Boston On The Half Shell
Back Bay
Bop along with the Boston Pops and other free orchestral concerts and films at the Hatch Memorial Shell June through August.
10 Best Performing Arts Venues in Boston, Massachusetts
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With its large population of academics and intellectuals, Boston has its share of discerning moviegoers and movie houses, especially in Brookline and Cambridge. Theaters at suburban malls and in Downtown may have better screens, if less adventurous fare. The Boston Globe has daily listings in the "Living/Arts" section; the Boston Herald Friday "Scene" section and the Improper Bostonian "Movies" section list films for the week. Movies cost $9–$13. Many theaters have half-price matinees, often rescinded during the opening run of a major film.
Boston Opera House
Downtown
The meticulously renovated 2,700-seat, Beaux Arts building has been lavished with $35 million worth of gold leaf, lush carpeting, and rococo ornamentation. It features lavish musical productions such as Newsies, Kinky Boots, and Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker.
Cambridge Society for Early Music
This group has presented early-music performances since 1980 and deserves much credit for early music's prominence in Boston's musical scene.
Recommended Fodor's Video
Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston
Waterfront
This dazzling waterfront museum hosts experimental electronic, jazz, and world musicians, often in partnership with World Music/CRASHArts or Berklee College of Music. Expect the unexpected—concerts might contain a mix of disparate instruments, fusions of melody and spoken word, or DJs grooving electronica mashups. There are early evening concerts, and an open-air summertime series.
Live Nation
This huge ticket outlet handles top and trending tours of country, rock, and arena shows at major Boston venues such as TD Garden, Xfinity Center, Gillette Stadium, House of Blues, Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, and Paradise Rock Club. Transactions are conducted online.
Museum of Fine Arts
Recognized as one of the country's leading independent film showcases, MFA Film presents more than 500 screenings a year including foreign and classic films. They also host ten annual festivals including the Boston Jewish, French, Iranian, and Palestine film festivals. Theatergoers can grab snacks and drinks at the nearby Taste Café and Wine Bar, which is also a great spot for postfilm discussions.
Orpheum Theatre
Downtown
A music hall since 1852, The Orpheum Theatre today is a very faded yet beloved occasional forum for local and national performers (like Sara Bareilles, Mark Knopfler, Bonnie Raitt, and The Wiggles) who pack its 2,000 seats.
Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra
Jamaica Plain
One of the few self-governing ensembles playing today, Pro Arte performs under the batons of Kevin Rhodes, Gisèle Ben-Dor, and additional colleagues. It presents adventurous programs of classical and modern works at Sanders Theatre, All Saints Brookline, or First Church in Cambridge.
TD Garden
Old West End
New England’s largest sports and entertainment arena, the TD Garden hosts concerts by big-name artists (Adele, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Katy Perry, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons, and Kendrick Lamar to name a few) and special events (WWE, Disney On Ice, Harlem Globetrotters). The Garden is also home to NHL’s Boston Bruins and NBA’s Boston Celtics.
Ticketmaster
The ticket juggernaut has outlets in local stores (check online for locations), or you can order by phone, but note that Ticketmaster phone charges allow neither refunds nor exchanges.
