PERFORMANCES FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES
2008-2009 Season

A WORLD PREMIERE KENNEDY CENTER COMMISSION
 
Written by Marco Ramirez  
Directed by Gregg Henry  
 
A girl with fins answers the plea of a starving town. A video-game whiz faces off against a creature on the subway. A boy wields a paintbrush to stop his grandfather from losing his sight. Inspired by characters from Hispanic folklore and culture, this magical and heartfelt series of stories uses color and imagination to capture the vibrant spirit of the Latino community. Up-and-comer Miami native Marco Ramirez--a two-time Latino Playwriting Award winner at the Kennedy Center's American College Theater Festival--weaves together this rich tapestry of fantastical tales, ranging from a daughter who duels with the Devil to bring her father back, to a young superhero moving to the beats of the street. Age 9 and up.  

Emil de Cou, conductor
Magic Circle Mime Company  
Look out--there are aliens in the Concert Hall! During the course of this fun-filled program, two devious but somewhat bumbling space creatures try to take over an NSO performance--and then, the world! As the concert begins, Associate Conductor Emil de Cou leads the Orchestra through an exploration of America's greatest music. Suddenly, the aliens charge in, rhythmically patting their odd metallic costumes to communicate and using mind control on our unsuspecting conductor! Before anyone can stop them, the NSO is playing Leroy Anderson's classic The Typewriter, with the space creatures as star soloists. What's going on? And can anyone foil the aliens' master plan? Before this quirky mayhem is over, youngsters will enjoy performances of Don Gillis's Symphony X, "Hoe-Down" from Aaron Copland's Rodeo, "A Night in the Tropics" from L.M. Gottschalk's Fiesta Criolla, Scott Joplin's The Entertainer (famous from the movie The Sting), John Williams's "Flying Theme" from E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial, and much more. Get ready for music that's out of this world!

Come Early for the Musical Instrument "Petting Zoo," a project of the Women's Committee for the National Symphony Orchestra. An hour before each NSO Family Concert, young concertgoers can get up close and hands-on with the instruments they'll see played on the stage--from violins, trumpets, and oboes to trombones and percussion--in the Kennedy Center Atrium.

Kids' Chats--Following the 3 p.m. concert, young audience members can ask questions and hear engaging stories in an up-close-and-personal talk with the concert artists.
 

Iván Fischer, host
Bringing all the fun and insight from his popular children's concerts in Europe, the NSO's new Principal Conductor leads this charming 50-minute journey through the art of listening, applause, and great music! As NSO musicians perform engaging selections of kid-friendly works, Fischer moves around the stage and among the audience, asking such questions as "when do we clap when we like what we hear?" and "how does the music make you feel?" The Washington Post calls these concerts "a well-conceived program of music-making and conversation…the children listened in delight as the flowing melodies formed a colorful weave." No wonder they've quickly sold out for the past two seasons!

Rainbow-colored headdresses… pulsating drumming… fancy footwork… experience the excitement of a Native American powwow! World Champion Fancy Dancer Larry Yazzie of the Meskwaki Nation, his young son Jessup, and the Native Pride Dancers perform music and movement passed down by their ancestors for centuries. Enjoy the beauty, skill, and majesty of the flamboyant Fancy Dance, featuring free-style movement with lots of energy, spectacular costumes, and sacred songs from the Northern Plains. Enhanced by indigenous vocal and flute music, other dances like the Buffalo, Eagle, and Round Dance celebrate various animals, crops, the sun, and the wind. You won't want to miss this special event--Yazzie has performed everywhere, from the Atlanta Olympics and Goodwill Games in Russia to Macy's Thanksgiving Parade! Age 5 and up.

A WORLD PREMIERE KENNEDY CENTER COMMISSION
 
Based on the book by E.B. White  
Adapted for the stage by Marsha Norman  
Music by Jason Robert Brown  
Directed by Bob Balaban  
 
Though Louis is a trumpeter swan, he can't honk like the rest of his family because he was born without a voice. Since he can't proclaim his affections, the beautiful swan Serena pays absolutely no attention to him. But then his father gets him a real brass trumpet. Is a musical instrument the key to winning Louis his love? In this uniquely entertaining world-premiere concert event, an onstage orchestra, a solo trumpet player, and noted actors come together to tell E.B. White's classic story. The production features music by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown (Parade), a script adapted by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Marsha Norman (The Secret Garden), and direction by Broadway and film veteran Bob Balaban (Best in Show). Age 7 and up.  

