Top U.S. Summer Festivals for Music, Dance & Theater

Wow! Tanglewood's 2009 season packs several marquee whollops: crooners Tony Bennett and Diana Krall; concerts and workshops with James Taylor; a world premiere from the Mark Morris Dance Company; a John Williams Film Night; plus the Labor Day Jazz Festival, this year featuring Paquito d'Rivera, Regina Carter, and John Pizzarelli. Bring a picnic and a bottle of bubbly, and enjoy fabulous live music on the lawns of historic Tanglewood, a beautiful estate in the Berkshires and the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Of course, in addition to the aforementioned special guests, the BSO performs throughout the season, conducted by its renowned Music Director James Levine. He opens this year's festival on July 3 with an all-Tchaikovsky program, and over the summer he and the orchestra will present Mahler's Symphony No. 6 (July 17) and Brahms' A German Requiem (July 25), a concert performance of Wagner's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Act III (July 11), and two fully-staged performances of Mozart's Don Giovanni (July 26 & 27). NB: Book well in advance if you want to stay at Wheatleigh, my favorite hotel in the Berkshires.

June 22 - September 6, 2009.

Every year in late May and early June, the genteel port city of Charleston, South Carolina, is essentially taken over by its annual Spoleto Festival USA, an esteemed performing-arts festival held throughout town in historic churches, theaters and gardens. It's the sister festival to the famous one held every summer in Spoleto, Italy, as both were founded by the late Italian composer Gian Carlo Menotti. For seventeen-days, the festival presents first-rate classical and contemporary international productions, and the local social set responds in kind by throwing all sorts of benefit parties, many held in private historic homes. This year, award-winning actress and former NEA chair Jane Alexander hosts the annual kick-off gala, with a dinner honoring Charles Wadsworth, longtime director of Spoleto's chamber music program, followed by the opening performance of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (May 23). Among this year's highlights are Dogugaeshi, an exquisite Japanese puppetry show from director Basil Twist; jazz standards from the lovely Tierney Sutton and her band; Noche Flamenco's dramatic dancing and music featuring soloist dancer Soledad Barrio; and a production of the Gustave Charpentier's opera, Louise, set in Bohemian Paris. Don't miss the closing night outdoor orchestral concert and fireworks finale at Middleton Place, a former plantation with gorgeous gardens (June 7).

May 22 - June 7, 2009.

Newport in the summer is such a gorgeous and fun New England getaway, especially at festival time! It was 55 years ago this summer when jazz pianist and promoter George Wein launched the annual festival that helped the patrician port city of Newport to get it's groove on, and five years after that he added a folk festival to the bill. Today, both Wein and Newport are renowned for these celebrations; thankfully, at 83, Wein is still at the helm. Both events are held outdoors at Fort Adams State Park, surrounded by water and loads of handsome sailboats, so good weather is key. Dress code and the vibe is very casual. Go with friends, bring a picnic and your own blanket or beach chair, and enjoy an afternoon of al fresco music from famous acts and up-and-coming talent. For something a bit more elegant, put on a sundress or linen suit and attend jazz fest's opening night cocktail reception, held overlooking the grass courts at the historic International Tennis Hall of Fame, followed by a concert with famed vocalist Etta James (August 7). Other marquee names at the jazz fest this year include Tony Bennett, Branford Marsalis, Dave Brubeck, and the Christian McBride Group. Rocking out at the folk fest will be legends Pete Seeger (who's 90 years old!), Joan Baez, Judy Collins and Arlo Guthrie.

Folk Festival, July 31 - August 2 and Jazz Festival, August 7 - 9, 2009.

