, risking everything in search of safety and a better life. As she settles in Germany, new freedoms collide with the stabilizing pull of Syrian traditions, testing bonds and reshaping her sense of self. A deeply personal chronicle of war, exile, and heartbreak, this film poses a universal question: what does it truly mean to call a place home?

Dirs. Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes | Documentary | U.S.A. / U.K. / Germany | 2026 | 1 hr. 40 min. | Arabic, German, and English, with English subtitles

With opener Laura Cantrell

For over a decade, John Craigie has drawn listeners in with sincere, story-driven songs that feel like conversations. His new album I Swam Here, out this past February, blends New Orleans and Astoria, Oregon, influences into a warm, collaborative step forward as he continues touring worldwide.

Celebrated country singer and recording artist Laura Cantrell will open the show. In addition to performing, she is a host of Dark Horse Radio on SiriusXM’s The Beatles Channel, and known for States of Country, her monthly live series exploring regional diversity in country music, with devoted audiences across the US and UK.

​Presented in partnership with MVYRadio

Directed by Brad Silberling, this one-night-only event brings together Tony Shalhoub, Amy Brenneman, Brooke Adams, and additional special guests, for a live reading of Billy Wilder's Academy Award-winning screenplay for his now-classic comedic film The Apartment.

Written by: Billy Wilder
Directed by: Brad Silberling
Starring: Brooke Adams, Amy Brenneman, and Tony Shalhoub

Gates open at 6:45 p.m.; the film begins at approximately 7:30 p.m.

In this English-language version of the classic animated film from a Japanese master of the form, young sisters Satsuki and Mei move to the countryside, while their mother recovers from illness, and come upon a world both ordinary and extraordinary. In the nearby forest, they encounter Totoro and other gentle spirits, and learn about imagination, resilience, and the quiet magic that connects them to nature and each other.

If pre-sale parking spots are sold out, we’d still love to see you! Try your luck at the gate for any unclaimed parking spots, or park nearby, grab a lawn chair, and walk in. No car? No problem! Walk-ins are also pay-what-you-can, suggested $10 per person.

Dir. Hayao Miyazaki | Fantasy | Japan | 1988 | 1 hr. 26 min. | Rated G

​Presented in partnership with the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard.

Gates open at 6:45 p.m.; the film begins at approximately 7:30 p.m.

In this cult favorite, slacker and bowler Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski is mistaken for a millionaire of the same name whose wife owes money to a lot of dangerous people. This results in his rug getting ruined, and “The Dude” spiraling into the Los Angeles underworld to seek restitution.

If pre-sale parking spots are sold out, we’d still love to see you! Try your luck at the gate for any unclaimed parking spots, or park nearby, grab a lawn chair, and walk in. No car? No problem! Walk-ins are also pay-what-you-can, suggested $10 per person.

Dirs. Joel Coen and Ethan Coen | Comedy / Crime | U.S.A. | 1998 | 1 hr. 57 min. | Rated R

​Presented in partnership with the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard.

Followed by a discussion with Amy Brenneman

Join us for a surprise film screening with special guest Amy Brenneman. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience you’ll be talking about long after the credits roll.

Gates open at 6:30 p.m.; the film begins at approximately 7:15 p.m.

After a successful diamond heist in London, a cunning con artist and her volatile accomplice begin double-crossing their own crew to keep the loot for themselves. As loyalties shift and schemes unravel, a straitlaced barrister becomes entangled in the chaos, leading to a wildly unpredictable battle of deception, seduction, and revenge.

If pre-sale parking spots are sold out, we’d still love to see you! Try your luck at the gate for any unclaimed parking spots, or park nearby, grab a lawn chair, and walk in. No car? No problem! Walk-ins are also pay-what-you-can, suggested $10 per person.

Dirs. Charles Crichton and John Cleese | Comedy / Crime | U.K. / U.S.A. | 1988 | 1 hr. 48 min. | Rated R

​Presented in partnership with the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard

Gates open at 6:30 p.m.; the film begins at approximately 7:15 p.m.

Filmed live on Broadway, this groundbreaking musical tells the story of Alexander Hamilton’s rise from orphaned immigrant to influential Founding Father. Through a dynamic blend of hip-hop, R&B, and traditional musical theater, it traces his ambition, relationships, and lasting impact on the nation’s history.

If pre-sale parking spots are sold out, we’d still love to see you! Try your luck at the gate for any unclaimed parking spots, or park nearby, grab a lawn chair, and walk in. No car? No problem! Walk-ins are also pay-what-you-can, suggested $10 per person.

Dir. Thomas Kail | Musical / Drama | U.S.A. | 2020 | 2 hrs. 40 min. | Rated PG-13

​Presented in partnership with the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard.

With opener Wolftrap

Martha’s Vineyard singer-songwriter and producer Meredith Sheldon brings her signature blend of grungy pop, shimmering indie rock, layered harmonies, and dreamy synths to the Playhouse stage, in celebration of her latest album, Once We Were Dust.