He revels in tales of the sea

In the waning days of the school year, musician and storyteller David Coffin wrangles 76 fifth-graders at the Lincoln Elementary School in Lincoln, enchanting them with sea chanteys and his story of a whaling voyage called "Life at Sea: A Voyage in Song." The kids quickly go from squirming in their seats to acting out some of the sailors' jobs and enthusiastically join in on the choruses of the work songs.

Coffin says capturing the students' attention is what his job is all about. "It's important that I engage my audience in the story," he says, "because it makes the journey much more meaningful."

The performance also helped him prepare for his role in the Summer Revels production of "A Celebration of the Sea" at the Children's Museum today and tomorrow. Coffin, who traces his lineage back to one of the earliest English settlers and the man who purchased Nantucket Island, is also a familiar figure at the Revels, having spent the last 28 years as the MC for the annual Christmas show.

For this year's fifth annual Summer Revels, Coffin will serve as a featured performer at the free outdoor celebration, which aims to create the feel of the 19th - century Boston waterfront, where seamen readied to leave on lengthy journeys. Engaging the audience will be easy, says Revels artistic director Patrick Swanson, because the songs and stories will be happening all around them, thanks to a 40-member ensemble of adults and children.

"A whaling voyage could last two to three years , and singing and dancing helped pass the time," Swanson explains. "You hear these great stories about the pirate Blackbeard having an orchestra on his ship."

On the stage outside the Children's Museum, visitors will hear adventure stories, songs played on penny whistle and concertina, and performances by Coffin and others. "It's a loose story line," says Swanson, "but it has the arc of the journey from leave-taking to the return home."

Summer Revels presents "A Celebration of the Sea" at the Children's Museum, Children's Wharf Park, today at 7 p.m. and tomorrow at 4 p.m. Free. 617-972-8300, revels.org.

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company has announced the casting for its free production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" running July 24-29 at the Parkman Bandstand in the Boston Common. The players includes Johnny Davenport as Oberon, Antonio Edwards-Suarez as Puck, award-winning actor Larry Coen as Peter Quince, Trinity Repertory Company member Fred Sullivan, Jr. as Nick Bottom, and Leslie Harrell Dillen, best known for her solo work, as Tom Snout.

The Publick Theatre and Up You Mighty Race Performing Arts Company are the new resident theater companies at the Boston Center for the Arts. They join Company One, SpeakEasy Stage Company, and The Theater Offensive, which return as resident companies for the three-year cycle beginning in the fall of 2008.

"We want to expand into year-round programming," says Diego Arciniegas, artistic director of the Publick, which has traditionally produced outdoor theater in Christian Herter Park along the Charles River. "It's also lonely out here by the river, and we hope the opportunity to be part of the community at the BCA will allow us to integrate more into the broader theater scene."

Kevin Moriarty, award-winning director at Trinity Repertory Company, has been named artistic director at the Dallas Theatre Center. Moriarty follows Adrian Hall at Dallas; Hall was also the founding artistic director at Trinity Rep. Moriarty will direct "Richard III" at Trinity Jan. 25-March 2 before heading off to Dallas. . . . Cape Playhouse artistic director Evans Haile is stepping onto the stage for a change. Haile is performing in the comedy "2 Pianos, 4 Hands," which follows the careers of two pianists. Haile, a former concert pianist, will perform with award - winning pianist Andrew Gerle, with whom Haile has performed in concerts for public radio, as well as in cabaret duets. "2 Pianos, 4 Hands" runs through June 30. Tickets: 25-$45. 877-385-3911, capeplayhouse.com.