Yard Arts
PERFORMANCEs
Due to covid-19 the yard arts summer 2020 season has been canceled.
check out our virtual program offerings and stay tuned for future program announcements.
Video Left: Alison Manning (Left) and John Forté (Right) by Dancing Camera
What is it like to…
attend a performance at The Yard?
Before A Performance
We invite you to arrive as early as one hour before the performance starts to enjoy a drink or bring a picnic to our outdoor Shell Garden. We offer wine and beer by donation, and the garden—canopied by trees and twinkling lights—provides a charming place to meet people or catch up with friends. In the event of rain, the pre-show gathering happens inside our studio.
Our box office also opens one hour prior to the start of the show. When you arrive, please first pick up your tickets from the box office at the entrance to our studio. You can pre-order tickets online or by calling our office at 508-645-9662. We recommend purchasing well in advance, as some of our shows sell out. If tickets are still available on the night of the performance, you may purchase them at the box office. We accept cash, check, and all major credit cards.
Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the performance starts, and know that we reserve the right to give away unclaimed tickets within five minutes of the show’s start time. Late seating is not guaranteed.
If you would like to make dinner part of your Yard evening but did not have time to pack a picnic, we are just a five minute walk from the Chilmark General Store, which offers salads, pizzas, and a beautiful deli selection. Check their hours online before you make your plan, as they shift at different points in the summer. For a sitdown dinner, the delicious Chilmark Tavern is also a five minute walk from The Yard. We recommend making a reservation and should note it’s BYOB.
When you arrive at The Yard, one of our interns will help you with parking. Our parking lot is small and does fill up, so please arrive early in the event we need to direct you to nearby off-campus parking.
If you want to learn more about a performance before you buy a ticket, please feel free to call our office. Someone on our staff will be glad to speak with you about the show and what you can expect to experience.
Check out our Yard Arts 2019 video reel for a look at the breadth of performers we bring to The Yard!
Video by Sophia Attebery
During A Performance
You will experience topflight performances at The Yard! In any given season, you can expect to encounter up-and-coming choreographers, established companies, theatrical works, tap dancers, musicians, and many other types of performers. Every artist we present is committed to their craft and actively enriching the cultural landscape of our time.
The Yard’s theater accommodates 100 people with flexible seating that can be arranged according to each artist’s needs. Most artists opt for a proscenium style seating arrangement, but you might find yourself seated on stage. Wherever your chair is, you can expect a uniquely intimate performance experience. Our hope is for you to feel up close and connected to the performers no matter where you sit.
Most performances last 1 to 2 hours, and the printed program will note whether or not there will be intermissions. If there is an intermission, please join us for a drink in the Shell Garden. You may bring your drink back into the theater with you to continue sipping as the show goes on. Our theater bathroom is a wheelchair-accessible port-o-john, located about 50 feet from the theater.
If you have not redeemed your ticket by 10 minutes after the show starts, we will offer your ticket to anyone on the stand-by list. If you are late, you will need to wait until a stopping point in the show before you may take your seat.
Please try your best not to leave the theater during the performance, and know that you may not be permitted to re-enter if you do leave. Please be sure your cell phone is off or on silent, and please do not text or otherwise use your phone during the show. No photos or video are permitted in the theater.
If you are concerned about triggers in a performance, please reach out to The Yard before the show by calling our office at 508-645-9662.
Proscenium seating
On Stage seating
And More!
After The Performance
The Yard is known for is our Artist Talk Back discussions. After almost every performance, we invite you to stay to hear from the artist directly and to ask questions of them. We then invite you back to our Shell Garden for a post-show reception over drinks and dessert.
The reception typically provides another opportunity to engage with the artists, as well as our staff and your fellow audience members.
We look forward to seeing you soon at The Yard!
Videos by Dancing Camera
What is The Yard’s...
Box Office Policy?
You may purchase tickets online, over the phone, at our office during working hours, or at our theater before a performance. We recommend purchasing tickets in advance, as some performances sell out. Please feel free to arrive as early as one hour before the performance, and know that admission is not guaranteed for anyone who arrives less than five minutes prior to the show's start.
Out of respect for our artists and audience:
Please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the performance;
Seating is not guaranteed for those who arrive less than 5 minutes before the start of the event;
Unclaimed tickets will be released to the waitlist, and late seating is not guaranteed;
Photography and videography are not permitted during Yard performances.
Additionally, if you use a wheelchair or have other accessibility needs, please call our office at least 24 hours in advance of the performance.
Thank you for your cooperation. We look forward to seeing you soon at The Yard!
Top Video: Yard Arts 2019 Highlights, by Sophia Attebery, full artist list here
Middle Photo: Raphael Xavier, courtesy of Raphael Xavier
Membership Photo by Sally Cohn
Special Tickets Photo by Julie Rooney
Box Office Video by Dancing Camera