The Palace Theatre is an 835-seat historic theatre at 80 Hanover Street in Manchester, NH. The Palace Theatre Trust enriches the region’s cultural life and serves as a community resource through its stewardship of the Palace and affiliate facilities. The Trust operates four distinct venues- the historic Palace Theatre, the 300-seat Rex Theatre, the Palace Youth Theatre’s Forever Emma Studios, and the 110-seat Spotlight Room. Between all four venues, we held over 450 live performances.

The Palace and Rex Theatres serve as community spaces for area residents to gather for important, beneficial events and programming and the educational offerings of the Palace Youth Theatre and Palace Academy.

So, as the curtains rise at the Palace Theatre this September, prepare yourselves for an extraordinary theatrical experience. The Palace offers a series of successful Broadway titles for you to see here in Manchester. The St. Mary’s 2024-25 Performing Arts Series opens Friday, September 6th through September 29th with “Oliver”, followed by “The Jersey Boys” Friday, October 18th through November 10th (The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons). Appearing Thursday, November 21st through the 24th is “The Nutcracker”. As we continue to celebrate the Holiday season, next up is the annual favorite “Charles Dickens-A Christmas Carol” on stage from Friday, November 29th through Sunday, December 29th. 2025 begins with “Piano Men,” a Carl Rajotte original production Friday, January 17th through Sunday, February 9th, followed by Jimmy Buffet’s “Escape to Margaritaville” opening Friday, February 28th through Sunday, March 23rd. On Friday, April 18th, we present Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar, ending on Sunday, May 11th. We end the St.Mary’s Performing Arts Series with “A Chorus Line” Friday, May 30th through Sunday, June 22nd.

This Performing Arts Series is unique because the Palace Theatre’s Artistic Director, Carl Rajotte, interviews, and auditions hundreds of performers from all over the United States. Once he makes his choices, they come from all over to perform in Manchester for six weeks. Greeting, meeting, and rehearsing for two weeks and performing the show for four weeks. They are housed in a 26-room dorm owned by the Palace Theatre for the entirety of their visit. Once the show is over, they move on, looking for more work.

In addition to the Performing Arts Series, the Palace hosts many Presenting Shows featuring comedians Juston McKinney, Colin & Brad, Bob Marley, Brian Regan, Paul Reiser, Howie Mandell, and more.

Fabulous tribute music performances by Stayin’ Alive, Who’s Bad, Bruce in the USA, Los Straitjackets, Tequila Sunrise, Orleans & Firefall, and 1964 are just a few of the shows that have graced the Palace’s stage.

For a more intimate setting, head to the Rex Theatre and let your mind wander with Illusionist Kent Axell or Glitches in Reality. What about Mediums Maureen Hancock’s Postcards From Heaven, Lauren Rainbow, and Hypnotist Frank Santos? Enjoy a laugh with our Friday Night Comedy series showcasing Lenny Clarke, Jimmy Dunn, Tom Cotter, Kerri Louise, Emily Ruskowski, the hilarious Calamari Sisters, and more!

Are you looking for more tribute bands? Fleetwood Mac’s Silver Springs, Green River-Credence Clearwater Revival Tribute, Lynard Skynard’s Hatchet, rust Never Sleeps-Neil Young Retrospective, and all genres of Americana, Blues, Country, and Big Band Jazz groups are well represented.

Lastly, and most importantly, any performing arts fan would love any of the Palace Youth Theatre productions. More than 60 performances annually on both the Rex and Palace stages include Mean Girls, The Sound of Music, Finding Nemo, The Diary of Anne Frank, and more. Over 1,000 area youths participate yearly in one of the largest and fastest-growing youth programs in New Hampshire!

So please come and join us for an evening or matinee full of fun, excitement, and fabulous performers!!

Purchase tickets at www.palacetheatre.org, visit The Palace Theatre Box Office at 80 Hanover St., Manchester, NH, or call 603-668-5588.