Peerless Production
Boston Public Library, Mass.
Innovation Synopsis
Boston Public Library and Company One Theatre, in a collaborative venture, brought a full-scale, pay-what-you-want theatrical production of Jiehae Park’s Peerless, a modern twist on Shakespeare’s MacBeth, to its Central Library. The play drew more than 3,200 attendees over its four-week run.
Challenge/Opportunity
This collaboration was designed to elevate the BPL’s role in the arts sector in both the library industry and the city of Boston, and to enliven the Central Library’s spaces post-renovation.
Key Elements of Innovation
This was the first fully-staged theatrical run ever to be performed at the Boston Public Library in its history.
Achieved Outcomes
The collaboration increased awareness of the BPL’s role in Boston’s arts and culture community and in the library industry. In addition, the library grew its patron-base by reaching the theater going audience, as well as offering a high-quality theatre performance in a BPL space to existing patrons.
