Theatre Meets Science: Inspiring Young Minds Through the Stage

Lately, we’ve seen an exciting trend: more playwrights are weaving science into their scripts, blending drama with discovery. Our Plays for New Audiences division has been licensing incredible new works that explore science and history in fresh, engaging ways. These plays aren’t just for kids—they’re for multigenerational audiences, making complex ideas accessible through compelling narratives and unforgettable characters.

Hear from the Playwrights!

We’ve talked to some of these brilliant playwrights, and they see theatre as a gateway to discovery. By weaving science into storytelling, they transform complex ideas and stories into thrilling, accessible experiences. Whether it’s unraveling the mysteries of space or diving into the minds of history’s greatest scientists, these plays make learning come alive in ways textbooks simply can’t.

Robin Pullen, Playwright of Caro’s Comet: The Celestial Cinderella

About Caro’s Comet 

Robin Pullen’s Caro’s Comet is all about Caroline Herschel, the trailblazing astronomer who defied societal norms to leave her mark among the stars. In this book and musical, Caroline’s extraordinary journey comes to life, celebrating her achievements as the first woman to discover a comet and her indomitable spirit. Blending history, empowerment, and creativity, Robin Pullen showcases a figure whose legacy continues to inspire. 

The Inspiration 

“Teaching gifted children challenges me to uncover exciting ways to highlight science in our everyday lives. When this educator learned about a famous historical female who discovered eight comets, I thrilled to the idea of presenting Caroline Herschel’s monumentally amazing accomplishments in not just a lesson, but a musical, and a book.

[Using theatre as an educational tool is important because] theatrical elements ignite the imagination. The vision of ten-year-old Caroline Herschel’s 1760 plight to be an astronomer despite her stunted opportunities can be magically explored on stage through dance, song, light, and setting. When science is presented visually and memorably—when one can sing about science—then scientific concepts and characters literally come to life.”

Suzanne Maynard Miller, Playwright of Mesmerized: A Ben Franklin Science & History Mystery

About Mesmerized 

Through fabulous storytelling and fast-paced comedy, Ben Franklin and his want-to-be-inventor niece, Sarah, travel to France where they use the Scientific Method to test a mystical man’s magical cure. 

The Inspiration 

“A play that explores S.T.E.M., women in science, the scientific method, and Ben Franklin checks a lot of boxes. When Jacqui Russell (Artistic Director of Chicago Children’s Theatre) and I began discussing this project in 2019, we were struck by this beautiful book (Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France) and how Mara Rockliff’s dynamic story, with Iacopo Bruno’s rich illustrations, combines history and science in a picture book for kids in grades 3-5. We were also mesmerized (for lack of a better word) by the historical events depicted in the book, as well as the story’s magical combination of science, truth, and mystery.”

Mary Hall Surface, Playwright of Apollo To the Moon 

Apollo To The Moon is an exciting look at the breathtaking risks and unforgettable heroism of the American Space program. Told through the lens of one young man’s dream to become an astronaut, this thrilling story takes you on the journey that gripped the nation.

While visiting the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., Mary Hall Surface was inspired to make a historically accurate, fact-filled play about America in space. She was a kid when the world’s first moon landing happened, and she wanted to tell a story that would show children today what an exciting time it was. Apollo to the Moon was created and first-presented by California Theatre Center and the Smithsonian’s Discovery Theatre and has since been performed more than 1,600 times across the world!

Theatre has the power to ignite curiosity and spark learning in ways that traditional methods often can’t. By blending science with storytelling, we create a space where young audiences can explore scientific concepts, question the world around them, and discover the wonders of the universe—all while being entertained.