WASHINGTON D.C.: The Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences has announced their 2019-20 lineup boasting themed concerts, rejuvenations of literary classics, and musical family fun.
The season will kick off with The Prince and Palbo (Oct.19-Nov. 3), written by and starring Brian Quijada. Based on Mark Twain’s The Prince and the Pauper, this world premiere reimagines the classic through a hip-hop lens.
Up next is the NSO Family Concert: Halloween Spectacular (Oct. 20), with appropriately outfitted musicians sharing the spirit of Halloween with audiences in this mashup performance.
After that is Balancing Bodies (Oct. 31-Nov. 2), from the Woest dance and theatre company. This interactive piece fuses audience and performer participation to break theatrical boundaries.
Following is Get ‘M, (Nov. 2-3), by theatre company Bontehond, about a television studio in disarray.
Next up is EGG-tion Hero ( Nov. 9-10), created by dance and theatre company Maas. Two mime players act out events that unfold after an ordinary egg’s protection is breached at a museum gallery.
Up next is Peter and Friends (Nov.23-24), presented in collaboration with Atlanta, Ga.’s Teller Productions. Musicians from the National Symphony Orchestra, actors, and puppeteers enact this Peter and the Wolf-inspired piece.
On Nov. 23, The Magic Flute: a Family Look-In will take the stage. Young audiences will be exposed to opera and design magic in excerpts from Mozart’s opera.
KCTYA will present the world premiere of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (The Musical) (Nov. 23-Jan. 5, 2020), based on Mo Willems’s successful book series.
After that will be Glimpse (Jan. 11-12, 2020), a piece marrying visuals, art, colors, music, and technology.
NSO violinist Marissa Regni and NSO percussionist Eric Shin will explore the harmonies of musical instruments in Beauty and the Beat (Jan. 18-19, 2020).
Up next is the NSO family concert Girl Power (Feb. 16, 2020). This performance will showcase female musicians, performers, and composers in celebration of the 100 years of women being able to vote.
Following is Mozart Mashup (Feb. 22-23, 2020), where members of the National Symphony Orchestra will play their favorite Mozart pieces.
Yao Yao (Feb. 29-Mar.1, 2020), from South Korea’s Brush Theatre, shares the story of Yao, a young girl who accidentally pulls a thread from her father’s coat, leading her on the adventure of a lifetime.
Next is 123 Andrés (Mar. 7-8, 2020), performed by Latin Grammy-winning duo Andrés and Christina. These teaching artists will dance, sing, and perform in both Spanish and English to educate young audiences on Latin American culture.
NSO Family Concert series will present Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs, a concert adaptation Mo Willems’s book, in which three hungry dinosaurs from Norway shake things up through originally composed music.
Pokon: An Unstoppable Game of Growth (Apr. 24-26, 2020), from the Netherlands-based dance company De Dansers, will follow. Three performers of Pokon take the stage with gusto.
After that will be The Girl Who Swallowed a Cactus (Apr. 30- May 20, 2020), by Eric Cobble. Imaginative children are approached by animals intent on bringing the wild to civilization.
Havana Pop (May 9-10, 2020), written and performed by Paige Hernandez, will follow. It tells the story of Yeila, a superstar in training who lacks the confidence show the world her worth.
Following will be Dreamer: A South African Journey (May 9-24, 2020), by Zoey Martinson, based on the life of singer/songwriter Tuelo Minah. In it a young South African woman chases her dreams across the world to the United States.
Next up is the Kennedy Center annual week-long program New Visions/New Voices (May 15-17, 2020), in which participants create and perform new work and present it at a national weekend conference.
KC Chinese New Year Family Day (Date TBD) will celebrate the Year of the Rat through activities and performances highlighting Chinese culture.
The Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences Program produces, commissions, and presents productions to inspire young audiences.
