Off the Page and onto the Stage: Maurice Sendak's Designs for the Theater

While many are familiar with Sendak’s illustrations, be it through Where the Wild Things Are, or his other books, like In the Night Kitchen (1970) or Outside Over There (1981), fans may not know of his love of opera and the theater. A new exhibition at the Morgan Library & Museum shows us this side of Sendak, who devoted his talents to the stage in addition to his books.

Born in 1928 in Brooklyn, Sendak knew from the age of 12 that he wanted to be an illustrator. He first worked on other author’s texts, such as Else Holmelund Minarik's Little Bear series, before becoming an author himself. His books were wildly popular, and Sendak went on to work with Jim Henson and Sesame Street, amongst others, creating a number of animated television shows for children.

In 1979, he adapted Where the Wild Things Are for the stage, bringing his story and illustrations to life. Sendak went on to design sets for numerous operas and ballets, including productions of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, Mozart's The Magic Flute, and Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel. Through his set design sketches, costumes designs, and storyboards, Drawing the Curtain: Maurice Sendak’s Designs for Opera and Ballet reveals another side of this beloved author, in addition to showing us Sendak’s unique take on familiar characters and tales.

The first museum exhibition dedicated to Sendak’s set and costume designs, Drawing the Curtain offers us new insights into Sendak’s oeuvre. When the author and illustrator died in 2012, children’s literature lost one of its greatest voices. Here we can see a more complete vision of the artist, his inspirations and visions.

Drawing the Curtain: Maurice Sendak’s Designs for Opera and Ballet is on view at the Morgan Library & Museum through October 6, 2019.