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. Their plays are really good!

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.

Last year 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 are 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.

Killer Queen in We Will Rock You — We Will Rock You in 2022 (*)

2023 TUTS Productions

Theatre Under the Stars features Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical and The Prom.

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 also was 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.

2022 TUTS Productions

Both the 2020 and 2021 seasons were cancelled due to the pandemic. Thankfully, theatre returned to Stanley Park in 2022 and continues the tradition in 2023! Malkin Bowl hosted performances nearly every day in July and August of 2022.

Two musicals hit the stage in the summer of 2022! One was called We Will Rock You and the other was called Something Rotten!

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

Full details about the 2022 season are below.

We Will Rock You

Inspired by the well-known band Queen, this musical brought viewers along with the performers on a mission to fight for creative freedom and save the genre of Rock n’ Roll.

This theatre production debuted in 2002 in London, England, and has since then been seen all around the world. The story and script were originally written by Ben Elton. The show includes more than 20 songs by Queen.

The first preview for the show was on July 3rd, 2022, and opening night was on July 8th. The show ran every night until August 27th.

For tickets and full details about this musical click We Will Rock You.

The Cast from We Will Rock You — We Will Rock You in Vancouver (*)

Something Rotten!

Set in the 16th century, this musical is a Shakespearean-themed comedy about two brothers trying to make it in the theatre industry. Throughout the story, the brothers struggle to shine in the shadow of William Shakespeare himself.

Originally created by Wayne Kirkpatrick, Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, this show was first performed in New York about seven years ago. The musical made its way around America and was even performed in South Korea.

The first preview for the show was on July 2nd, 2022, and opening night was on July 7th. The show ran until August 26th.

Click Something Rotten! for tickets and full details.

TUTS Something Rotten Musical — Something Rotten in 2022 (*)

Admission Prices

Regular admission prices for 2023’s shows are still to be confirmed. Below were the ticket prices for 2002 which are a good barometre for the TUTS 2023 season.

Regular admission prices for each show in 2022 ranged from around $30 to $65 for adults (depending on the section). Children ages 5 to 12 cost $30 and kids ages 4 and under were free if they sat on an adult’s lap. If you bought tickets before June 17th, 2022, the early bird pricing was $10 cheaper for each ticket.

Subscriptions to TUTS cost about $90 or so for adults and $60 for children. They were a great deal as they included premium seats for both shows which meant savings of about $20 to $40. Subscriptions were only available up until May 18th, 2022.

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 $45 for adults and $20 for youth and children (per 2022 details that we were aware of). If you want a discounted show, buy your tickets early.

TIP #2: Early-bird tickets cost $5 less than regular tickets and were available up until June 5th, 2022.

TIP #3: You can also order tickets over the phone by calling 1-877-840-0457. 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