Performing artists come to the Vineyard to refresh themselves creatively and develop new work, and Island audiences see exciting performances in return: new plays, musicals and even ice-skating dancers from Canada.

Alexandra London-Thompson returned to the Tisbury Amphitheatre this summer as the director of Much Ado About Nothing, which had its premiere last Thursday evening. Ten years ago she starred alongside her husband in the same play, the last time the MV Playhouse produced the show.

On Wednesday evening, July 6, the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse welcomes Andrew Carroll’s play If All the Sky Were Paper for a one-night-only showing at the Performing Arts Center.

The Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse is offering a new after school program called Theater Kids beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The Vineyard Playhouse will present The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [Revised] at the Tisbury amphitheater, featuring a rapping Othello and a hyper-speed Hamlet, through August 15.

It’s snowy, cold and still getting dark early. Not great for a trip to the beach, but perfect weather for poetry.

On Friday and Saturday, Feb. 6 and Feb. 7, the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School and the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse theatre project staged four short plays, starring the fourth grade classes.

Shelagh Hackett, Paul Munafo, Kenny Romero and Molly Conole are working on a 24-song cabaret at the Vineyard Playhouse, a reunion for the four singers. Wicked Good Cabaret takes place Saturday, Jan. 24.

The Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse will hold a poetry cafe on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m. The event is hosted by the Arnie Reisman, the Vineyard poet laureate.

Some say you can smell the Carolina salt air when you see King Mackerel & The Blues Running: Songs and Celebrations of the Carolina Coast.