Grinch, Pandora, and a Baseball Legend: Imagination Stage Unveils 2026/27 Season
Imagination Stage, the DMV's leader in youth development through the arts, announced its 2026/27 professional theater lineup. Centered around the inspiring theme, "A Season of Heroes and Hope," this year's slate of productions is packed with high-energy musicals, interactive experiences for toddlers, and deeply moving stories that celebrate everyday heroism and the power of optimism.
"Through the magic of live theater, young audiences don't just watch stories unfold - they see themselves in them," says Joanne Lamparter, Imagination Stage's Chief Artistic Programming Officer. "This season is all about helping children identify the heroes around them, discover what it truly means to be an active, helping member of a community, and walk away inspired with hope for the future."
Bringing this vision to life, the season kicks off with the infectious rhythms of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: The Musical (September 26-October 18, 2026), followed by a spectacular holiday production of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical (November 21, 2026-January 3, 2027), directed by Helen Hayes Award winner Ashleigh King.
In January and February, Wake Up, Brother Bear! (January 16-February 21, 2027) invites you into the world of Brother and Sister Bear as they follow a year through the seasons. Together we see a waterfall melt, meet a butterfly, chase an elusive fish, and skate on an icy pond. Children sit on the floor around the stage and may join in the action with this funny and reflective exploration for young imaginations.
In March and April, audiences will see the return of Inside Out and Backwards (March 13-April 18, 2027). It's bedtime, and two children use their imaginations to turn their room inside out! While playing dress-up, a glove becomes a dancing fish, a shirt becomes a fantastical creature, and a sock dance rocks the closet!
The excitement builds in the winter and spring with a lineup curated for elementary-school-aged children, starting with a highly anticipated world-premiere musical, Pandora: Out of the Box! (February 27-April 10, 2027). This landmark production marks a major creative union for Imagination Stage, bringing together playwright Psalmayene 24 and composer Deborah Wicks La Puma. Both celebrated artists return to the theater where they previously broke ground in Theatre for Young Audiences.
Following the Pandora premiere, audiences will be treated to the problem-solving adventures of Rosie Revere, Ada Twist, and Iggy Peck: The Questioneers for a limited, two-week run (April 17-25, 2027). The season culminates in the summer with the musical Grand Slam Hero (June 16-July 24, 2027), which centers on real-life hero and baseball legend, Roberto Clemente. Grand Slam Hero highlights another creative partnership for the theater, written by the internationally celebrated musical theater writing team of Karen ZacarÃas and Deborah Wicks La Puma.