Arts & Entertainment:
Family Events in Metro DC
January 2015
Happy New Year!
Always call or check the event website before heading out;
Event information is subject to change.
***Washington D.C.***
Free Community Day
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Sunday, January 4, 2015 ∙ 12:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Visit us on Community Day for FREE admission to the museum—take this opportunity to explore our collection and current exhibitions.
Three Kings Day Celebration
GALA Hispanic Theatre
Sunday, January 4, 2015 ∙ 11:30 am & 2:30 pm ∙ FREE!
Don’t miss GALA’s traditional Three Kings celebration, featuring the Magi, live animals, local performers, a walk through the neighborhood, and gifts for every child. Free for the entire family!
NSO Youth Fellows
Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage
Sunday, January 4 ∙ 6:00 pm ∙ FREE!
A participant in the National Symphony Orchestra training program, Sean Yongjoo Lim, age 15, is an up-and-coming solo violinist hailing from McLean, VA.
Networks Presents Disney’s Beauty And The Beast
Warner Theatre
Tuesday, January 6 thru Sunday, January 11, 2015 ∙ schedule varies ∙ $42-$122
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.
The show features the animated film’s Academy Award®-winning score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, with additional songs with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice.
Picturing Mary Workshop: Wood Engraving
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Saturday, January 10, 2015 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ $13-$15
Guest artist Rosemary Feit Covey will introduce wood engraving, a form of woodcut printmaking, to a multigenerational audience. Participants will have ample time to learn from this skilled artist, practice the technique using specialized materials and tools, and explore prints in the exhibition. This workshop is designed to instruct and engage audiences ages 14 and up.
Professor Wingnut Wants to Fly: in partnership with the Air & Space Museum
Presented by: The Smithsonian Associates
Venue: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Thursday, January 15 & Friday, January 16, 2015 ∙ 10:15 am, 11:15 am & 12:15 pm ∙ FREE!
Little flyguys and gals take off with kooky Professor Wingnut and Seymour the Seagull to find the secrets that make birds—and airplanes—fly. Master arts educator and nutty guy Oran Sandel and puppeteer Dan Mori get everyone singing, dancing, and soaring in this lively interactive musical show in the Air and Space Museum. After the show, zoom down to the How Things Fly hands-on experience for more facts and fun. Ages 3-8.
NSO Youth Fellows
Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage
Thursday, January 15 ∙ 6:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Participants in the NSO training program—Sean Lim (violin), Naenah Jeon (cello), Hannah Conn (clarinet), Nathaniel Silberschlag (horn)—perform solos.
Photograph by Clara Lee Turner
30th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Program
Presented by: Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
Venue: National Museum of the American Indian
Friday, January 16, 2015 ∙ 7:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Join us as we celebrate King’s life and legacy with this year’s theme, “The Beloved Community, “ at the National Museum of the American Indian, Rasmuson Theater. Keynote Speaker: Kica Matos, Director of Immigrant Rights and Racial Justice, Center for Community Change Entertainment Provided By: Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir, Alfred Kiger Savoy Players in collaboration with DC Youth Ensemble, and the 2014 DC Schools Latin Dance Competition Winners.
KanKouran West African Dance Company
Dance Place
Saturday, January 17 ∙ 8:00 pm & Sunday, January 18, 2015 ∙ 4:00 pm ∙ $15-$30
An integral part of the DC dance community for over 28 years, KanKouran presents their annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in an electrifying, athletic and family-friendly performance of traditional West African dance and drumming.
Mockingbird
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Saturday, January 17 thru Sunday, February 1, 2015 ∙ schedule varies ∙ $20
Adapted from the 2010 National Book Award-winning novel, this vibrant and inspirational world premiere play, commissioned by the Kennedy Center and VSA, tells the story of a young girl on the autism spectrum who changes a community. Age 10+
9th Annual Martin Luther King Peace Walk and Parade
United Black Fund
Monday, January 19 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ FREE!
Commemorating the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. Assembly at 10 am, parade 12-2 pm.
Let Freedom Ring
Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage
Monday, January 19 ∙ 6:00 pm ∙ FREE!
The Kennedy Center and Georgetown University host a musical celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. The concert featuring nine-time Grammy Award®–winning singer and recording artist Natalie Cole also includes the Let Freedom Ring Choir with Music Director Rev. Nolan Williams Jr.
