I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is one of 15 Family-Friendly Stage Shows in NYC This Spring

For more than a quarter-century, New York City Children’s Theater has been presenting exceptional stage adaptations of kids’ books for young audiences. But this spring, the venerable company expands its reach with a mature show aimed squarely at teens and adults: a theatricalization of Maya Angelou’s harrowing 1969 autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Adapted by award-winning playwright Idris Goodwin, it’s fashioned as a memory play, with Maya visiting the abandoned general store where she grew up and recalling how she overcame her tumultuous upbringing. Be warned, while it’s ultimately an inspirational journey, the 40-minute show includes moments of verbalized child sexual violence, racist slurs, and violent imagery, so heed the age recommendation.

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