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Past Events and Performances

Thursday, May 10, 2018, 7 pm
Artist Reception: Katherine Hart

Hart works with encaustic techniques to cast stories among layers of pigment and wax. Inspired by everything that surrounds or encounters her, she does not premeditate, but rather lets the materials direct the course of the work. The result is a composition emboldened by her organic pursuit, the inherent emotions and challenges of that pursuit—a vivid example of art imitating life.

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, April 17, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Smithsonian Associates Discovery Theater on Tour: Mother Earth and Me

The magic of earth science takes center stage in this fun, interactive Discovery Theater original as we explore the origins of our planet, the water cycle, and our important role in the ecosystem, as well as folklore about the “big blue marble” we call home. Kick off Earth Month by pledging to become an Earth Warrior—and find out some great ways to start right away!

Tickets: $8/person, $6/person in groups of 20 or more

This performance is supported by a grant from the GEICO philanthropic foundation; free tickets are available for qualifying Title 1 schools.

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, March 20, 10:15 am & 12 noon
The Story of Anne Frank

This meticulously researched production provides an engaging and accessible approach to this time in history as it tells the story of a remarkable young woman. Celebrating the courage and strength of Anne and her companions in the Secret Annex, The Story of Anne Frank offers an opportunity to reflect on a young person’s perseverance in the face of unimaginable odds.
Recommended for grades 6-8
Curriculum Connections: History, Social Studies, Language Arts
Tickets: $8/person; $6/person in groups of 20 or more

This performance is supported by a grant from the GEICO philanthropic foundation; free tickets are available for qualifying Title 1 schools.

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, March 15, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Flight School: The Musical

Penguin is excited to go to the first day of Flight School, where they teach birds to fly. Although Penguin is ready to live on the wind he wasn’t built to soar, as the other birds constantly remind him. But Penguin’s spirit won’t be grounded, so with the help of some friends, Penguin follows his dreams to flip, flap, fly! Based on the popular book by Lita Judge.
Recommended for grades Pre-K-3
Tickets: $8/person; $6/person in groups of 20 or more

This performance is supported by a grant from the GEICO philanthropic foundation; free tickets are available for qualifying Title 1 schools.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018, 7 pm
Artist Reception: Local Women in Abstraction

In recent years, many art institutions have sought to give recognition to women artists who historically were not represented in important collections, exhibitions, or books. This exhibition seeks to build on this momentum by celebrating local female artists investigating various mediums and modes of abstract expression. Line, shape, color, texture, space and form are the universal tools that these artists employ to communicate the ethereal, the mundane and the simply sublime.

Midweek Matinee
Wednesday, March 7, 10:15 am & 12 noon
We Can Do It! American Women in History

When two students explore the attic of a museum, they meet some amazing women from history face to face. “We Can Do It!” celebrates the courageous, confident women who have helped shape our country, from Amelia Earhart and Laura Ingalls Wilder to Sacajawea and Susan B. Anthony.
Recommended for grades 3-5
Curriculum Connections: History, Social Studies
Tickets: $8/person; $6/person in groups of 20 or more

This performance is supported by a grant from the GEICO philanthropic foundation; free tickets are available for qualifying Title 1 schools.

Weekend Performance
Sunday, February 25, 4:00 pm
PRAISE Dance Festival

This popular annual festival returns with another inspirational program featuring the area’s finest liturgical dancers who are selected by audition.
Tickets: $25/person; $20/person for seniors, students, and groups of 20 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, February 22, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Baba Jamal Koram: The Story Man

African and African American cultures come alive when The Story Man’s wit and wisdom captivates youngsters’ imagination through drumming, call and response games, music and, of course, inspired, light- hearted stories.
Recommended for grades Pre-K- 2
Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, February 20, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Struggle for Freedom: The Life of Dr. King

“Struggle for Freedom” celebrates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the context of the American Civil Rights Movement. Featuring songs from the era, this production offers us the opportunity to experience the heroic moment when Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat, The Great March on Washington of 1963, and many more of the key events that shaped both the civil rights movement and our country.
Recommended for grades 3-5
Curriculum Connections: History, Language Arts (Foundational Skills, Informational Text, Literature, Reading, Speaking & Listening, Writing), Social Studies
Tickets: $8/person; $6/person in groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Saturday, February 17, 8:00 pm
Love Song: Shirley Jones of the Jones Girls

Former lead singer of the Jones Girls, Shirley Jones sings your favorite R & B songs and romantic ballads, including her chart-topping “Who Can I Run To?” “Do You Get Enough Love?” and hits from her best-selling albums “Always in the Mood” and “Feels Like Heaven.” Extend your Valentine’s Day celebration, and let your heart swell as you sway to the music of these soul-stirring songs.
Tickets: $30/person; $25/person for seniors, students, and groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, February 15, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Lesole’s Dance Project: Dancing through South Africa

Explore South Africa when Lesolé Dance takes you on an incredible journey emphasizing the role that dance plays in encouraging people in difficult times, and in promoting a deeper understanding and acceptance among people of different backgrounds and traditions. Traditional Zulu; Gumboot, which originated in the gold mines during Apartheid; and Pantsula, a modern social/hip-hop dance form are all part of this fascinating program.