Tudor Tots: Winter Wonderland
Tudor Place Historic House and Garden
Tuesdays, January 20 & 27 ∙ 10:00 am ∙ $5
Keep your toddler active in mind and body this winter, in these weekly sessions featuring songs, stories, and movement tailored to small folk. Following kid-friendly themes that change every week for six weeks, children and their caregivers absorb new stories and rhymes and come home with crafts they’ve made themselves in keeping with the week’s activities. Attend one or all six! (Discount available for six-session purchase.) Parents/caregivers remain with children. For ages 2-4 with accompanying adult(s).
International Music Academy in the Principality of Liechtenstein
Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage
Wednesday, January 21 ∙ 6:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Students from academy perform chamber works by Ravel and Dvorák.
Target Family Night: Duke Ellington School of the Arts
Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage
Monday, January 26 ∙ 6:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Three student vocal ensembles present The Many Moods of Ellington. The Mellow Tones, led by pianist and composer Mark Meadows, delights with compelling harmonies and improvisational stylings. The Dukes of Ellington, a young men’s choir (grades 9–12), performs standard literature for men’s choirs and is led by Steven M. Allen. Sophisticated Ladies (grades 9–11), led by vocalist Sylvia Twine, offers classical and musical theater selections.
Baba-C, American Griot: Folktales from Africa to the Americas
Presented by: The Smithsonian Associates
Venue: Smithsonian Discovery Theater
Wednesday, January 28, 2015 ∙ 10:15 am & 11:30 am ∙ $5
Master storyteller Baba-C shares West African, Afro-Brazilian, and Gullah tales with his unique blend of interactive storytelling and song. They’re jam-packed with remarkable animals and life lessons and feature Anansi the Spider, Bossy Elephant, and other memorable characters.
Ages 5-10.
NSO Youth Fellows
Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage
Thursday, January 29 ∙ 6:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Participants in the NSO training program—Joe Broom (euphonium), Alex Arshaid (marimba), Abigail Tucker (violin), Tavifa Cojocari (violin), Eric Costantino (viola), Mairéad Flory (cello), Nathanael High (trumpet), Forrest Johnston (trumpet), Nathaniel Silberschlag (horn), Katie Franke (trombone), and Diego Stine (tuba)—play chamber works.
NSO Youth Fellows
Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage
Friday, January 30 ∙ 6:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Participants in the NSO training program—Juliana Lu-Yang (violin), Sarah Slate (violin), Nadia Jo (cello), Areen Kim (bass), Xander Day (flute), Corinne Foley (oboe), Hannah Conn (clarinet), Marin Williams (bassoon), Gaby Pho (horn), Jillian Khoo (violin), Julia Angelov (violin), Stephan Loh (viola), Didi Park (cello), and Naenah Jeon (cello)—play chamber works.
National Gallery of Art Ice Rink
Presented by: National Gallery of Art
Venue: National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden
Through Monday, March 16 ∙ see schedule below ∙ $7-$8
The Gallery’s ice rink can accommodate more than two hundred skaters, with a music system that brings vibrant sound to visitors on and off the ice. At night, lighting creates a festive atmosphere for the richly landscaped ground and a distinctive backdrop for nineteen works of modern and contemporary sculpture.
The Sculpture Garden is located on the National Mall between 7th and 9th Streets along Constitution Avenue NW. It is accessible to visitors with disabilities.
Ice Rink Hours:
Mo–Th, 10am.–9pm.
Fr & Sa 10:00am–11:00pm
Su 11:00am.–9:00pm
Spinosaurus: Lost Giant of the Cretaceous
National Geographic
Through Sunday, April 12, 2015 ∙ $0-$11
Meet Spinosaurus. At over 50 feet long, 20 feet high and weighing in at 6 tons, Spinosaurus is the largest predatory dinosaur to ever roam the Earth — even bigger than T. rex. This bus-sized dino’s extraordinary features include a crocodile-shaped skull and 7-foot spines forming a sail along its back. Spinosaurus is unlike any other dinosaur you’ve seen or heard of before. Encounter this bizarre predator for the first time at the world premiere of “Spinosaurus: Lost Giant of the Cretaceous.”
In this exhibition, you can explore a full-sized skeletal model as well as genuine dinosaur fossils and learn about the latest technologies modern paleontologists use. Travel with National Geographic explorers and scientists to the remote edges of the Sahara to discover the origins of this rare African dinosaur and the mysterious journey that led to its rediscovery.
