Malkin Bowl Theatre at Night

Theatre Under the Stars is an outdoor Vancouver theatre company which puts on musicals in Stanley Park in the summer. The plays are really good!

For the theatre’s official website, click tuts.ca. The last day of the 2023 season was Saturday, August 26th!

This article includes info on the following topics:

Theatre Under the Stars at Stanley Park

Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) is an exceptional musical theatre company that offers live outdoor performances at Stanley Park’s Malkin Bowl. It’s located at 610 Pipeline Road near the Stanley Park Pavilion.

The theatre has been a Lower Mainland tradition for decades with performances from early July until mid to late August each year.

TUTS offers wonderful professional-quality shows and is definitely a best place to be in Vancouver for entertainment. We highly recommend you check it out.

In 2022 the theatre featured the musicals Something Rotten! and We Will Rock You. The two musicals ran from July 3rd until August 27th and they received outstanding reviews! In 2023 the musicals were Roald Dahl’s Matilda, which is about a mischievous young girl, and The Prom, which is about a group of Broadway actors.

For the latest details, see the official Theatre Under the Stars website.

2023 TUTS Productions

Two musicals hit the stage in the summer of 2023! One was called The Prom and the other was Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical.

The two productions featured in the outdoor theatre on alternate evenings, meaning that each one played every other day for the nearly two-month run of shows.

Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical is a beloved children’s story penned by famed British author Roald Dahl. The musical was first staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford-upon-Avon in 2010. It then debuted towards the end of 2011 at the Cambridge Theatre in London, England, before hitting Broadway in early 2013. The musical has been a worldwide box-office smash ever since. A film adaptation was also released in November 2022.

The Prom musical tells the story of four Broadway actors bemoaning their glory days in the Broadway spotlight as they journey to a conservative town in Indiana to help a lesbian student and her girlfriend attend their high school prom.

Continue reading below for full details about the 2023 season.

For tickets, see the official Theatre Under the Stars website.

The Prom

The Prom, a musical comedy, tells the story of four Broadway actors looking to improve their public image after falling on hard times. By chance they come across a tweet about Emma, a teen from a small town whose plans to attend her prom with her girlfriend are dashed.

The four actors decide to champion Emma’s cause. However, they quickly learn that not everything goes according to well laid-out plans and that everyone’s just looking for a place to belong.

The smash musical had its premiere on Broadway in 2018 and a film adaptation of it was released in 2020. Variety calls the musical “joyous, funny, and sweet.” If you’re in need of some excellent entertainment that is full of heart and full of hope, then The Prom was the musical to watch at TUTS in 2023.

The first previews for the show were on July 6th and 7th, 2023, and opening night was on July 11th. The show ran every second night until August 25th.

We saw the play and it was terrific! It had a fun and meaningful story, great acting and wonderful singing.

For full details about this musical, click The Prom.

Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical

Matilda The Musical is a beloved Roald Dahl children’s story about a little girl called Matilda who lives in small English village. Matilda is a bookworm whose imagination is fired up from her love for reading. However, her parents and her tyrannical headmistress aren’t taken by Matilda’s love for books and believe she’s a nuisance and a mischievous little girl.

It’s because of her kind teacher, Ms. Honey’s support and Matilda’s love for storytelling, that embolden Matilda to “fight for the right to be a little bit naughty.”

The musical features great toe-tapping songs and excellent dance performances that are great entertainment for the whole family.

Roald Dahl’s award-winning stage sensation Matilda The Musical premiered at London’s West End in 2011 before making its debut on Broadway in 2013. A film adaptation of the classic story was released in 2022.

The Sunday Times says of the musical: “Easily the standout musical of the decade.”

The first previews for the show were on July 8th and 9th, 2023, and opening night was on July 12th. The show ran every second night until August 26th.

We saw the play and it was excellent. Lots of the actors are children and they were terrific. Matilda especially was outstanding!

Click Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical for full details.

For tickets, see the official Theatre Under the Stars website.

Admission Prices

Regular admission prices for each TUTS show in 2023 were $65 for adults (depending on the section). Children ages 5 to 12 were charged $30 and kids ages 4 and under were free admission if they sat on an adult’s lap. Early bird pricing was cheaper starting from around $20 to $55 if bought between May 25th and June 30th, 2023.

For the latest details, see the official Theatre Under the Stars website.

Ticket Tips

Below are some tips from previous years to help you save money.

TIP #1: Tickets are usually at a reduced rate on Preview Nights during the first few days of the season in July as well as on BC Day, which is the first Monday in August. On these days the cost is only around $20 to $55 for adults and $20 for youth and students (per 2023 details that we were aware of). If you want a discounted show next year, buy your tickets early.

TIP #2: Early-bird tickets cost $5 less than regular tickets and were available up until June 20th, 2023.

TIP #3: You can also order tickets over the phone by calling 1-800-514-3849. There is usually, however, an additional $5 charge per order by booking this way.

Theatre Under the Stars Venue

Malkin Bowl is located in the middle of Stanley Park at 610 Pipeline Road. It’s within sight of the Stanley Park Pavilion and just a short walk south of the park’s main bus terminal near the Miniature Train.

The theatre is an attractive outdoor venue, complete with a licensed beverage and snack bar. Theatre seats are plastic outdoor patio chairs with cushions available by donation (and we recommend you get a cushion).

Outdoor Theatre Lobby at Stanley Park

Theatre Tips

Below are suggestions on how to make the most out of your outdoor Stanley Park theatre experience.

TIP #1: Arrive early to get parking within reasonable walking distance of the venue. If arriving early, then go for a stroll and explore the beautiful park.

TIP #2: Take a warm sweater or two, and/or a blanket. It gets cool most evenings by the end of the show (and especially in August).

TIP #3: Cushions for seats are available by donation and are highly recommended. They are worth the extra few dollars and the money goes to a good cause.

TIP #4: Tickets are non-refundable. If you think there’s a chance of rain, either take a raincoat or pay the extra $5 at the time of booking for exchange insurance which allows you to reschedule for another evening if done before 8:00 pm on the night of your show.

TIP #5: Exchange insurance is good for rainy days, but also in other cases where you find you need to change your dates. You have to buy the insurance though at the time you book your tickets.

TIP #6: As you’ll be in the area anyway, before the show spend some time exploring Stanley Park. Take a picnic, visit the Aquarium, go for a stroll along the seawall and have a wonderful day!

TIP #7: As the sun goes down, you’ll also notice the little evening bugs that come out. Bring your own form of insect repellent to help keep those little critters away.

Theatre Under the Stars Stage