Recommended for grades K-3
Curriculum Connections: Dance, Music, Social Studies, Language Arts, World Languages
Tickets: $8/person; $6/person in groups of 20 or more

This performance is supported by a grant from the GEICO philanthropic foundation; free tickets are available for qualifying Title 1 schools.

Weekend Performance
Sunday, February 11, 4:00 pm
Seoul to Soul

Music, drumming, and dancing are universal languages, and in honor of the 2018 Winter Olympics, hosted by South Korea, the Coalition for African Americans in the Performing Arts (CAAPA) and the Korean American Cultural Arts Foundation (KACAF) have joined together to celebrate the commonalities and distinctions of these essential forms of expression. Fascinating, entertaining, and joyous, this international multi-cultural event is perfect for the whole family.
Tickets: $15/person

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, February 9, 11:00 am
Platinum Live - Mike Wiley: Breach of Peace

On May 24, 1961, 19-year-old Jean Thompson boarded a Trailways bus in Montgomery, Alabama with 11 other young Freedom Riders bound for New Orleans – and history. Within three months, approximately 300 other riders took up the mantle to desegregate busses, following the path of the first brave few. Actor and playwright Mike Wiley stars in this one-man play that is a living monument to those remarkable men and women who faced violence and arrest in their courageous fight for just and equal treatment for all.
Tickets: $10/seniors 60 and better
Photo by Chris Charles for Creative Silence

Tuesday, February 6, 2018, 7 pm
Artist Reception: Janelle Washington

With detailed, colorful cuts on paper, Janelle Washington celebrates “African
American beauty, rich culture, and history.” As she seeks to “empower [the individual] to move forward in greatness”, her work gives a contemporary refresh to traditional silhouette portraiture, making it accessible to audiences of all ages and creating a bridge between the old and the new.

Weekend Performance
Saturday, February 3, 8:00 pm
Daniel Beaty: Emergency!

A slave ship suddenly appears in present-day New York harbor, setting off a series of events and reactions from more than two dozen characters, all embodied in this astonishing, Obie award-winning, one-man performance. Heralded by the Cincinnati CityBeat as “a masterful performer,” actor, poet, singer, and writer Daniel Beaty (a regular of Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam) weaves a narrative that is a stirring commentary on what it is to be human with the longing to be free.
Tickets: $25/person; $20/person for seniors, students, and groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, February 1, 10:15 am & 12 noon
A Woman Named Truth

A great African American leader in the 1800s, Sojourner Truth was born a slave but was freed when she was in her 20s. As an abolitionist, religious leader, and advocate for women’s rights, she became a national figure. During the Civil War she aided the Union troops by bringing supplies, working in a hospital, counseling freed slaves, and encouraging soldiers with her sermons and hymns. You’ll be inspired by the life and work of this remarkable woman in this moving new play with music.
Recommended for Grades 4-7
Curriculum Connections: African American History, Character Education, Music, U.S. History, Women’s Studies
Tickets: $8/person; $6/person in groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, December 21, 10:15 am & 12 noon
A Beatrix Potter Christmas: “The Tailor of Gloucester”

When the mayor orders a cherry-colored coat for his Christmas wedding, the poor Tailor of Gloucester works his fingers to the bone. All goes well until the tailor realizes he lacks the piece of twisted silk needed to sew on the final button. But it is Christmas Eve, that one blessed night when animals are granted the gift of speech. Simpkin the cat and the house mice become steadfast friends and work together to complete a coat that leaves the bedazzled Mayor—and them—speechless for a miraculously happy ending on Christmas Day.
Recommended for grades 3-5
Curriculum Connections: Art, Folk Tales, History, Language Arts (Literature, Reading), Music, Mythology
Tickets: $8/person; $6/person in groups of 20 or more

This performance is supported by a grant from the GEICO philanthropic foundation; free tickets are available for qualifying Title 1 schools.

