For centuries, playwrights have used the stage to explore the human experience by celebrating victories, confronting failures, giving voice to those who are overlooked and offering a window into the future. As communities around the nation commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, McNay Art Museum explores theater’s role in telling the country’s story in A People’s History: The American Experiment on Stage. Spanning more than two centuries of theatrical history, the exhibition explores interpretations of America’s past with maquettes and set and costume designs from a range of iconic productions, including Hair, Hamilton, The Mother of Us All, The Color Purple, Hairspray, and Angels in America. 

A People’s History draws primarily from the McNay’s Tobin Collection of Theatre Arts and includes artwork from contemporary theatrical designers, including Sara Ryung Clement, Takeshi Kata and Paul Tazewell.