Summertime and the theater's easy.

Okay, sorry about that ( . . . and apologies to George and Ira. And DuBose Heyward, too.)

The warm months signal a flood of summer entertainment throughout New England -- whether it's in a barn in the hills of New Hampshire or an amphitheater along the banks of The Charles.

The history of theater throughout New England is a colorful one. The Cape Playhouse in Dennis proudly claims the title of oldest professional summer theater in New England. Western Massachusetts is the home of The Williamstown Theatre Festival and The Berkshire Theatre Festival, while New Hampshire boasts The New London Barn Playhouse, Maine offers The Ogunquit Playhouse (above) and Vermont beckons with the Dorset Playhouse, among many others.

For many companies, summer entertainment means lighthearted comedies and musicals. Whether it's an old chestnut like "Guys & Dolls" or new favorites like "Urinetown," you can just kick back and relax. A few groups, however, are tackling more ambitious titles like "I Am My Own Wife." Shakespeare will also be on the menu.

So fire up the Yahoo Map option and take a look at a brief sampling of what's onstage around New England.

In Massachusetts:

Academy of Performing Arts in Orleans
508-255-1963
www.apa1.org
Upcoming shows: "Cats,""The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)," "Rumors," "Little Shop of Horrors"

Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield
413-236-8888
www.barringtonstageco.org
Upcoming shows: "Wonder of the World," "Ring Around The Moon," "Travels With My Discontent," "Disorder: A Mother-Daughter Vaudeville"

Berkshire Theatre Festival in Stockbridge
413-298-5576
www.berkshiretheatre.org
Upcoming shows: "Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone," "The Pilgrim Papers," "Night of the Iguana" and "The Heidi Chronicles"

Cape Cod Theatre Project in Falmouth
www.capecodtheatreproject.org
508-457-4242
Upcoming shows: "Have You Seen Steven Steven?"

Cape Cod Repertory Theatre in East Brewster
508-896-1888
www.caperep.org
Upcoming shows: "The Full Monty"

Cape Cod Playhouse in Dennis
877-385-3911
www.capeplayhouse.com
Upcoming shows: "Guys & Dolls," "The Beard of Avon," "Pete 'n Kelly" and "Sylvia"

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company on Boston Common
617-532-1252
www.freeshakespeare.org
"The Taming Of The Shrew"

Gloucester Stage Company in Gloucester
978-281-4433
www.gloucesterstage.com
Upcoming shows: Arthur Miller's "The Price," "The Secret of Mms. Bonnard's Bath," "Calvin Berger"

North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly
978-232-7200
www.nsmt.org
Upcoming shows: "Cinderella," "Jesus Christ Superstar," Hairspray"

The Publick Theatre in Boston's Christian Herter Park
www.publicktheatre.com
Upcoming Shows: "The Beard of Avon" and "Copenhagen"

Turtle Lane Playhouse in Newton
617-244-0169
www.turtle-lane.com
Upcoming shows: "Lucky Stiff," "Ain't Misbehavin'"

Shakespeare and Company in Lenox
413-637-3353
www.shakespeare.org
Upcoming Shows: "Hamlet," "Enchanted April," "The Merry Wives of Windsor," "The Servant of Two Masters," "Martha Mitchell Calling"

Williamstown Theatre Festival in Williamstown
413-597-3400
www.wtfestival.org
Upcoming Shows: "Sweet Bird of Youth," "A Nervous Smile," "Romeo and Juliet," "Double Double," "The Opposite of Sex"

New Hampshire:

The Barnstormers in Tamworth
603-323-8500
barnstormerstheatre.org
Upcoming Shows: "Dirty Blonde, " Our Town," "Sleuth," "The Lion In Winter," "Proof," "Urinetown"

New London Barn Playhouse in New London
603-526-6710
www.nlbarn.com
Upcoming Shows: "La Cage aux Folles" "Forever Plaid," "The Secret Garden," "Camelot"

Peterborough Players in Peterborough
603-924-7585
www.peterboroughplayers.com
Upcoming Shows: "The Gin Game," "Hobson's Choice," "The Winter's Tale," "Fallen Angels"

Seacoast Repertory in Portsmouth
603-433-4472
www.seacoastrep.org
Upcoming Shows: "42nd Street"

Weathervane Theatre in Whitefield
603-837-9322
weathervanetheatre.org
Upcoming Shows: "Annie," "My Fair Lady," Harvey"

Maine:

Arcadia Repertory Theatre in Somesville
207-244-7260
Upcoming Shows: "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)"

Arundel Barn Playhouse in Arundel
207-985-5552
Upcoming Shows: "42nd Street," "Moon Over Buffalo"

Hackmatack Playhouse in Berwick
207-698-1807
www.hackmatack.org
Upcoming Shows: "Oliver," "The Secret Garden," "The Maine-iac"

Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick
207-725-8759
www.msmt.org
Upcoming Shows: "Aida," "The Full Monty"

Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit
207-646-5511
www.ogunquitplayhouse.org
Upcoming Shows: "Hello, Dolly!," "Menopause The Musical," "Cinderella"

The Theatre at Monmouth in Monmouth
207-933-9999
www.theateratmonmouth.org
Upcoming Shows: "The Tempest," "The Fantasticks," "Charley's Aunt"

Vermont:

Dorset Theatre Festival in Dorset
802-867-5777
www.dorsettheatrefestival.com
Upcoming Shows: "Tom Jones," "The Glass Menagerie"

Weston Playhouse in Weston
802-824-5288
www.westonplayhouse.org
Upcoming Shows: "I Am My Own Wife, " Urinetown," "Stones In His Pockets"

-- OnStage Boston

07/19/06