CTW possesses one of the largest private collections of traditional shadow figures in North America. The Pauline Benton Collection (with over 400 antique Chinese shadow figures, plus archival material, historical documents and shadow stage) and the Jo Humphrey Collection of Chinese and World shadow figures. Many of the finest shadow figures have been mounted on panels for display and have been exhibited at the Library of the Performing Arts (Lincoln Center), the Bruce Museum (Greenwich, CT,) Flushing Town Hall and The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry (UConn)
In the winter of 2015, CTW partnered with the Chicago Field Museum to film a traditional shadow theater production using some of the antique shadow figures from the Pauline Benton Collection. Working closely with the Field’s creative staff, we produced a 10 minute episode based on one of Monkey King’s adventures from “Journey to the West” Shot from both sides of the shadow screen, the video display will remain in the Field’s new Cyrus Tang China Hall for the next 50 years