Explorer Salon: Behind the Curtain at The Met - NYC

Join Lit Society for an Explorers Salon, a series of immersive cultural experiences designed to help readers experience familiar places through an entirely new lens.

For this edition, we'll explore The Metropolitan Museum of Art through the story of theater.

Rather than simply tracing the history of performance, this guided tour asks a larger question: Why has theater remained one of humanity's most enduring art forms?

Hosted by Fable & Lark, we'll journey from the birth of theater in ancient Greece through centuries of artistic evolution, discovering how performance has shaped the way we tell stories, understand ourselves, and make sense of the world around us.

Using remarkable works from The Met's collection including ancient artifacts, paintings, and unexpected objects with extraordinary stories we'll uncover surprising connections between the earliest theatrical traditions and the performances that continue to move audiences today. Along the way, we'll encounter forgotten histories, unlikely transformations, and works of art that reveal why theater has always been about much more than entertainment.

Whether you're an avid theatergoer, a lover of literature, or simply curious about how stories evolve across time, this experience offers a new way to see both the museum and the enduring power of performance.

Think of it as part museum tour, part literary salon, and part exploration of why stories continue to come alive on stage.

EVENT DETAILS: 

• Date: Friday, August 21
• Time: 5:00 PM
  
• Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

TICKET INFORMATION:

• General Admission: $75
  
• Lit Society Member Price: $65
• Limited capacity: (20 tickets)

WHAT TO EXPECT: 

• A guided tour of The Metropolitan Museum of Art through the lens of theater
• Works of art that reveal the enduring influence of performance across history
• Historical and cultural context from an expert guide
• Curated pre-read materials delivered before the event
• Lit Society keepsake and literary surprises
• An intimate gathering of readers, theater lovers, and culturally curious minds

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: 

• Readers interested in theater, literature, history, and storytelling
• Broadway lovers and performing arts enthusiasts
• Museum lovers looking to experience The Met in a new way
• Writers, creatives, educators, and lifelong learners
• Anyone curious about why stories performed thousands of years ago still resonate today

WHAT TO BRING: 

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Curiosity 
• Everything else has been thoughtfully prepared

NOTE: 

• Meeting location, tour logistics, and pre-read materials will be shared after purchase
• Come prepared to wander through history—and discover why theater continues to captivate us thousands of years after the first actors stepped onto the stage