***Maryland***
Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Olney Theatre Center
Through Saturday, January 10 ∙ Schedule varies ∙ $32-$65
In a magical underwater kingdom, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home, and her fins, behind and live in the world above. But first she’ll have to defy her father King Triton, make a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula, and convince the handsome Prince Eric that she’s the girl whose enchanting voice he’s been seeking
Kid’s Day Out-Loose With Mother Goose
Arts Harmony Hall Regional Center
Wednesday, January 14, 2015 ∙ 10:30 am ∙ $5
A really fun revue featuring popular and obscure Mother Goose nursery rhymes, along with a few original story songs by the Kinderman. There are great visuals that accompany these stories, and of course as is the basis for all Kindercise shows, there is call and response, rhythm movement and chanting.
Missoula Children’s Theatre- Aladdin
Arts Harmony Hall Regional Center
Wednesday, January 14, 2015 ∙ 11:00 am & 1:00 pm ∙ $5
For Aladdin it’s not easy to find a magic lamp but it’s even harder to get a date! It’s a swirling sandstorm of famous Arabian Tales from Ali Baba to Scheherazade, and even Sinbad the Sailor, as Aladdin journeys to find a magic lamp in a Cave of (not-so-great) Wonders. Along his way Aladdin seeks answers and advice from wise Genies, a powerful Sultan, and his own Mother to find a way to meet the Princess. However, even with the lamp in hand, Aladdin will have to learn that it takes more than a wish to make a good impression. Full of memorable characters, from lost Penguins to talking Palm Trees, this is an adventure worthy of 1001 laughs.
Step Afrika! Step Xplosion
Strathmore
Sunday, January 18, 2015 ∙ 4:00 pm ∙ $25-$35
Celebrate 20 years of stepping around the world with Step Afrika!, the world’s first professional company dedicated to the percussive dance tradition of stepping. This Martin Luther King Weekend performance features six amazing step teams.
Classroom Character: The Road to Success
Publick Playhouse
Thursday, January 22, 2015 ∙ 10:15 am & 12:00 pm ∙ $6-$8
With a fun and wacky blend of magic, comedy and total audience involvement, Choosy Suzy and YouDini the Genie give kids a powerful path to stop name-calling and bullying. Challenging the audience members to think about how they treat each other, this entertaining and thought-provoking program shows how students working together can make a school a Bully Free Zone.
Curriculum Connections: Language Arts, Relationships, Character Development, Social Issues.
Recommended for Grades K-3.
Petite Rouge A Cajun Red Riding Hood
Adventure Theatre MTC
Friday, January 30 thru Sunday, March 8, 2015 ∙ schedule varies ∙ $19
Take a toe-tapping trip to the bayou in this family-friendly, Zydeco-driven musical soaked in N’awlins hot sauce! Based on the classic fairy tale and adapted from the book by Mike Artell and Jim Harris, a red-hooded duckling named Petite Rouge and her sidekick cat lead the Big Bad Gator on a wild “duck” chase through New Orleans and Mardi Gras. Will they make it to Grandmere’s house with a basket full of Cajun goodies?
Adapted from the book by Mike Artell
Book, music & lyrics by Joan Cushing
Directed and Choreographed by Michael J. Bobbitt
Assistant Director Danny Tippett
Featuring Kurt Boehm
Recommended for Ages 4 and up
***Virginia***
Cinderella
Presented by: Encore Stage & Studio
Venue: Thomas Jefferson Theatre
Friday, January 9 through Sunday, January 18, 2015 ∙ schedule varies ∙ $10-$12
In this musical adaptation of the classic fairy tale, a young girl, nicknamed Cinderella by her cruel stepsisters, dreams of leaving her work behind and becoming a princess. When the Prince throws a ball, she finally gets her chance. With a little bit of magical assistance from her fairy godmother, Cinderella just might win the heart of her very own Prince Charming. Recommended for ages 4 and up.
2nd Saturday Art Walk
Workhouse Arts Center
Saturday, January 10, 2015 ∙ 6:00 pm ∙ FREE!
The 2nd Saturday Art Walk at the Workhouse showcases the diverse work of more than 100 visual artists in a unique historic venue, creating an atmosphere that encourages visitors to immerse themselves in the richness of this creative community.
Arlington Philharmonic Concert
Presented by: Arlington Philharmonic
Venue: Washington-Lee High School
Sunday, January 11, 2015 ∙ 3:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Join Arlington Philharmonic for an afternoon of classical favorites, including works by Frescobaldi, Schubert, and Rachmaninoff! DC-based pianist Sara Daneshpour is featured as our soloist in Rachmaninoff’s third piano concerto. Admission is free and no tickets are required; however, a $20 donation is suggested. Repertoire includes Frescobaldi’s Toccata, Schubert’s “Unfinished” symphony, and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3.