Visible Fictions of Scotland
 
Experience all the spills, thrills, and monsters from the classic Greek myth as brought to life by… plastic action figures?! Two actors from Scotland's acclaimed theater company Visible Fictions roll their big wooden cart onto the stage and suddenly it transforms into a replica of that legendary ship, the Argo. Climbing aboard is our valiant hero Jason and his misfit crew the Argonauts, who must sail the perilous seas to find the Golden Fleece and unite their kingdom. Can they sail between the Clashing Rocks without getting crushed? How will they distract the Sleepless Dragon and grab that shiny winged ram? The Glasgow Herald and The Evening News (Edinburgh) gave this inventive adaptation of the epic journey "Four stars!" Age 9 and up.  

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia
Based on the books written by Margaret Wise Brown  
and illustrated by Clement Hurd  
 
Two beloved bedtime stories featuring cute, cuddly rabbits come to life on stage! In Goodnight Moon, a young bunny bids goodnight to everything around him, from his toys and telephone to paintings of fairy-tale characters on the wall. In The Runaway Bunny, a little rabbit imagines all the different ways he could leave home, while his mother reassures she'll find him, no matter where he pretends to go. Praised for its productions of storybook favorites by Eric Carle and Leo Lionni, Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia brings its whimsical puppetry, dreamlike imagery, original music, and soothing rhythms of "bunny banter" to two childhood classics--infusing young audiences with a wonderful sense of security and peace. For age 3 and up.  

Back by popular demand! If you love animals and silly slapstick (and who doesn't!), then don't miss four NSO musicians in this zany program! The Kennedy String Quartet (Holly Hamilton and Jane Bowyer Stewart, violins; James Deighan, viola; and David Teie, cello) inspires everyone to listen, laugh, and learn through vivid music from the classic repertoire. Then they jump right into antic storytelling with The Donkey, the Goat, and the Little Dog by acclaimed composer and playwright Susan Kander. The Washington Post called last season's concert "a friendly and often hilarious introduction to the string quartet… as big on theatrics as it was on playing. Hugely enjoyable!" For age 4 and up.

Back by popular demand! Enjoy stories with music with NSO principals Marissa Regni on violin and Dotian Levalier on harp, with Marissa's father Albert Regni on four different saxophones. The program features musical selections about animals including The Three Pigs, Teddy Bear Rag, The Swan, and Baby Elephant Walk. Along with full-sized instruments, the musicians will perform on their miniature counterparts. For ages 3 to 5.

Kids can bring their favorite stuffed animal to these interactive programs and have their teddy bear friend join in all the fun! Lasting approximately 45 minutes, they're perfect for even the youngest music lovers in your family. Last season's concerts quickly sold out.

A WORLD PREMIERE KENNEDY CENTER CO-COMMISSION AND
CO-PRODUCTION WITH THE WHITE HOUSE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION  
 
Written by Allyson Currin  
Directed by Nick Olcott  
 
Young Alastair's father has just been elected President, so she and her jittery chihuahua Tipp are moving into the White House. When their new celebrity status begins to overwhelm them, wise old custodian Max takes them on a hilarious journey back in time to meet other First Kids and their pets! Pretty soon, they're rubbing elbows with a couple of Texas hounds, a grandmotherly spaniel, and more White House mutts. But some unexpected personalities pop up too, including a voracious Cajun alligator, some country-bumpkin goats, a stuffy mocking bird, a well-mannered bovine, and even a garter snake! Gathering advice from them all, Alastair learns the power of friendship, courage, and responsibility in this third installment from our popular co-commissions with the White House Historical Association. Age 7 and up.

Created and choreographed by Debbie Allen
 
A WORLD PREMIERE KENNEDY CENTER COMMISSION 
presented in association with the 
SULTAN QABOOS CULTURAL CENTER OF OMAN   

Her sold-out shows have whisked us to the Caribbean with Pepito's Story, taken us "down the rabbit hole" with Alex in Wonderland, and explored R&B rhythms with Brothers of the Knight. Now get ready to follow Kennedy Center favorite Debbie Allen to the farthest reaches of the globe, as she showcases all the beauty and culture of the Sultanate of Oman--one of the most fascinating countries in the Arab world! Bringing together young dancers from the Sultanate of Oman, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, and the D.C. area, this exciting music and dance extravaganza will transport you to where the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea meet and the desert dunes mystify. It's the land from where Sinbad the Sailor sailed, the land of frankincense. As they say in Arabic, yalla everyone...let's go! Age 9 and up.

Emil de Cou, conductor
In preparation for the first game of the 2009 baseball season, the NSO presents a thrilling music program inspired by teamwork! Starting with our national anthem--just like a day at the stadium--the concert then launches into favorites that show how instruments interact to make beautiful music. A special highlight will be Steven Reineke's captivating Casey at the Bat, for narrator and orchestra. Featuring Ernest Thayer's famous nail-biting poem, the work depicts the mightiest of baseball players at a critical "bases-loaded" moment. Expect plenty of surprise appearances by local sports and music stars, and maybe even Emil and the Orchestra dressed in your favorite team jerseys. Forget about striking out, it's time to strike up the band!

