See Also
Did You Know?
One of the first few episodes of the sci-fi series the X-Files takes place in Worcester. Although some of places referenced in the show do exist, nothing was shot on location.
By The Numbers
Erik Per Sullivan, the 14-year-old, 4'11" child actor from Worcester, had roles in more than a dozen movies including playing the voice of Sheldon in Finding Nemo.
Entertainment
Whether your idea of a good time is a no-holds-barred arena rock show or a performance by a string quartet, Worcester has what you’re looking for.
At 15,000 seats, the DCU Center is the city's biggest performance venue. It has played host to such performers as Godsmack, No Doubt, Garbage, Bruce Springsteen and Madonna, as well as NCAA hockey and Holy Cross basketball. If you want to go to the circus, roar with monster trucks or check out the Harlem Globetrotters, the DCU Center hosts them, too. Baseball fans can walk to a Worcester Tornadoes game — the professional CAN-AM League team plays right on campus at Fitton Field.
After a magnificent restoration of a vacant downtown theater, the 2,300-seat Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts opened in March 2008 to rave reviews. Its full and varied performance schedule includes Broadway tours, nationally recognized performers, and family shows. The venue has played host to the musical Hairspray, magician David Copperfield, and Irish band The Saw Doctors, among others.
For a performance experience steeped in history, check out the storied Mechanics Hall, the nation's finest pre-Civil War concert hall. Its celebrated acoustics have attracted such performers as Yo Yo Ma and Ani DiFranco. For a more intimate audience, Worcester boasts the legendary rock club The Lucky Dog Music Hall, the beloved Ralph's Rock Club, and the progressive Worcester Palladium.
Billiard-lovers can choose between the Boston Billiard Club, Jillian's and London Billiards, while wordophiles are welcome at the The Q Café, the heart of the city's thriving performance poetry scene.
The Worcester Foothills Theatre Company, a full-time professional theater, produces eight shows from September to June, ranging from musicals to comedies to drama. The Worcester County Light Opera Company is the city's oldest active theater company and produces a wide array of theatrical works, from comedy to tragedy, classical to contemporary, musical to non-musical.
Movie enthusiasts can catch all the latest films in one of the many theaters in the area. The popular Cinema de Lux at the Shoppes at Blackstone Valley in Millbury, minutes of driving distance from campus, and Worcester’s Showcase North carry the latest blockbusters while the West Boylston Cinema shows recent flicks for cheap (just $4.75 for evening showings). There's also the Seelos Theater on the Holy Cross campus, which screens recent movies during the semester for free. Yes, free.
For all the entertainment Worcester has to offer, click on our listings.