One of America's leading training grounds for young musicians, the Aspen Music Festival and School celebrates it's 60th season, a combination of masterful musical performances set amid the grandeur of the Colorado Rockies and the sophisticated city of Aspen. The nine-week festival presents more than 350 events, among them chamber music, orchestral concerts, opera, jazz, master classes, lectures, and kids' programs. Notable dates are Al Jarreau (June 27), Aspen Opera's production of La Bohème (July 16, 18, and 20), Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg performing Bach and Schumann (July 21), Natalie Cole with a string and a jazz band (July 25), Bach's Brandenburg Concertos (July 14-15), and opera singers Dawn Upshaw (July 24 and 29) and Deborah Voigt (August 6). Plus, the Aspen Chamber Symphony performs througout the season. In between concerts, be sure to check out Aspen's top boutiques and hot restaurants. NB: Colorado's Vail Valley also hosts a fabulous summer music festival featuring the New York Philharmonic.

June 25 - August 23, 2009.

Celebrating its 77th anniversary in 2009, Jacob's Pillow is the longest-running dance festival in the U.S., and the only dance institution to be named a National Historic Landmark. Set on a farm in the bucolic Berkshire Mountains, about two-and-a-half hours' drive west of Boston, the annual summer festival features cutting-edge ticketed performances from 50 different companies covering genres from contemporary ballet and tap to hip-hop and flamenco, plus more than 200 free lectures, film screenings, exhibits and talks with artists. The 2009 opening night gala features Jason Samuels Smith, tap sensation from Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk, New York City-based Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, and contemporary troupe Gallim Dance, plus cocktails, dinner, a live auction and dancing on the Great Lawn (June 20). Notable performances this season include the world premiere of Orbo Novo, by Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui; the U.S. debut of Taiwanese dancer Fang-Yi Sheu's LAFA & Artists; a celebration of the legendary Merce Cunningham's 90th birthday; and the U.S. premiere of Des gens qui dansent from experimental French choregorapher by Jean-Claude Gallotta and Groupe Emile Dubois. One of the free events is a "PillowTalk" with Rachel Maddow, host of MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show, who happens to lives in Western Massachusetts.

June 20 - August 30, 2009.

Shakespearean splendor in the woods! I heard about this hidden gem from my editor Chantal, who went to college in Wisconsin and once volunteered as an usher at this festival: "The venue is magical," she says. "The outdoor amphitheater is tucked away in a wooded area at the top of a hill in rural Spring Green, not far from Taliesin, the former home of Wisconsin native Frank Lloyd Wright. Making plays by Shakespeare and other classic playwrights both accessible and entertaining is the mission of the American Players Theatre, and they do it with such panache that they've been nominated for a Tony Award for regional theater, and they regularly attract audiences from Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison and other cities within driving distance. Costumes and actors are top-notch. Take a picnic and wine to enjoy beforehand—they even provide grills if you want to cook! Bring a sweater and umbrella in case the weather changes, and bug-spray just in case the mosquitoes are out." Big news this summer is brand new indoor theater, built so they can also offer workshops and additional plays indoors. The Shakespeare selections this year are The Comedy of Errors, A Winter's Tale and King Henry V, rounded out by George Bernard Shaw's The Philanderer and Noel Coward's Hay Fever, among others.

June 6 - October 18, 2009.

An evening at Caramoor is a lovely way to top off a romantic day-trip from nearby New York City. It's difficult to say which is more beautiful—the music or the setting—because the Caramoor International Music Festival is a feast for the eyes and the ears! This acclaimed annual summer festival attracts leading musicians and conductors from around the world who gather at Caramoor, a sprawling 90-acre estate at Katonah—an hours' drive north of Manhattan—with a magnificent Italian-style mansion, courtyards, lawns, gardens and woodland trails. Featuring performances from Wednesdays through Sundays during a six-week period, the festival has a diverse lineup including chamber music, jazz, world music and opera, plus many kid-friendly productions. Patrons can see headline performances in the Venetian Theater, a 1,700 seat open-air theater with state-of-the-art equipment, or in the charming Spanish Courtyard, which seats 600. The opening night gala features Mezzo-Soprano Susan Graham with the Orchestra of St. Luke's conducted by David Robertson (June 27). Other notable shows include the music of Cuba with Paquito D'Rivera, Tiempo Libre, Chuchito Valdés and Jorge Luis Prats; Pops, Patriots & Fireworks 4th of July Extravaganza; Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf—great for kids; Béla Fleck's Africa Project; and a jazz series with such legends as Randy Weston, Dianne Reeves and Cyrus Chestnut.

