Nine Sold-Out Shows—Now Let's Share Her Legacy with the World
This past September, something remarkable happened in the Boston area. The Kittie Knox Plays took the stage at Cambridge Crossing, Eustis Estate, and Herter Park—and audiences couldn't get enough. Nine sold-out performances celebrating the life of a true barrier-breaking pioneer.
If you're not familiar with Kittie Knox, it's time you were. She was a famed 19th-century Boston cyclist who refused to let race or gender define what she could accomplish. At a time when both cycling and society had strict boundaries, Kittie rode right through them, becoming an inspiration that echoes more than a century later.
From Stage Success to National Impact
The overwhelming response to the plays this fall proved something we already knew: Kittie's story resonates. Her courage, determination, and refusal to accept limitations speak to people today just as powerfully as they did in her own time.
That's why Plays-in-Place is now working to create a comprehensive production book that will enable high schools, colleges, and community theater groups across the country to mount their own productions of The Kittie Knox Plays. This isn't just about preserving history—it's about inspiring the next generation with a story of courage and breaking barriers.
The production book will be a complete resource, including:
- Full scripts
- Music scores
- Historical context and notes
- Interviews with cast and crew
- Practical guidance from the production team and playwrights
We envision these plays being performed in collaboration with local cycling groups, connecting historical advocacy with today's movements for diversity, equity, and inclusion in cycling.
The Legacy Continues
This past June, MassBike hosted and the New England Cycling Coalition for Diversity curated the 4th Annual Kittie Knox Legacy Ride, starting at her burial spot in Mount Auburn Cemetery. The annual ride reminds us that Kittie's impact continues to inspire cyclists and advocates today.
Now we have the opportunity to amplify that impact exponentially—by putting the tools to tell her story into the hands of communities nationwide.
We Need Your Help
To complete the production book, we need to raise approximately $8,000. These funds will cover the final writing, editing, design, and initial distribution of the book to theater groups and educational institutions.
Here's how you can help:
- Make a donation through Plays-in-Place (with MassBike as fiscal sponsor)
- Spread the word to your networks, cycling clubs, theater groups, and community organizations
- Share this post with anyone who values stories of courage, diversity, and breaking barriers
In times like these, we need stories of people with Kittie Knox's courageous spirit more than ever. Her legacy of determination and barrier-breaking deserves to be shared far beyond Boston.
Join Us in Honoring a Pioneer
Whether you're a cyclist, a theater lover, a history enthusiast, or simply someone who believes in the power of inspiring stories—you can be part of ensuring Kittie Knox's legacy reaches new audiences and inspires new generations.
Let's finish this important work together. Let's bring Kittie's story to stages across America.
For more information about the project or to make a donation, please contact Plays-in-Place. Learn more about the making of the plays in this documentary.
