Thursday, October 1, 2026
Long Island Children’s Museum goes prehistoric this summer, bringing dinosaurs to life both on the gallery floor and on stage! Budding paleontologists have been digging into the hands-on exhibit “Dinosaurs: Fossils Exposed,” where they uncover ancient secrets through real fossils and life-size skeletal replicas. Now, that prehistoric excitement leaps from the galleries to the stage with the museum’s latest original production Newly installed theater co-directors, Lisa Rudin and Austin Costello share visitors’ dino-fever and welcome everyone to “Unbox A Saurus For Us!”
Using the exhibit as its starting point, everyone will enjoy what Costello descries as “a chaotic, interactive half hour of dinosaur comedy.”
For those who have yet to see it, now’s the time, as show will soon be extinct — as it closes Aug. 31!
The interactive adventure actually starts within the exhibit itself, where Rudin and Costello discuss the production and educate families about the fossil display.
“We wanted to do something fun, lighthearted and really interactive. We decided to start the show in the exhibit. We do about 10-15 minutes where we talk to kids and tell them about the show. When they come in, they get to go through the process of ‘un-boxing our saurus.’ If they don’t come to the exhibit, that’s OK too, it’s not like you have to have one to understand the other,” Rudin explains.
The storyline of this comedy is based on the fictional Dr. Patty Osiris, who works for an organization called Dinorama. She’s set to uncrate a huge dinosaur that she “discovered” for the museum, but misplaced her keys to the crate. She then calls out for the audience to help her get this creature out of the box, encouraging everyone to use their imaginations. The audience essentially carries out the remainder of the production by becoming key problem solvers and playing along with scatter-brained Dr. Patti.
“The children have the power in that the show will not continue if they don’t play along,” Costello adds.
The production involves some creative improvisation, which gives each staging a special twist, depending upon the involvement of the audience.
“We do have a point in the show where we ask the kids to help us name the dinosaur. We also have a moment where they get to ask the dinosaur questions, and of course, Austin Costello, who is in the dinosaur costume, comes up with some really good answers,” Rudin says.
One thing is for certain: the “Saurus” will always be unboxed one way or another.
“My favorite moment in the show is when the dinosaur is finally revealed because people really don’t know what to expect. They don’t know if it’s going to be a puppet or a costume and we do our best in not giving it away until the moment so that’s a really fun bit. A lot of excited, happy screaming,” Costello shares.
Rudin, who also a teaching artist when not involved with her museum theater duties explains that she specifically chooses comedy — and material — that young children respond to effectively.
“I like to bring a lot of joy to our audiences. They leave the show having had a lot of fun and the parents have had the joy and the pride in seeing their child participate. It’s just a joyful, fun, happy experience,” Rudin says.
And there’s even more to look forward to — the museum is already planning a series of original stage productions inspired by its upcoming exhibits, bringing hands-on learning to life in new and exciting ways.
Also don’t miss “Beezy County Fair: A Bee Tale,” a delightful stage adaptation of Gay Thomas’s heartwarming book, on Aug. 16. The story celebrates the power of working together toward a shared goal — all wrapped in a fun, fact-filled adventure buzzing with bee-related tidbits. The one-day-only performance is part of the museum’s annual sweet summer celebration, Honey Hoopla.
The museum brings an energetic mix of comedy and imagination with an educational component to their productions, which introduce young audiences to live theater. Rudin and Costello cultivate a joyful and engaging environment that encourages curiosity, creativity and laughter — leaving children and adults with lasting memories.
