Olney Outdoors - Summer 2026

Olney Outdoors returns to Olney Theatre Center for a summer series of concerts, tribute acts, theatrical performances, family programs, and community activities. The program spans August 9 through September 12, 2026, with events presented on the Root Family Stage at Omi’s Pavilion and in the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab. Highlights include Summerfest, Lab Lounge performances, tribute bands, songwriter showcases, family entertainment, and Olney’s Got Pride programming.

The page also directs first-time visitors to the venue’s FAQs for information about seating and how to get the most from an Olney Outdoors visit. An All-Access Membership is available for patrons who want to attend programming across Olney’s stages during July, August, and September.

When: August 9–September 12, 2026

Venue: Olney Theatre Center, including the Root Family Stage at Omi’s Pavilion and the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab

Tickets: Individual prices vary by program. Summerfest is explicitly free; prices for the other listed events appear below.

Schedule: The page organizes the series into weekly programs. Week One runs August 13–16, Week Two runs August 20–23, Week Three runs August 27–30, Week Four runs September 3–6, and Week Five runs September 10–12, although the Ray Charles Lab Lounge listing runs September 10–13.

Summerfest: Sunday, August 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This free annual open house includes performances and demonstrations featuring songs from the 2026–27 season’s *Some Like It Hot*, *Les Misérables*, *Crowns*, *Kimberly Akimbo*, and *Million Dollar Quartet*. Additional activities include a presentation on creating the sound of an Olney musical with Maestro Chris Youstra; a patron’s guide to *A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder* with cast members; an audition workshop led by Casting Director Irene Martinko; and a discussion of the 2026–27 season with Jason Loewith. Visitors can also take behind-the-scenes tours of the new Bernard Family Theatre, Gana Dunlop Maker’s Center, and Jim & Carol Trawick Education Center. The open house is scheduled to include community performers, a used costume sale, free classes for children and adults, the Montgomery County Public Libraries used book sale, vendors, food trucks, ticket giveaways, membership offers, and more. The page notes that the full schedule was still forthcoming.

Week One: August 13–16

Lab Lounge: Songs of Carly Simon & James Taylor: August 13–16 in the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab. Tickets are $50–$65. The program explores the music and complicated relationship of Carly Simon and James Taylor, emphasizing the enduring legacy of their singer-songwriter collaboration and songs such as “You’re So Vain,” “Sweet Baby James,” “Anticipation,” and “Fire and Rain.”

KPOP DEMON HUNTERS SING-ALONG: Saturday, August 15, with performances at 10:00 a.m. and noon on the Root Family Stage at Omi’s Pavilion. Tickets are $20. This interactive sing-and-dance-along invites fans of all ages to join in with songs including “Golden,” “How It’s Done,” and “What It Sounds Like.” Lyric sheets will be available for newcomers.

Week Two: August 20–23

Lab Lounge: Songs of Diana Ross & The Supremes: August 20–23 in the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab. Tickets are $50–$65. The program celebrates the Motown repertoire of Diana Ross and The Supremes, including “Stop! In the Name of Love,” “Come See About Me,” “Baby Love,” “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” and “You Can’t Hurry Love.”

What the World Needs Now: An Evening of Burt Bacharach: Friday, August 21, on the Root Family Stage at Omi’s Pavilion. Tickets are $35. The evening surveys Burt Bacharach’s work as a singer, songwriter, and producer, including “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” “What the World Needs Now,” “I Say a Little Prayer,” “Arthur’s Theme,” “On My Own,” “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” and “Do You Know the Way to San Jose.”

Princess Party: Saturday, August 22, on the Root Family Stage at Omi’s Pavilion. Tickets are $15. This family program brings together positive, powerful princess characters from stage and screen in an empowering performance featuring songs from animated films and Broadway musicals.

It Only Takes a Moment: The Songs of Jerry Herman: Saturday, August 22, on the Root Family Stage at Omi’s Pavilion. Tickets are $45. The program combines familiar songs from *Mame*, *Hello, Dolly!*, and *La Cage aux Folles* with lesser-known material from *Dear World*, *The Grand Tour*, and *Mack and Mabel*. The repertoire also includes “We Need a Little Christmas,” “Before the Parade Passes By,” and “If He Walked Into My Life.”

Week Three: August 27–30

The Chairman: Frank Sinatra: August 27–30 in the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab. Tickets are $50–$65. Wendell Rakosky performs a Frank Sinatra tribute portraying the Rat Pack leader and drawing on Sinatra’s signature style. The page identifies Rakosky as a highly regarded tribute artist whose work has been praised by the *Baltimore Banner* and CanvasRebel. The theatre lab will be kept cool for the performances.

Space Oddity: The Ultimate David Bowie Experience: Friday, August 28, on the Root Family Stage at Omi’s Pavilion. Tickets are $55. This theatrically staged David Bowie tribute uses elaborate costumes, multimedia elements, and live performance to trace Bowie’s constantly changing musical and visual career.

