Reading a book—just like going to the theatre—is a vibrant, creative act packed with learning. Whenever a child sees or hears a story unfold, he or she applies their unique imagination, knowledge and experiences. Invariably, the child will walk away with new ideas, insights and information.
Now, combine…
- High-quality illustrated books
- Full-scale musical adaptations of those books, performed in professional venues
- Literacy-based theater residencies with professional artists
…and every child’s potential is boundless. That is what we call, “Making Books Sing.”
History and Mission
In 1996, Making Books Sing began as the family theatre and education program of the Tony Award-winning Vineyard Theatre. After five years of steady growth, the Vineyard Theatre’s Founder, Barbara Zinn Krieger, left her post there as Executive Director to establish Making Books Sing as an independent, 501(c)3 organization. Today, she and her dedicated staff continue to guide Making Books Sing’s mission:
To empower children to experience the performing arts and literature as captivating, accessible vehicles for their imaginations, artistic expression and learning.
Our unique combination of professional musical theatre and arts education, both based on illustrated books, aims to nurture children’s love for theatre and reading, and to help children grow into literate, creative and socially-aware individuals.
Who We Serve
We believe that attending and making theatre should be available to all children, regardless of socio-economic background or learning level. Providing access to quality theatre and theatre education is central to our vision. Our tried and true strategy is to tour across New York City, so children from the Bronx to Brooklyn can see our productions and partake in related education programs back in the classroom. We tour the same show to the outer boroughs that Manhattan children see – complete with live music, full lights, sets and costumes and excellent Equity actors. Other works occur in site-specific locations citywide.
Our roster of 20 teaching artists travel thousands of subway miles each year to ensure thousands of children have in-depth theatre-making experiences. Our school audiences come from over 70 elementary and middle schools across New York City. We work in schools whose student populations range from predominantly Latino to immigrants hailing from more than 40 nations.
All children benefit from the creativity, social skills and literacy just waiting to emerge through the magic of literary and theatre arts. We are particularly committed to working with those children who are at highest risk of never experiencing that magic -- due to homelessness, poverty, language barriers and special needs.