Imagination Stage Unveils Season with a Lineup of Greatest Hits for Young Audiences
Imagination Stage, the crown jewel of children's theatre in the metro DC area, is thrilled to unveil its 2023/24 season. This marks the 20th anniversary of Imagination Stage's enchanting theatre arts center in downtown Bethesda, and to commemorate this milestone, the season is packed with six mesmerizing "greatest hits".
The season opens with a splash! The international sensation, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, graces the stage from September 22 to October 22. This production is truly inclusive, with 25% of the performances in Spanish, and the remaining in English. It's a perfect treat for children aged 3 to 8. The magic unfolds as stunning puppetry brings to life the beloved illustrations of Eric Carle, mesmerizing the young audience in the 390-seat Lerner Theatre.
As winter beckons, the stage lights up with A Year with Frog and Toad from November 15 to January 7, just in time for the festive season. This gem broke all records at Imagination Stage in 2015 and even celebrated its own 20th anniversary. With its Tony-nominated Broadway credentials, this production is directed by the illustrious Ashleigh King, known for her stellar choreography.
Valentine's Day heralds the return of an original Imagination Stage creation, Cinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale, running from February 14 to April 7. The show's origins trace back to the early 2000s and will be helmed by the supremely talented Nadia Guevara. The writing duo, Karen ZacarÃas and Deborah Wicks La Puma, bring their magic back to Imagination Stage, after several successful collaborations and individual accolades.
Summer 2024 promises an exciting adventure as Miss Nelson is Missing! returns to the stage from June 20 to August 10. This was the first Imagination Stage commission for Joan Cushing, a well-known name in political comedy and cabaret. This production went on to become a national favorite among young audiences.
For the littlest theatre-goers, aged 1 to 5, the Reeve Studio Theatre transforms into an immersive experience with two interactive, multi-sensory productions - Mouse on the Move (January 13 - February 11) and Inside Out (March 3-30). Imagination Stage has been a pioneering force in Theatre for the Very Young (TVY) for over a decade, and these two beloved shows are sure to captivate the imagination of the youngest audience members.
Janet Stanford, the Founding Artistic Director who has been part of Imagination Stage since its inception, handpicked these shows as they are "timeless stories to speak to key milestones in youth development including imagining new possibilities, appreciating other cultures and traditions, and empathizing with others." Echoing her sentiments, Managing Director Jason Najjoum adds, "We can't wait to introduce these wonderful shows to a new mini-generation of children. It has been very encouraging to see families returning to the theatre following the pandemic. So many of us all fell out of the habit, and we believe this 'greatest hits' season will keep bringing them back."
Mark your calendars and prepare to be enchanted by the captivating stories and mesmerizing performances at Imagination Stage's 20th-anniversary season!