Things to do in Vermont in May: Arts-and-entertainment slate overflows
Whatever you do this month, donât say youâre bored. Youâd come off like a kid with a box full of toys whining to mom about how thereâs nothing to do.
May is a season of bounty in Vermontâs arts-and-entertainment world. Itâs overflowing so much, in fact, that this list of 31 events doesnât even include the fabulous finale of the Waking Windows festival in Winooski or a show by âThe Simpsonsâ actor Hank Azaria performing as Bruce Springsteen (both of which weâve already featured). This list also omits a handful of other outdoor performances that weâll mention in our upcoming summer-concert preview.
Some of these activities are free or offered at modest cost so that even if youâre pinching pennies in these volatile times you might be able to take your mind of the need for penny-pinching for at least a little while.
Vermont Stage fills in the blanks
7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 1, the Vermont Stage production of the musical-within-a-musical titled â somewhat confusingly, given the showâs premise â â[Title of Show]â â continues its run that began April 30 and goes through May 18, Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Burlington. $34-$59. www.vermontstage.org
âHorrorâ in Hyde Park
7 p.m. Thursday, May 1, in a rare appearance outside of October, âThe Rocky Horror Showâ brings creepy camp courtesy of the Lamoille County Players through May 11 to the Hyde Park Opera House. $10-$20. www.lcplayers.com
Middlebury offers dark comedy
7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 1-Saturday, May 3, 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3, the Middlebury College Theatre Department presents the dark comedy âThe Wallsâ by Argentine playwright Griselda Gambaro, Seeler Studio Theatre, Mahaney Arts Center, Middlebury College. $5-$15. www.middlebury.edu/college/box-office
A homecoming for Tina Friml
7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 1-Saturday, May 3, 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 2-Saturday, May 3, Vermont-raised comic Tina Friml, fresh off another appearance on âThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,â returns home for five sets at the Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington. $30. (7:30 p.m. Friday is sold out.) www.vermontcomedyclub.com
Julia Randallâs album-release show
7:30 p.m. Friday, May 2, Burlington-based singer-songwriter Julia Randall marks the release of her debut album, âRom-Com Industrial Complex,â with a show supported by Kendra McKinley and Grace Palmer, Light Club Lamp Shop, Burlington. $10-$15. www.radiobean.com
Time for âDinnerâ in Essex
7:30 p.m. Friday, May 2, the complicated love-and-mistaken-identity story âDonât Dress for Dinnerâ by Marc Camoletti, presented by the Essex Community Players, unfolds through May 17, Memorial Hall, Essex. $16-$20. www.essexplayers.com
Lost Nation hosts âPuppet SĂ©anceâ
7:30 p.m. Friday, May 2-Saturday, May 3, 2 p.m. Sunday, May 4, a contender for best theatrical show title of the year, the adult puppet show âPuppet SĂ©ance: An Occult Summoning and Also a Variety Show and Also an Advice Showâ by Stoph Scheer and Anthony Sellito-Budney moves in for three performances presented by Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall Arts Center. $19-$24. www.lostnationtheater.org
Aurora Singers hold spring concert
7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3, the Aurora Chamber Singers offer their spring concert, âBy the Still Water,â College Street Congregational Church, Burlington. $10-$30. www.aurorachambersingers.org
Two from Medium Build, Petey USA
8 p.m. Saturday, May 3, sharing a double bill, musicians Medium Build and Petey USA play solo acoustic shows at The Stone Church, Brattleboro (www.stonechurchvt.com) and Tuesday, May 6, the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. (www.highergroundmusic.com) Both shows are sold out.
Pianist leads VYOâs Gershwin tribute
3 p.m. Sunday, May 4, pianist Jeffrey Biegel accompanies the Vermont Youth Orchestra as part of the Rhapsody National Initiative, an effort to present Peter Boyerâs piano concerto âRhapsody in Red, White, and Blueâ in all 50 states to celebrate the 100th anniversary of George Gershwinâs âRhapsody in Blue,â the Flynn, Burlington. $20-$23. www.flynnvt.org or www.vyo.org
Kris Delmhorst finds Zenbarn
7 p.m. Sunday, May 4, Americana singer-songwriter Kris Delmhorst performs at Zenbarn, Waterbury Center. $15 in advance, $18 day of show. www.zenbarnvt.com
A full house for MJ Lenderman
7:30 p.m. Monday, May 5, rising singer-songwriter MJ Lenderman & the Wind headlines a show that also features This Is Lorelei, Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. Sold out. www.highergroundmusic.com
A farm-to-stage musical
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, a Northern Stage production telling the tale of life on the land in the Green Mountain State, âThe Vermont Farm Project: A Farm to Stage Musical,â begins its run through May 25, Byrne Theatre, Barrette Center for the Arts, White River Junction. $5-$94. www.northernstage.org
âWhose Liveâ at the Flynn
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 7, the current cast members of the TV show âWhose Line Is It Anyway?â turn up on stage for âWhose Live Anyway?â at the Flynn, Burlington. $38.25-$69.75. www.flynnvt.org
Edith Wharton in love
