Summer Stock is also the title of a 1950 musical motion picture starring Judy Garland.

A summer stock theatre is a theater that generally produces plays only in the summertime. The name combines the seasonal aspect with a tradition of putting on the same shows each year and reusing "stock" scenery and costumes. Some smaller theaters still continue this tradition, and a few summer stock theaters have become highly-regarded theatre festivals.

Summer stock theatres frequently take advantage of better weather by having their productions outdoors. The reliance on stock often leads summer theaters to specialize in a particular type of production, such as Shakespeare plays, musicals, or even opera. Some notable summer theaters include: Utah Shakespearean Festival, Santa Fe Opera, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Williamstown Theatre Festival and Glimmerglass Opera.