Family Funday
Saturday, December 16, 2:00 pm
The Squeaky Clean Band: Mistletunes

The whole family will have a rockin’ holiday time when Suzanne and Glenn bring the wide world of year-end celebrations to the stage. Traditions and songs of Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Dongzhi, Three Kings Day, and Eid-al-Fitr are just some of the celebrations included in this festive program. Whether your family is celebrating a major holiday, a minor holiday, or no holiday at all, this show has something for you.
Tickets: $8/person

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, December 14, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Bob Brown Puppets: The Magic Toy Shop

Tots’ favorite puppeteer Bob Brown brings some special toys that do astounding things: meet Ted E. Bear, the jolly juggling stuffed animal; Carl and his crayon calliope performing wonderfully silly music, and many more of Bob’s friendly magic toys.
Recommended for grades Pre-K and Kindergarten
Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, December 12, 10:15 am & 12 noon
A Christmas Carol

Perhaps the best loved holiday story of all time, this adaptation of Dickens’ classic is particularly suited to children. Watch Mr. Scrooge’s stone-cold heart change to gold as he is visited by the ghosts of Christmas. All the joy, sentiment and meaning are here, without being too scary for young audiences.
Recommended for grades 3-5
Curriculum Connections: Family Ties, Language Arts (Literature, Reading), Music
Tickets: $8/person; $6/person in groups of 20 or more

Publick Playhouse 40th Anniversary Celebration
Friday, December 8, 11:00 am
Platinum Live: A Gospel Christmas

Ring in the season and sing along as the BRENCORE ALLSTARS perform your favorite holiday songs in gospel renditions that will bring the spirit of the season to your soul.
Tickets: $10/seniors 60 and better

Publick Playhouse 40th Anniversary Celebration
Thursday, December 7, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Artist Reception: Michael Moses

Meet artist Michael Moses, whose background in the plastic arts has given him a fascination with materials that compels a closer look. Alluring patterns, colors and textures are center stage in his photography, seeking to lure and tantalize the eye. In addition, the Publick Playhouse 40th Anniversary Celebration continues with a look back at the history of the Playhouse and remarks by some of our community leaders.
Free

Publick Playhouse 40th Anniversary Celebration
Tuesday, December 5, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Christmas with Santa

The spirit of the most wonderful time of year is overflowing in this hysterical Christmas-wrapped comedy packed with sing-along holiday songs. Two zany and lovable elves, Scrunchie and Bangles, have accidentally misplaced some of Santa’s presents. When Santa finds out, he teaches the well-meaning elves that the real gift of the season are the people and friends we celebrate it with.
Recommended for grades Pre-K-3
Curriculum Connections: Language Arts (Foundational Skills, Informational Text, Literature, Reading, Speaking & Listening, Writing)
Tickets: $8/person; $6/person in groups of 20 or more

Publick Playhouse 40th Anniversary Celebration
Saturday, December 2, 8:00 pm
A Holiday Celebration with Regina Belle

Grammy-award winner Regina Belle moves gracefully between R&B, jazz, soul and gospel with hits such as “A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme),” “Make It Like it Was,” and “Baby Come to Me.” Performing seasonal favorites along with her hit songs, Regina Belle will get you in the holiday spirit, so bring your friends, family and loved ones for a special night of musical celebration.
Tickets: $35/person; $30/person for seniors, students, and groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Wednesday, November 29, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Thomas Edison: Inventor, Lecturer, and Prankster

Meet the greatest inventor of all time, live and in-person! Help Thomas Edison recreate some of his most famous experiments and learn some secrets that will help you every day when you try to solve problems or become frustrated by mistakes.
Recommended for grades 3-5
Curriculum Connections: Mathematics, Science, U.S. History
Tickets: $8/person; $6/person in groups of 20 or more

This performance is supported by a grant from the GEICO philanthropic foundation; free tickets are available for qualifying Title 1 schools.

Saturday, November 18, 10 am – 3 pm
PRAISE Dance Festival Auditions

Liturgical dance companies, studios, ministries, and individual dancers are invited to audition for the annual PRAISE Liturgical Dance Festival. In 2018 the Festival will be presented on Sunday, February 25, at 4 pm. An informational workshop will be held Saturday, September 9 (see above) and is strongly recommended for all applicants. Bring a CD of the music and audition one complete work in costume; the piece presented in the audition should be one you wish to perform at the Festival. Auditions are by appointment, for an application call 301-277-1710 (TTY 301-699-2544).
Application deadline: Friday, November 10, 5 pm.

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, November 14, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Dovie Thomason: Lessons from the Animal People

The rich heritage of the First Nations comes alive when Dovie Thomason shares an intertribal sampling of animal stories from her Plains Apache and Lakota ancestors. The imaginative tales often answer questions children have about animals (“why do bears hibernate?”) in stories that teach proper values and behavior, and capture tots’ attention.
Recommended for grades K-5
Tickets: $8/person; $6/person in groups of 20 or more

This performance is supported by a grant from the GEICO philanthropic foundation; free tickets are available for qualifying Title 1 schools.

