The South Street Seaport Museum will present a special live staging of A Siren’s Prayer on Thursday, June 19, aboard the historic 1885 tall ship Wavertree. This bold work-in-progress musical combines live vocals, instrumentals, and movement to explore a story of ancient power and modern pain.
A Siren’s Prayer follows three sirens who have spent generations luring sailors to their deaths, their haunting harmonies carrying a legacy of betrayal and survival. But when one sailor escapes, everything changes. One siren—curious, soulful, and free from bitterness—falls in love with the survivor. As the story unfolds, she uncovers the history behind her community’s vengeance and sets out to heal her people rather than continue the cycle of punishment.
The score draws inspiration from spirituals like Wade in the Water, beginning with smoky, jazz-infused seduction and evolving into a soulful hymn of healing and unity. By the finale, water transforms from a weapon into a balm, a baptism, and a bridge connecting fractured worlds.
Located in the heart of New York City’s historic seaport district, the South Street Seaport Museum preserves and interprets the city’s rich maritime history as a major port. Founded in 1967, the museum features an extensive collection of art and artifacts, a maritime reference library, exhibition galleries, education spaces, and working 19th-century print shops. Its active fleet of historic vessels helps tell the story of “Where New York Begins.”
The performance takes place aboard Wavertree, a centerpiece of the museum’s collection. Built in Southampton, England, in 1885, the ship sailed for 24 years and circumnavigated the globe at least three times. Today, Wavertree is the last surviving iron-hulled, three-masted, full-rigged cargo ship—a powerful reminder of the era when tall ships and their crews were essential to New York City’s rise as a global port. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978, Wavertree anchors the museum’s celebrated “Street of Ships” and offers a uniquely atmospheric setting for this new musical-in-progress.
The June 19 performance begins at 6:30 p.m. aboard Wavertree at Pier 16. Guests will be treated to sparkling wine and seltzer on the ship’s main deck during the show. Most of the audience will stand throughout the performance, with limited seating available. As this is a developmental staging, attendees will have the rare opportunity to witness the creative process in action and experience a new work as it evolves.
Admission to the A Sire’s Prayer event includes access to the Wavertree only. Access to other ships and exhibitions is not included. Visitors interested in exploring the museum’s other ships and exhibitions—including the 1908 lightship Ambrose, the galleries at Schermerhorn Row (12 Fulton Street), and the new Maritime City exhibition at A.A. Thomson & Co. (213 Water Street)—may purchase additional admission tickets. The South Street Seaport Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and tickets can be purchased on-site or in advance.
Advance registration for A Siren’s Prayer at South Street Seaport Museum is strongly encouraged to secure a spot, though walk-up attendees will be welcomed as space allows. For more information, visit southstreetseaportmuseum.org.
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