From plays and musicals to opera and dinner theaters, Albuquerque has numerous live theater companies and stages. Experience the electricity of live theater in Albuquerque at these places.

Albuquerque Little Theatre

A performance at Albuquerque Little Theatre.

Photo Credit: Albuquerque Little Theatre - Miracle Worker

Local plays and musicals are put on year-round at the Albuquerque Little Theatre. Founded almost 100 years ago, Albuquerque Little Theatre has been a staple in Old Town with a rich history. Vivian Vance, who won the first Best Supporting Actress Emmy award ever given, got her start at Albuquerque Little Theatre.

Cardboard Playhouse Theater Company/The Box

Performers stand on stage at Cardboard Playhouse.

Photo Credit: Facebook

Cardboard Playhouse Theater Company is a non-profit children’s theater that focuses on musical theatre. See family-friendly productions of popular children’s stories. The Box is a part of Cardboard Playhouse Theater Company, and primarily focuses on improv.

Duke City Repertory Theatre

Two performers perform during Bard Crawl at the Albuquerque Museum.

Photo Credit: Facebook

Duke City Repertory Theatre focuses on community, and making live theater accessible to everyone. Each summer, Duke City Rep performs a Bard Crawl, where a Shakespeare play gets performed at breweries and other locations They also put on an Ugly Sweater Revue in December.

Musical Theatre Southwest

The cast of the Man of La Mancha, put on by Musical Theatre Southwest, poses for a picture.

Photo Credit: Facebook

Musical Theatre Southwest covers all things musical theater. Established in 1959, Musical Theatre Southwest performs Broadway-style musicals for families and adults. A portion of ticket sales go towards local nonprofits.

New Mexico Shakespeare Festival

Actors perform a work of Shakespeare at the New Mexico Shakespeare Festival.

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Shakespeare’s works come to life at the New Mexico Shakespeare Festival. Each summer, the festival presents two Shakespeare plays at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial free of charge. Other programming happens throughout the year.

Opera Southwest

A man sits at a desk and two women stand over his shoulders during a performance of the opera "Before Night Falls"

Photo Credit: Mark Werner

To experience opera in Albuquerque, attend an Opera Southwest performance. Opera Southwest strives to make opera accessible to everyone. Their shows are geared towards audiences of all ages. Tickets are only $15 for those 30 and younger, and $5 tickets are also available to anyone receiving SNAP or WIC benefits. The season runs from fall to spring.

Popejoy Hall

A photo taken from the stage at Popejoy Hall showcasing all of the seats.

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Popejoy Hall is a premiere theater performance space located on the University of New Mexico campus. It hosts a wide array of shows, from Broadway plays and musicals to films with live bands year-round.

The Dinner Detective

A man performs during a show of The Dinner Detective.

Photo Credit: Facebook

For a different kind of live theater, book a seat at The Dinner Detective, a murder mystery dinner show. This interactive show features the actors hidden in the audience, and it’s up to you to crack the case. Plus, you’ll enjoy a delicious dinner.

The Vortex Theatre

Three actors perform at The Vortex Theatre during The Complete History of America (Abridged).

Photo Credit: Facebook

The Vortex Theatre has been putting on shows for almost 50 years in its intimate black-box performance space. Classic and contemporary performances have taken place, along with larger performances at the National Hispanic Cultural Center.