Stage 62 reimagines children's theater at the Carnegie Carnegie

February at the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall usually means that our resident theater company, Stage 62, is preparing to kick off its season with a wonderful show designed especially for our younger theatergoers. Stage 62 does children’s theater so well — shorter run times, interactive elements, beautifully imaginative sets and costumes and right-priced ticketing make the experience of live performance both entertaining and accessible for children and families.

Stage 62’s last performance before the Music Hall’s (temporary) pandemic closure was a charming musical adaptation of the classic bedtime story, “Goodnight Moon” (February 2020.) Prior February presentations featured familiar characters in shows like “Junie B. Jones,” “Madagascar” and “Pinkalicious.”

Though it’s February once again, we’re not yet able to welcome audiences back to the Music Hall for in-person performances. Fortunately, a creative team of Stage 62 veterans has developed an innovative way to bring a musical theater experience directly to audiences with Take Home Tales.

The concept of Take Home Tales is similar to the grab-and-go craft kits available from our library. In fact, you can opt to pick up your Take Home Tales kit at the library for a discounted price. For only $12 ($10 for library pick-up) the perfectly packed kit includes everything that a young person needs to learn about the theatrical process and create a musical theater experience of their own at home.

Each kit contains two original scripts: “The Big Race” and “The Little Blue Muffin.”

Inspired by “The Tortoise and the Hare” and “The Little Red Hen,” respectively, these classic stories, reimagined, were written and developed by Becki Toth.

Toth sought to get families away from screens and engage with Stage 62 in a totally creative and safe way.

Accompanying each story is an original sing-along song composed by Cynthia Dougherty and instructional choreography by J’Quay Lamonte Gibbs. Lynnetta Miller’s illustration helps to ignite imaginations in bringing the stories to life.

These kits are uniquely designed for seasoned young playgoers and first-time creators alike. Theater, by nature, is highly collaborative, requiring a wide variety of talents to contribute to the final product. Whether your young artist is ready to take center stage or prefers a seat in the director’s chair, the kits include everything they’ll need to make theater magic at home: a theater study guide, mask and puppet-making activities and a “blue” muffin recipe card.

This activity is recommended for children ages 5 and up. The stories are geared for younger children, but the theatrical process is designed to appeal to all ages — even adults!

“We hope families can spend quality time together, creating meaningful memories and making art at home,” said Take Home Tales producer Seth Laidlaw. “We wanted to create something special to inspire their own creations!”

We look forward to the day we can welcome you back to the Music Hall. Until then, bring a little bit of Stage 62 home with you. Your purchase supports our resident company, a non-profit volunteer-led theater company serving its community since 1962.

Digital and physical kits are available to order online through March 6. Visit CarnegieCarnegie.org to learn more.