The United States Marine Band
Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall
Sunday, January 18, 2015 ∙ 2:00 pm ∙ FREE!
The premier band of the United States Marine Corps is the oldest of the United States military bands and the oldest professional musical organization in the United States.
How a Town Fought Hate
Publick Playhouse
Tuesday, February 3 ∙ 10:15 am & 12:00 pm ∙ $6-$8
Catskill Puppet Theatre and Young Audiences of New Jersey team up to tell the true story of an American town overcoming hate groups. Based on the award-winning children’s book “The Christmas Menorahs”, and underscored by original music, beautiful large puppets depict the struggle of Billings, Montana during the 1993 holiday season, when the community defeated the local bullies threatening their minority neighbors.
Curriculum Connections: anti-bullying, history, social studies, literature, character building, theatre arts.
Recommended for grades K-5.
Kid’s Day Out-Lincoln & Tubman
Arts Harmony Hall Regional Center
Wednesday, February 4, 2015 ∙ 10:30 am ∙ $5
This production delves into the childhoods of Harriet Tubman and Abraham Lincoln, recreating the key moments and events that shaped both of their lives. Audiences follow these great leaders as they face challenges in order to do what is right for their fellow Americans. Abolition and the Civil War are seen through the eyes of two great leaders. This show seeks to celebrate the many contributions of heroic Americans while encouraging audiences to make a difference in their own world.
Festival: Expressions Of A People
Arts Harmony Hall Regional Center
Wednesday, February 4, 2015 ∙ 1:00 pm ∙ FREE!
A free Black History celebration featuring musical performances, children’s activities, workshops, and entertainment for the entire family. Past performers at this popular event have included gospel singer Robert Pearson, The Oxon Hill High School Gospel Choir, The Yancey Brothers, Baba Jamal Koram, The Smooth & EZ Hand Dance Performance Troupe, a cappella singing group Nu Era, and many more. Children will enjoy mask-making, face painting and a caricaturist.
KanKouran West African Dance Company
Presented by: The Smithsonian Associates
Venue: Baird Auditorium, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Wednesday, February 4, 2015 ∙ 10:15 am & 11:30 am ∙ $5
The passion of drums, dance, and African history infuse the performances of this acclaimed Washington cultural treasure. The Washington Post praises the troupe’s “high-octane movement” and dancers who can “effortlessly…shift their style from smooth and silvery to sharp and swift.”
Ages 5 and up.
Lions of Industry, Mothers of Invention: Celebrate Black History Month
Presented by: The Smithsonian Associates
Venue: Smithsonian Discovery Theater
Thursday, February 5 through Thursday, February 12, 2015 ∙ schedule varies ∙ $5
Beauty magnate Madame C.J. Walker, agricultural chemist and “peanut man” George Washington Carver, education giant Booker T. Washington, and even cranky chef George Crum, who accidentally created the potato chip, all take center stage in this vibrant living-history production. Discovery Theater’s original interactive play honors the creativity and genius of African American entrepreneurs and inventors and inspires the achiever in all of us.
Ages 8 and up.
Savion Glover’s STePz
Strathmore
Friday, February 6, 2015 ∙ 8:00 pm ∙ $25-$68
Tony Award winner (Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk) has stepped into his own legendary status in the tap world, and in his newest show he pays homage to past tap masters to music that ranges from John Coltrane to Prince to Shostakovich. With an ensemble of dancers, Glover flashes from easy rhythms to daredevil moves that take the audience’s breath away.
Jazz Meets Blues: Phil Wiggins and Karen Lovejoy
Publick Playhouse
Saturday, February 7 ∙ 8:00 pm ∙ $20-$25
Phil Wiggins brings his incredible talent to the Playhouse for an evening of sublime blues backed by the Chesapeake Sheiks. A Smithsonian Folkways blues recording artist with echoes of gospel and jazz, Wiggins says he has “performed on every continent except Antarctica.” Silky, funky, and smooth Karen Lovejoy performs lively and imaginative renditions of jazz standards, energetic blues and solid Latin rhythms, with instrumental pros The Lovejoy Group. Wiggins and Lovejoy connect with the audience in a way that shouts for more.
NSO Teddy Bear Concert: Two Divas and a Bear!
