We Share the Spotlight
City Stage Co. partners with other organizations to share resources, reach more kids and deepen the impact of this important work. Cultivating and maintaining collaborations is central to our success.
KidStage was featured in the on
This PBS program features an interview with City Stage Co. Artistic Director Larry Coen.
Museums turn to City Stage Co. to tell stories, interpret information, and engage visitors.
"Shakespeare, eat your heart out. Playwrights Larry Coen and Susan Gassett know how to get kids excited about serendipity and science."
Metro West Daily News
Since 1988 City Stage Co. has...
- Developed and designed exhibits
- Scripted and directed original theater productions
- Scripted and directed multi-media exhibits
- Scripted and directed interactive media
- Developed and supervised live interpretation techniques
City Stage Co. received a MUSE Award from the American Association of Museums for Getting Across to Each Other, a video for children about racism. This video was originally created for The Boston Children’s Museum and has been exhibited at The Smithsonian Institute and at museums across the United States.
Museums we’ve worked with
Multi-Media Museum Productions
The Fire Zone at Rockefeller Center in New York
The Fire Zone has become a destination for those wishing to honor the heroes of the Fire Department of New York City who were lost on September 11. Susan Gassett and Larry Coen developed the content and script for this multi-media, special effects theater, which teaches children and families how to prevent fires and how to safely escape buildings during emergencies. Visitors practice escape under simulated emergency conditions including darkness, smoke, hot doors, and noise. Sesame Street produced a landmark segment at the Fire Zone, to help allay the post-9/11 fears of young children.
Tetsuo’s Room
City Stage Co. wrote, directed and produced this eight-and-a-half minute object theater production about the daily lives of contemporary Japanese kids. Tetsuo’s Room was a computer driven, multi media presentation, set in a re-creation of a Japanese teen’s bedroom. Using a combination of 4 tracks of audio recording, changing light cues, animated objects, video and special effects, Tetsuo’s Room brought to life the small dramas of 17 year old Tetsuo, his 10 year old brother Akio and their 7 year old sister Teru. Tetsuo’s Room was part of the Teen Tokyo exhibit at The Boston Children's Museum.
The Supreme Court Decision
City Stage Co. wrote and produced this object-theater presentation as part of the Amistad exhibit at the Connecticut Historical Society.
"The innovative use of lights and sound highlights the story of the trial in a gallery equipped for a seated audience" - The Journal of American History
This multi-media show tells the story of the 1841 Supreme Court decision which freed the Africans of the Amistad. The show is eight minutes long and uses sound and light to transform the museum gallery into the jail where the Africans were held, the Supreme Court chambers and a starry Washington night, Seven actors provided voices for the historical figures including John Quincy Adams and Cinque, the leader of the Africans. An original musical score by Jonathan Singleton helps to create a haunting atmosphere where African and American cultures collide. The Connecticut Historical Society
Hands-on Museum Exhibits
Mr. Ratburn’s Classroom
City Stage Co. developed this exhibit piece as part of Arthur’s World at The Boston Children’s Museum. Mr. Ratburn’s classroom is a hands-on exhibit where kids can explore the problems and rewards of peer interactions, as well as try out story writing and role play.
City Stage Co. created a program for Boston kindergarten students who visit the Arthur's World exhibit at The Boston Children's Museum. Over the course of the school year, 660 students dress in a costumes that portray characters in Marc Brown's Arthur books. Students then role-play, explore and create original stories which they stand and present to their classmates. The program enhances the sudent oral language skills.
Arthur's World is also touring the United States with two travelling versions of the exhibit.
Grandparents’ House, 1959: It’s About Time
City Stage Co. served as co-developer and co-designer of this hands-on history exhibit about American culture of the 1950's. Using a house as the setting, this exhibit uses artifacts, video and interactive elements to encourage adults to share their memories with children. This exhibit was at The Boston Children's Museum.
