Publick Playhouse in Cheverly, Maryland is owned and operated by the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation. The theater, established in 1947 has a variety of family friendly programming throughout the year as well as summer camps for kids ages 7 to 16 interested in the performing arts.
The historic theater has the look of an old time movie theater with a large lobby, inclined seating and a large stage up front. My girls and I attended a Tiny Tots performance in June and watched the Berenstain Bears entertain the crowd of mostly daycare and camp groups. The website for the theater touts its great acoustics, but the sound system used for our show was basically a giant speaker on each side of the stage making it really noisy to sit in the front rows of the side sections. Seating for the Tiny Tots shows is general admission.
Tickets for the Publick Playhouse are very reasonable for family friendly entertainment in the Capitol area. For the Berenstain Bears show tickets were only $3 each (with a $3 handling fee per transaction). Tickets can be purchased in person or by calling the box office on Monday through Friday from 10am to 5pm. There is currently no system for purchasing tickets online. Everyone entering the theater must have their own ticket including young children who will be sitting on your lap.
There is no food vending at the theater and food or drink are not permitted inside of the venue. There are not many options for family friendly eating immediately surrounding the Publick Playhouse but if you head up 202 towards the intersection with route 50 you can find several fast food options including Wendy’s , Subway and Checkers. A few more miles up 202 near the intersection with the Beltway is the new Woodmore Town Center with dining options like Noodles and Company and Wegmans.
Upcoming presentations at this PG County theater include a troupe of African drummers and dancers on Thursday, July 21st at 10:15am and 12pm. Tickets for this all ages performance are $6 each. On Thursday, July 28th and Friday, July 29th at 10:15am and 12 noon a Kenyan Acrobat group will take the stage. An additional performance is scheduled for Saturday, July 30th at 11am. Tickets for this family friendly show are $7 each until July 24th and $10 each thereafter.
Publick Playhouse has two large lots of free parking adjacent to the theater. Restrooms and water fountains are located onsite thought there are no changing tables available. Discounted fees for groups may be available for some performances and the theater is also available to rent to stage productions from outside arts groups.
Photo by Kim Engstrom.
