It is tough to know where to start when talking about the culturally rich entertainment scene in New Haven. The New Haven Symphony the fourth oldest orchestra in the nation, draws from the rich talent pool of Yale’s renowned music department. Similarly, the Yale Repertory Theatre has close ties to Yale’s drama department, and there is much cross-fertilization with New Haven’s other famous professional theatre, the Long Wharf .

Broadway-bound plays premiere at the Shubert Performing Arts Center. The Yale Cabaret is a well kept secret, showcasing the work of Yale students to the accompaniment of some of the best food in town. Sprague and Woolsey Halls host some 300 concerts a year sponsored by the Yale Graduate School of Music. The Elm Shakespeare Company may not be as famous as some of New Haven’s other theatre companies, but its free performances in Edgarton Park, are a perennial summer favorite.

The Elm City has a long history of jazz, and the New Haven Jazz Festival has been bringing top notch jazz to the region for over 20 years. The festival has gained international fame as one of the largest, long-running, free music festivals in the country. For years, clubs like The Foundry, Malcolm’s and Cafe Nine have provided jazz artists with a cool place to jam.

Speaking of jamming, the first place that comes to mind when one thinks of modern and rock music, dancing and partying is Toad’s Place, a hopping (if you will excuse the expression) place for over 25 years. Many of the country’s most famous rock and roll artists—The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, among them— have performed in the Toad’s intimate space. New Haven’s premier blues spot is Blues Café, where excellent Southern cooking goes with excellent music.

On a more formal note, if you prefer ties and tails as opposed to a lawn chairs and mosquitoes, the Chamber Music Society at Yale presents concerts of fine chamber music throughout the year. The New Haven Gaelic Players presents well-known works of Irish playwrights.

Algonkuin Players Theatre Company
(203) 248-5924
365 Mather Street, Unit 80,
Hamden, CT 06514-3129

A multi-cultural group with a Native American focus, the company was founded in 1993. In addition to producing plays by and about Native Americans, the company draws from the diverse backgrounds and interests of its members to present plays from a variety of cultures.

Alliance Theatre
(203) 932-7085
28 Vine St
West Haven, CT 06519

This New Haven-based theatrical group is in residence at the University of New Haven. Outstanding productions featuring the works of Ibsen, Chekov, and Moliere, to name a few.

Artspace
(203) 772-2709
50 Orange Street
New Haven, CT 06510
www.artspacenh.org

A regional arts center that showcases new work in the visual, literary and performing arts, Artspace offers performances, a gallery with changing exhibits, a monthly coffeehouse and networking opportunities for area artists and performers.

Chamber Music Society at Yale
(203) 432-4158
470 College Street
New Haven, CT 06511
www.yale.edu/schmus/concerts/calendars/cms_frames.html

The Society offers a subscription series of eight concerts during the academic year—six featuring internationally renowned guest artists and two showcasing talents of faculty and staff at the Yale School of Music.

Chancel Opera Company
(203) 562-0634
www.chancelopera.com

This repertory company of amateur and professional performers of all ages produces operas based on religious scripture, fairy tales and fables. One major opera every year benefits the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen.

City Spirit Artists
(203) 773-1777
850 Grand Avenue
New Haven, CT 06513

Founded in 1976 as part of a bicentennial initiative by the National Endowment for the Arts, CSA creates and delivers art programs to various special populations in and around the New Haven area. Target audiences include the elderly, homeless, incarcerated, teens-at-risk, and low income communities.

Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra
(860) 612-4371
27 Grove Hill
New Britain, CT 06052
www.thevirtuosi.org

The Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra is a professional orchestra from the Greater Hartford / New Britain area dedicated to presenting both traditional and contemporary classical chamber works to the public.

Eastbound Theatre
(203) 772-2377
40 Railroad Avenue South
Milford, CT 06460
www.milfordarts.org/theatre

Sponsored by the Milford Fine Arts Council, this organization performs in Milford’s newly completed Center for the Arts.

Shubert Performing Arts Center
(203) 562-5666, (888) 736 2663
247 College St
New Haven, CT 06510-2405
www.shubert.com

One of the great advantages of being in New Haven is that you don’t have to drive all the way to New York City to see a Broadway quality performance.