From Time to Time: 75 Years in Our House
City Stage Co. wrote and directed this year-long exhibit, which used changing settings and live actors to explore the 20th Century through the history of one house.
The exhibit explored the lives and cultures of The Fitzgeralds, an Irish-American Catholic family of 1913. The Gutermans, a German-American Jewish family of 1939. The Robinsons, an African-American Baptist family of 1963. The Soks, a Cambodian Buddhist family of 1989.
From Time to Time: 75 Years at Our House received a commendation from the Association of State and Local History.
Video
Getting Across to Each Other
City Stage Co. researched and wrote this interactive video, created to help children develop strategies to cope with racism and prejudice. The video presents 18 true stories, collected during classroom workshops with 5th and 6th graders in the Boston Public Schools. Getting Across to Each Other was created for The Boston Children's Museum as part of the Kids Bridge exhibit. Getting across to Each Other has been exhibited at a number of museums across the United States including the Smithsonian Institution. Getting Across to Each Other received a MUSE Award from the American Association of Museums in 1995
The Lincoln Cabin
City Stage Co. researched and wrote and directed this short documentary video about the reproduction of the Abraham Lincoln birthplace built on the grounds of a historic house museum. Using historic silent film footage, photos, narration, character voices and an original musical score by Steve Gilbane, the video makes a connection between the history of the cabin and the Captain Forbes House Museum in Milton, Massachusetts.
The Networked Planet
City Stage Co. wrote more than 80 separate video scenes for this Computer Museum exhibit, which explored the humanistic issues behind computer networks. The video scenes were the primary interpretive tool of the exhibit, which asked visitors to choose one of four characters to follow through a series of interactive stations. Each character related their point of view through stories which highlighted the benefits and dangers of computer networks.
Museum Theater Productions
At the Providence Children's Museum
No Time to Waste, a 20 minute comic show about trash and recycling
2 actors (male or female)
9 audience participants: playing resources that become products, then waste
20 minutes long
At Mystic Seaport Museum
A Tale of a Whaler, a 30 minute melodrama that supports and deepens the interpretation of Charles W. Morgan, the only surviving wooden whaling vessel from 19th century maritime history
3 actors (at least 1 female)
15 audience participants (playing sailors, storms, whales and whale products)
30 minutes
At U.S.S. Constitution Museum
True Tales of U.S.S. Constitution, 5 solo shows featuring heroes and heroines from the great Naval Frigate. Each show is 20 minutes long and has three sections. The first section uses audience participation to tell the tale of how the United States needed to create a Navy to protect its un-armed merchant ships. The second section is a tale specific to the historical hero or heroine. The third section uses the entire audience to tell the tale of Constitution's "Powder Monkeys," (the boys who were members of the crew) during the legendary sea battle with HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812.
Mrs. Pricilla Broaders of 1797. She owned the Federal Eagle Tavern, which was used as the recruiting station for the first crew of Constitution. Mrs. Broaders tells the tale of Constitution's launch.
Captain Issac Hull of 1815. He was a Captain of Constitution and tells the tale of her famous sea battle with HMS Guerriere during the War of 1812.
Ann Hull of 1815. She was the wife of Issac Hull and tells the tale of the early days of the Charlestown Navy Yard.
George Sirian of 1844. He was the only man to serve aboard Constitution on three, seperate tours-of-duty. He tells the tale of his first tour, when he was a boy of 10.
Lt. John Dale of 1846. He was aboard Constitution during her voyage around the world, which lasted from 1844 to 1846. He tells the tale of the maritime tradition of the "Crossing the Line Ceremony," which is performed whenever a voyager sails across the equator for the first time.
Across the United States
Arthur Builds a Tree House
A 20 minute participatory production is based on Marc Brown's characters.
This original story about Arthur and D.W. has played at at Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito, California; Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Children's Museum of Manhattan; Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose, California; and the Strong Museum in Rochester, New York.
Arthur Builds a Tree House is often presented in conjunction with the two travelling versions of the Arthur's World exhibit.