7:30 Thursday, May 8, the Middlebury Acting Company begins its run (through May 18) of âWharton Between the Sheets,â the work by Massachusetts playwright Anne Undeland about the mid-life romance of novelist Edith Wharton, Town Hall Theater, Middlebury. $15-$39. www.townhalltheater.org
Concert caps Young Tradition Festival
7 p.m. Saturday, May 10, the 2025 Young Tradition Festival celebrating up-and-coming traditional musicians culminates with a concert by The Pine Tree Flyers and the Young Tradition Touring Group, Contois Auditorium, Burlington City Hall. $25. www.vtfolklife.org/young-tradition-festival
VSO ends season with Mahler
7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra completes its season with âMahlerâs Titan,â a performance of the Czech composerâs First Symphony as well as Vermont composer Alexandra du Boisâ civil-rights-inspired âFanfare for Orchestraâ and âMy Name Is Amanda Toddâ by Jocelyn Morlock, the Flynn, Burlington. $8.35-$62. www.flynnvt.org
Lincoln concert series ends season
7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 10, the final Burnham Presents concert of the season offers a performance featuring Nordic/Appalachian music and culture courtesy of Bruce Molsky and Ale Moller, Burnham Hall, Lincoln. $20-$30. www.burnhampresents.org
Hinesburg performance for Motherâs Day
4 p.m. Sunday, May 11, the Hinesburg Artist Series marks spring and Motherâs Day with a concert featuring the Hinesburg Community Band and South County Chorus, Champlain Valley Union High School auditorium, Hinesburg. Free; donations accepted. www.hinesburgartistseries.org
Mexican music and dance in Burlington
5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, the performance âTrekking Mexicoâ features traditional music and dance from our southern neighbors, the Flynn, Burlington. $32.75. www.flynnvt.org
The Ophelias rock Radio Bean
8 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, indie-rockers The Ophelias join English Major for a show at Radio Bean, Burlington. $12 in advance, $15 day of show. www.radiobean.com
Higher Ground offers A Place to Bury Strangers
8 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, New York noise-makers A Place to Bury Strangers (word of advice: bring your earplugs) follow The Mall in the Higher Ground Showcase Lounge, South Burlington. $20 in advance, $25 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
Concert celebrates American roots music
7 p.m. Friday, May 16, the concert âAmerican Patchwork Quiltâ features American folk and jazz music flavored with influences from West African and East Asia, the Flynn, Burlington. $27.50. www.flynnvt.org
Sci-fi sounds at Nectarâs
9 p.m. Friday, May 16, musician Lindsay Olsen, who goes by the stage name Salami Rose Joe Louis and has made what Pitchfork calls âa handful of grand sci-fi concept albums,â joins Breathwork at Nectarâs, Burlington. $15. www.liveatnectars.com
Concert to benefit Divided Sky
1 p.m. Saturday, May 17, a concert titled âMusic on the Mountainâ to benefit Phish guitarist Trey Anastasioâs Divided Sky Foundation that serves people in addiction recovery features the Divided Sky All-Stars (musicians Anders Osborne, Daniel Donato, Karina Rykman, Natalie Cressman, Ray Paczkowski and Russ Lawton) as well as full band performances by Rykman, The Sun Ra Arkestra, Soule Monde and Evan Jennison, Jackson Gore Village, Okemo Mountain, Ludlow. $20. www.musiconthemtn.com
25th anniversary concerts in Montpelier
7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 17, 3 p.m. Sunday, May 18, the season-ending performances celebrating the 25th anniversary of Capital City Concerts offer two programs, with the first on Saturday featuring performers including soprano Hyunah Yu and pianist Jeffrey Chappell on works by Bach, Mendelssohn and Gershwin and Sundayâs concert led by a performance of a Beethoven work by the Borromeo String Quartet, Unitarian Church of Montpelier. $15-$30. www.capitalcityconcerts.org
Bella Voce concerts in Colchester
7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 17, 3 p.m. Sunday, May 18, the Bella Voice Womenâs Chorus of Vermont presents two performances of its spring concert with guest artists Solaris Vocal Ensemble, McCarthy Arts Center, St. Michaelâs College, Colchester. $35. www.bellavocevt.org
Frevo for free in Westford
4 p.m. Sunday, May 18, the jazz/Latin/classical quartet Frevo performs as part of the Westford Music Series, Westford Common Hall. Free; donations accepted. www.facebook.com/westfordmusicseries
Samia sings songs in South Burlington
8 p.m. Monday, May 26, a Memorial Day concert featuring indie-rock singer-songwriter Samia plus opener Raffaella takes place in the Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington. $25 in advance, $30 day of show. www.highergroundmusic.com
âBabyCakesâ comes to Full Circle
7 p.m. Friday, May 30, the Burlington-based Full Circle Theater Collaborative presents a Vermont cast in local playwright Leila Teitelmanâs grief-centered work âBabyCakes,â Off Center for the Dramatic Arts, Burlington. $15-$20. www.fullcircletheatervt.org
Vermont Ballet Theater celebrates dance
1 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 31, the Vermont Ballet Theater presents two performances of its spring show âCelebration of Dance,â the Flynn, Burlington. $18.90-$30. www.flynnvt.org
Contact Brent Hallenbeck at [email protected].
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