The Civilians Bring Theater to the Metropolitan Museum's Galleries, Beg. Today

The investigative theater company The Civilians will lead a yearlong exploration of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's galleries and collections. The first theater group to become Artist in Residence at the Met, they will tease out the narratives in the art, engaging in conversations with curators and immersing themselves in the vast resources of the Museum. This boundlessly creative troupe will introduce theater to the galleries through several new works over the course of a year, beginning today, September 12, 2014.

"Over the past two seasons, our Artists in Residence have drawn inspiration from the breadth of the Met's collections and unparalleled galleries," said Limor Tomer, General Manager of Concerts & Lectures. "It is a relationship rooted in creativity, resourcefulness, and experimentation wherein both the artists and the Met are invigorated by each new work. I'm thrilled to see how The Civilians will tap into the art narratives, the visitor experience, and the Met's electrifying mystique to create thoughtful and dynamic evenings of theater. Led by Steve Cosson, The Civilians have already begun to meet with curators, connecting and considering the collections from a variety of perspectives. Throughout the year, it will not be uncommon to stumble upon this group, working, exploring, and simply allowing themselves to be immersed in the Museum's spaces."

Founded in 2001, The Civilians brand their work as a "Center for Investigative Theater." The troupe will perform three shows: a compilation of excerpts from their previous productions; a new work designed to probe dying, death, and the afterlife; and a commission and world premiere that examines the changing dynamic of what it means to be an American.

This unprecedented collaboration between a forward-thinking theater company and a global museum underscores the Met's commitment to creating and presenting significant new work, and to supporting the work of contemporary performers. With its unique brand of high-impact theater, The Civilians will create work that illuminates the innate stories embedded in the collections. Formed 13 years ago in Brooklyn and directed by Steve Cosson, The Civilians liberated the term "investigate" from the pretense of pop criticism, bringing a searing brand of scrutiny to current events.

"Over the life of our company, The Civilians has immersed itself in all sorts of different communities and institutions, from the evangelical churches of Colorado Springs to Princeton University to the adult entertainment industry," said Steve Cosson, Artistic Director of The Civilians. "Our residency at the Met marks our first foray into the world of the museum and I am honored and awed to be leaping in at the very top-The Metropolitan Museum of Art. "While one could easily spend a lifetime immersed in the stories and history collected in the works of the Met, I am grateful that I will be able to do so for a year."

Previous works by The Civilians include Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play (2013), which premiered to rave reviews and was included in top 10 of 2013 lists at The New York Times and other publications; The Great Immensity (2014), a continent-hopping thriller about our current environmental crisis; In the Footprint (2010), exploring the rapid changes in Brooklyn; and This Beautiful City (2009), probing the roots and meaning of the current evangelical movement.