June 27 - September 2, 2009.

A hotbed of experimental and contemporary dance, the American Dance Festival is a magnet for dancers, choreographers, students, teachers, critics and musicians worldwide, and has been at the forefront of modern dance since 1934. Every June and July, the festival offers more than 60 modern dance performances by established, mid-career and emerging dancers and choreographers. This year's theme explores the nuances of "Where Ballet and Modern Meet," and most performances will be held at the new Durham Performing Arts Center. The festival kicks off with Shen Wei Dance Arts, choreographed by Shen Wei, known for his work at the Beijing Olympic games opening ceremony. The annual ADF scholarship fundraising gala on July 9 includes a performance by the esteemed modern dance troupe Pilobous, plus a specially commissioned new work by Israeli choreographers Avshalom Pollak and Inbal Pinto. Other world-class choreographers and dance companies appearing this summer include Mark Morris, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet and the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet.

June 11 - July 25, 2009.

Dahling, this is the summer stock to end all summer stocks—everyone who's anyone in the theater world has performed at or at least been in the audience of this prestigious festival, which holds its 55th season in 2009. Once again, both seasoned and aspiring actors will perform classic and new plays on various stages at the Center for Theater and Dance of Williams College in historic Williamstown in the Berkshires. WTF also presents late-night cabaret, readings, workshops, kid friendly programs, and it runs a prestigious school to train future theater industry professionals. Among the mainstage productions this season are A.R. Gurney's 1974 play Children (July 1-12), followed by Sam Shepard's True West (July 15-26) and the George Kelly farce The Torch-Bearers (July 29-August 9), starring Tony Award winner Marian Seldes. The Nikos Stage will host three world premieres from up and coming playwrights and directors.

July 1 - August 23, 2009.

Summer in Chicago is all about enjoying the warm weather after a long, cold winter, so that's one reason why candelabras and fine champagne are usually part of picnics at Ravinia, a big summer destination for music loving Chicagoans since 1904! It's the oldest outdoor music festival in the U.S., and has been the summer venue for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1936—any classical music afficionado has heard the radio broadcasts from Ravinia every summer. There are two indoor venues for smaller shows, but the most spectacular concerts are those held outdoors, where concert goers hold elaborate picnics on the expansive lawn. This year, the three-month program includes an array of genres and artists, from Bach, Brahms and Beethoven to Tony Bennett, Pat Benatar and Blondie (how's that for alliteration?). Young pianist sensation Lang Lang joins the CSO as a guest artist for the Prokofiev Concerto No. 3 (July 26), and he'll by joined by Chicago-born pianist Herbie Hancock in a program that includes a reprise of their Grammy Awards broadcast of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue (July 26). Other guests will include cellist Yo-Yo Ma, flutist James Galway, and Patti LuPone, who'll sing Brecht-Weill's Seven Deadly Sins. In honor of the bicentennial of Illinois native son Abraham Lincoln, this season will feature several works inspired by Abraham Lincoln, including new commissions from choreographer Bill T. Jones and Chicago jazz artist Ramsey Lewis (September 17 & 19).

June 5 - September 19, 2009.

Ojai's verdant mountains, natural beauty and atmospheric Spanish Mission architecture make this laid-back, artsy town my preferred weekend escape from Los Angeles any time of year, but those hills really come alive with music just one long weekend each year during the city's famous music festival, which has been garnering raves since 1947. Ojai's temperate weather usually holds up for the al fresco concert series. This year, the four-day affair brings together an eclectic mix of top international composers, musicians and ensembles, such as Tin Hat, a recorder quartet from Berlin; Grammy Award-winning sextet Eighth Blackbird; experimental actor and singer Rinde Eckert in a world premiere; and Trimpin, an innovative winning sound sculptor and composer who'll present two interactive art and sound installations in Libbey Park, beloved for its canopy of live oak trees. NB: The place to stay is the divine Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, a historic resort with a fantastic spa and golf course.

June 11 - 14, 2009.