Ingrid & Mollie’s Jennie the Cat: Jennie’s Beach Day: Saturday, August 29, with performances at 10:00 a.m. and noon on the Root Family Stage at Omi’s Pavilion. Tickets are $15. In this puppet show, Jennie the Cat visits the beach for the first time and learns how to pack, what to expect, how to share, and how to be brave. Soft hand puppets, original music, and opportunities for the audience to sing and dance are part of the presentation. The program is especially intended for children ages 2–8, while also appealing to adults.

Glenn Leonard’s Temptations Revue: Saturday, August 29, on the Root Family Stage at Omi’s Pavilion. Tickets are $50. The revue features five vocalists, full choreography, and a live band performing the Temptations’ best-known songs. Glenn Leonard was the Temptations’ lead tenor from 1975 to 1983 and recorded 10 albums with the group, including its version of “Silent Night.” He also performed with the original members during the 1982 Temptations Reunion Tour. The lineup additionally includes Shelton Price, Melvin Franklin Jr., former Atlantic Records artist Kareem Ali, and Andre Jackson, all longtime members of the revue.

Week Four: September 3–6

Lab Lounge: Ella Fitzgerald: September 3–6 in the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab. Local performer Anitra McKinney channels Ella Fitzgerald in a program built around songs from Fitzgerald’s extensive catalogue, including “Mack the Knife,” “How High the Moon,” “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.” The page does not list a ticket price for this program.

Dragvaganza: Friday, September 4, at 8:00 p.m. on the Root Family Stage at Omi’s Pavilion. Tickets are $42–$52. This disco-inspired drag performance aims to recreate the energy and glamour of Studio 54 through song, dance, and comedy. Audience members are encouraged to sing along, dance when prompted, and celebrate drag artistry. The featured performers are Evon Dior Michelle, Tiara Missou, Kaydence McQueen, and Exhora Decomer.

Almost Queen: Saturday, September 5, on the Root Family Stage at Omi’s Pavilion. Tickets are $50. The four-piece band recreates Queen’s music, costumes, harmonies, instrumental interludes, and live energy. Its repertoire includes both iconic hits and the group’s detailed performance style, with an emphasis on authenticity and precision for listeners of all ages.

Week Five: September 10–12

Lab Lounge: Ray Charles: September 10–13 in the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab. Tickets are $50–$65. This program honors Ray Charles, the influential American artist known as the “Genius of Soul” and an inaugural Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. The performance explores how Charles combined gospel and blues to shape a distinct American musical style, with songs including “Georgia on My Mind,” “Baby What’d I Say?” and “Hit the Road Jack.” The listed performers are Quincy Vicks, identified with *Long Way Down*, and Solomon Parker, identified with *Kinky Boots*.

TUSK: The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute: Thursday, September 10, on the Root Family Stage at Omi’s Pavilion. Tickets are $50. TUSK performs Fleetwood Mac hits and deeper cuts, covering both the group’s full-band work and solo material. The five professional musicians specialize in recreating the parts associated with Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood. The group has toured as a Fleetwood Mac tribute since 2008 and is known for detailed musicianship, note-accurate arrangements, and an energetic stage presence.

Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC: I Am America: Friday, September 11, 2026, on the Root Family Stage at Omi’s Pavilion. Tickets are $30. Led by Artistic Director Thea Kano, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC is in its 45th season and presents music and education intended to advance equality, inclusion, justice, and dignity. The organization includes more than 250 singers, three select ensembles, a dance company, and a youth chorus, reaching an annual audience of more than 10,000 people. Its more than 100 annual outreach performances have included appearances at the HRC National Dinner, NBC’s *Today* show, the Kennedy Center Honors, presidential events, and international LGBTQ music and outreach tours. Its GenOUT youth outreach initiative began in 2001, followed by the GenOUT Youth Chorus in 2015; since then, more than 160 singers from 80 area schools have participated.

Better Off Dead: Saturday, September 12, on the Root Family Stage at Omi’s Pavilion. Tickets are $45. This Grateful Dead tribute band emphasizes the improvisational nature of the original group, so no two concerts are identical. Better Off Dead performs broadly across the Grateful Dead catalogue for longtime Deadheads, casual listeners, and newcomers, and has previously performed at Olney Outdoors.

Ages: The page identifies *Jennie’s Beach Day* as especially suitable for ages 2–8 and describes the KPOP DEMON HUNTERS sing-along as appropriate for all ages. No general age restriction is listed for the series or its other programs.

Run time: No performance lengths are provided.

Accessibility and seating: The page refers visitors to Olney Theatre Center’s FAQs for seating information and advice about attending an Olney Outdoors event, but it does not provide specific accessibility details in the event listing.

Box office: 301-924-3400. The box office is listed as open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 6:00 p.m.