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Saturday, February 7, 2015 ∙ 11:00 am & 1:30 pm ∙ $20
What happens when you bring together a concert violinist, an opera singer, and everyone’s favorite stuffed animal? You get Two Divas and a Bear! Explore the human voice with NSO violinist Marissa Regni and soprano Kari Paludan. Age 3–5
One Noble Journey: A Box Marked Freedom
Publick Playhouse
Tuesday, February 10 & Wednesday, February 11, 2015 ∙ 10:15 am & 12:00 pm ∙ $6-$8
Henry “Box” Brown was an African American born into slavery in 1816 Virginia. As a child, his family was torn apart. The same thing happened again years later, when Brown’s wife and children were wrenched away. That devastation was his breaking point, spurring him on to devise an ingenious plan to escape the fierce oppression of slavery. Sealed in a wooden box, he shipped himself to friends and freedom in Philadelphia. This engrossing drama by Mike Wiley Productions of North Carolina epitomizes the courage, creativity, and resourcefulness people can find within themselves.
Curriculum Connections: American history, social studies, language arts, theatre arts.
Recommended for grades 3 and up.
The Lost World
The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
Friday, February 13 through Saturday, February 21, 2015 ∙ schedule varies ∙ $10-$25
Growing up may be tough, but try discovering that dinosaurs exist under your bed. For twins Oscar and Olivia, that’s precisely the predicament. Amid ’90s Dino-mania, the duo delve beneath their mattresses and unearth a wily world where velociraptors and dilophosaurus roam free. But when the siblings let their secret run wild, they discover the real monsters to be the naysayers who mock them. Adapted from Conan O’Doyle’s eponymous silent film, The Lost World explores the ugly phases of adolescence, the treacherous task of preserving our imaginations and the primordial struggle between chaos and control.
Jack’ s Tale: A Mythic Mountain Musical Adventure
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Saturday, February 14 ∙ 11:00 am, 1:30 pm, and 5:00 pm & Sunday, February 15, 2015 ∙ 1:30 pm and 4:00 pm ∙ $20
This world premiere Kennedy Center co-commission with Nashville Children’s Theatre uses actors and a live bluegrass band to dive deep into the eclectic music traditions of the Appalachians. The result: a delightfully authentic mountain musical! Age 8+
NSO Family Concert: The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Saturday, February 15, 2015 ∙ 2:00 pm & 4:00 pm ∙ $15-$18
Based on Jon Scieszka’s children’s book, NSO Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke composed an exciting new work that follows Alexander T. Wolf’s misadventures during his quest for a cup of sugar to finish his grandmother’s birthday cake.
Coretta Scott King and the Fight for Freedom
Publick Playhouse
Tuesday, February 17, 2015 ∙ 10:15 am & 12:00 pm ∙ $6-$8
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s Art Reach presents a drama with music about the life of the woman behind Dr. Martin Luther King. Born in Alabama, Coretta Scott King overcame childhood racism and adversity in the segregated South. A talented singer, she graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. As Dr. King’s wife, the “First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement” often used her singing voice to inspire people to act. After Dr. King’s 1968 assassination, she took on a major leadership role in the movement. An author, public speaker, singer, and activist, she inspired the nation and the world.
Curriculum Connections: American history, social studies, civics and politics, music, language arts and self-esteem.
Recommended for grades 3-8.
The Uncle Devin Show
Presented by: The Smithsonian Associates
Venue: Smithsonian Discovery Theater
Friday, February 20, 2015 ∙ 10:15 am & 11:30 am ∙ $5
Are you ready to make some noise? Uncle Devin invites young audiences to hear and play a world of percussion instruments in a show he calls a dynamic cross between Fat Albert and Schoolhouse Rock. Through all the bang-up interactive fun, kids also learn why percussion is the easiest, oldest, and most diverse form of musical creativity.
Ages 2-6.
Face the Music
Presented by: Washington Performing Arts
Venue: Atlas Performing Arts Center
Saturday, February 21, 2015 ∙ 3:00 pm ∙ $20
New York City’s youngest “alt-classical” ensemble – and the only teen ensemble in the U.S. dedicated to the creation and performance of music by living composers – makes its D.C. debut in a residency with Atlas Performing Arts Center and schools in our Capital Strings Program. Featuring 20 musicians from the groundbreaking Special Music School for musically gifted children (first envisioned by pianist Vladimir Feltsman), Face the Music performs Trance, the hair-raising and unstoppable ensemble work by Michael Gordon, along with original works composed by Face the Music students and D.C.-based composers under age 18.
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