Vault Theatre produces a brand-new professional production each year designed specifically for young audiences and brings it directly to schools across the Triangle. Touring January-May 2026 Vault Theatre is proud to present #TallTales, an original, high-energy play that reimagines American folklore through a modern lens.

In #Tall Tales, two classmates, imaginative Zoe and fact-focused Emma are paired up for a school project but can’t agree on how to tell a story. Their playful battle of ideas explodes into a whirlwind of tall tale retellings featuring Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind, and more brought to life with humor, heart, and theatrical inventiveness. As they wrestle with truth and fiction, students are invited to reflect on how we know what we know and why stories matter.

This production supports curriculum connections in literacy, media literacy, and critical thinking. Students in grades K–5 will explore: -Narrative structure and storytelling techniques -The role of folklore and oral tradition -Comparing and contrasting texts and perspectives -The influence of media and technology on how we share stories

Performed by two professional actors playing multiple roles, #Tall Tales is designed to resonate across grade levels with opportunities for rich classroom discussions before and after the show.

Vault Theatre makes live theatre accessible by bringing professional productions directly to schools. Programming is intentionally developed with educational, artistic, and age-appropriate content at the core always centering young people in the storytelling process.

Artist Background

Vault Theatre, a professional theatre company located in Durham, is dedicated to unlocking the imagination through comprehensive and innovative theatre programming onstage, in the classroom, and within the community. Vault Theatre is focused on investing in the artistic work and stories of our rising young voices. Vault Theatre celebrates stories of radical hope for the future for audiences of all ages, nurtures the artistic voices of young performers, creates dialogues for social change, and mentors early career artists for continued growth in the performing arts industry.

Search Criteria

• Program Type: Performance
• Discipline: Theatre
• Grade Level: Elementary
• Accepts bookings in Johnston County