Come Early for the Musical Instrument "Petting Zoo," a project of the Women's Committee for the National Symphony Orchestra. An hour before each NSO Family Concert, young concertgoers can get up close and hands-on with the instruments they'll see played on the stage--from violins, trumpets, and oboes to trombones and percussion--in the Kennedy Center Atrium.

Kids' Chats--Following the 3 p.m. concert, young audience members can ask questions and hear engaging stories in an up-close-and-personal talk with the concert artists.

Written and performed by Jamie Adkins
 
He's a clown with something to say--but can't quite get it out! Beginning with an empty stage and a single microphone, shy clown Jamie Adkins musters the courage to face what he fears most: speaking in public. Over the next hour, he uses everyday objects, discarded props, and acrobatic feats to create his very own one-man vaudeville act, with hilarious results! Whether on the ground, on a ladder, or on a high wire, new challenges face Jamie every step of the way, but for every problem there's always a solution. The New York Times says "this dexterous clown walks a daffy line"--showing why you should never give up when all goes wrong. Because you'll never know what you can do until you try! Age 5 and up.  

Back by popular demand! Join NSO principals violinist Marissa Regni and harpist Dotian Levalier as they show how different sounds, melodies, rhythms, and instruments can be used to bring a story to life. Through such favorites as "The Waltzing Cat," Ferdinand the Bull," "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," and more, you'll use your imagination to see, hear, and feel the music. For ages 3 to 5.
 
Kids can bring their favorite stuffed animal to these interactive programs and have their teddy bear friend join in all the fun! Lasting approximately 45 minutes, they're perfect for even the youngest music lovers in your family. Last season's concerts quickly sold out.

Take a journey around the world and discover the exciting pulse of music! From Africa to America, nature to noise, classical to Cuba, explore where rhythm comes from, how it flavors our lives and lives within the music of the orchestra. This delightful, high-energy program features Glenn Donnellan, violin; Richard Barber, bass; Edward Cabarga, clarinet; Adel Sanchez, trumpet; and Joseph Connell, percussion. Repertoire will include the "Habanera" from Bizet's Carmen, excerpts from Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony, Beethoven's "Pastoral" Symphony, and Rossini's William Tell Overture. For age 4 and up.

Little kids love dress-up, as do the playful musicians spinning this story about a teddy bear whose zany collection of hats represents a wide variety of music, from Haydn to Sousa and beyond. Presented by NSO musicians William Wielgus, oboe; Aaron Goldman, flute; and Janet Frank, cello; children will be actively engaged as listeners in an atmosphere of fun. For ages 3 to 5.

Kids can bring their favorite stuffed animal to these interactive programs and have their teddy bear friend join in all the fun! Lasting approximately 45 minutes, they're perfect for even the youngest music lovers in your family. Last season's concerts quickly sold out.

Theatre Mala Scena of Croatia
 
What goes up must come down, right? In this charming, wordless performance driven by original music and rhythms, two actors from Croatia's Theatre Mala Scena playfully explore how gravity impacts our everyday lives. Dressed in sky-diving fatigues, this energetic duo combines lively dance and circus acrobatics with plenty of humor and audience interaction to show that gravity means much more than just the pull of the earth. It represents overcoming obstacles to achieve your dreams, meeting someone new but also saying farewell, knowing how to land on your feet if you fall, and always being there when a friend is in need. Age 4 and up.  

Sarah Hatsuko Hicks, conductor
With a twitch of his whiskers and a shake of his tail, D.C.'s favorite baton-wielding mouse is ready to make his Family Concert debut! The lively star of Peter and Cheryl Barnes's popular children's book has kept the paparazzi on their toes with sightings all around our nation's capital, from the Instrument "Petting Zoo" to the White House Easter Egg Roll. Now Maestro Mouse's fame is about to skyrocket. The program will feature the world premiere of a new Kennedy Center–commissioned symphonic adventure for orchestra and actors. Composed by Susan Kander with a story by Mary Hall Surface, the new work tells of a maestro of a mouse who opens up a whole new world to a little girl through music.

Come Early for the Musical Instrument "Petting Zoo," a project of the Women's Committee for the National Symphony Orchestra. An hour before each NSO Family Concert, young concertgoers can get up close and hands-on with the instruments they'll see played on the stage--from violins, trumpets, and oboes to trombones and percussion--in the Kennedy Center Atrium.

Kids' Chats--Following the 3 p.m. concert, young audience members can ask questions and hear engaging stories in an up-close-and-personal talk with the concert artists.