Sandburg Summer Stage Performances

NPS Photo

Vagabond School of the Drama apprentices performing Carl Sandburg's "Rootabaga Stories"

June 18 - August 16
Wednesday through Saturday
10:15 am - 10:45 am.
No performances July 16-19.

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site brings Sandburg’s work back to the stage this summer in free public performances of The World of Carl Sandburg and Rootabaga Stories. These 30-minute programs feature the cast and directors from The Vagabond School of the Drama, an apprentice program of the Flat Rock Playhouse.  Performances are held at the park amphitheatre adjacent to the historic Sandburg home.

The World of Carl Sandburg - Wednesday and Friday Mornings
The World of Carl Sandburg is a 30-mintue program of highlights from the original play, written by Norman Corwin, focused on Carl Sandburg’s life. 

Rootabaga Stories - Thursday and Saturday Mornings
Sandburg’s Rootabaga Stories are woven together with musical tunes from Sandburg’s collection of folk music found in his American Songbag. The result is 30-minutes of zany, toe-tapping stories that delight “children” of all ages. Carl Sandburg created his own version of American fairy tales when he published Rootabaga Stories (1922) and Rootabaga Pigeons (1923). He replaced the European fairy tale cast of princes, princesses, castles and kingdoms with icons American children would recognize -- taxi-drivers, movie actors, skyscrapers, prairies and automobiles.