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, November 9, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Bob Brown Puppets: Second Hand Stars

Rescued from thrift shops and garage sales, these charming group puppets were given a new lease on life when Bob Brown transformed them from cast off toys into lovable puppet friends. Goonie Bird Gertrude, tap dancing bugs Bingo and Bob, and Snirdley and his Scooter are just a few of the recycled pals in this performance that is so much more than a puppet show.
Recommended for grades Pre-K and Kindergarten
Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, November 7, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Bullysaurus Rex

In The Land Before Kind, Bullysaurus Rex is doing everything he can to stop the other dinosaurs from accepting and being kind to the new dinosaur on the block – Terri Dactyl. You’ll roll with delight and have a dino-mite time as these young dinos learn how to end bullying when they see it, how to stop someone from bullying, and teach Bullysaurus how to be kind.
Recommended for grades K-2
Curriculum Connections: Anti-Bullying, Character Education, Language Arts (Foundational Skills, Informational Text, Literature, Reading, Speaking & Listening, Writing)
Tickets: $8/person; $6/person in groups of 20 or more

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Monday, November 6, 2017, 10:00 -11:30 a.m.
Hand Dance Drop-In Class

Hand Dance: the Dance of Our City
Bringing back the dances and music of the 50’s and 60’s with the National Hand Dance Association. Take one class or take them all; you do not need to bring a partner nor do you need any experience to learn these fun dance moves that will have you swinging, stepping and swaying to the beat. For seniors 60 and better only. Space is limited, advance purchase is recommended. To reserve a space for this and other classes, go to a community center or register online with SmartLink on www.pgparks.com

$5/person For Seniors 60 and Better Only

Saturday, November 4, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Master Class with Philadanco! - Modern Dance

Dancers and dance students (intermediate level and above) won’t want to miss the chance to learn from a professional member of the renowned company Philadanco! Modern dance technique, choreography and combinations are all part of this 90-minute session. Space for students is limited; advance purchase is recommended.
$20/student; $10/observers

Weekend Performance
Friday, November 3, 8 pm
Philadanco!

Dynamic, diverse, and dazzling, Philadanco! Electrifies audiences all over the world with its captivating choreography and superbly trained dancers. Founded in 1970, the company is renowned for creating thought-provoking dance pieces that reflect a range of modern dance styles and evoke present-day events, performed with exhilarating vitality.
Tickets: $30/person; $25/person for seniors, students, and groups of 20 or more

Photo by Julieanne Harris

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, November 3, 11 am
Platinum Live: Philadanco!

The elegant dancers of this acclaimed company perform engaging dance pieces in a one-hour program specially designed for seniors.
Tickets: $10/seniors 60 and better

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Monday, October 30, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Hand Dance – Drop-In Class

Bring back the dances and music of the 50’s and 60’s with the National Hand Dance Association. Take one class or take them all; you do not need to bring a partner nor do you need any experience to learn these fun dance moves that will have you swinging, stepping and swaying to the beat. To reserve a space for this and other classes, go to a community center or register online with SmartLink on www.pgparks.com
Tickets: $5/person (For seniors 60 and better only)

Family Funday
Saturday, October 28, 2 pm
Kids’ Euro Fest: Forgotten Princesses

Kids Euro Festival is a two-week long festival of European arts and culture presenting free activities to D.C. metro area children and their families. From Lithuania, Papi Dapi Fish comes to the Publick Playhouse with “Forgotten Princesses,” a dance performance that transforms real-life situations into the imaginary world of princesses, and teaches children to cherish their unique qualities while creating valuable, respectful interactions with others.
Tickets: Free

Weekend Performance
Friday, October 27, 10:30 am & 7:30 pm
Sprout Film Festival

Experience the films that celebrate difference and create transformational experiences for both the filmmakers and the audience. Though the movies take different forms – documentaries, features, short films, music videos – all light the spark of greater understanding and acceptance by presenting work by and about people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Tickets: Free

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Wednesday, October 25, 2017, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Soul Line Dancing - Drop-In Class

Soul Line Dancing is fun for everyone! This is not just the Cupid Shuffle or the Electric Slide, Soul Line Dance will show you how to put some style & rhythm into your dance moves. Take one class or take them all, no experience or partner is needed and the classes are Senior Friendly. For seniors 60 and better only. Space is limited, advance reservation/purchase is recommended. To reserve a space for this and other classes, go to a community center or register online with SmartLink on www.pgparks.com

$5/person

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, October 24, 11 am
Platinum Live: Mousey Thompson and the James Brown Experience

Relive the greatest hits of the Godfather of Soul with his legendary drummer and band leader, Mousy Thompson. You’ll feel good (like you know you should) in this celebration of soul, rhythm and pride.
Tickets: $10/seniors 60 and better

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Monday, October 23, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Hand Dance – Drop-In Class

Bring back the dances and music of the 50’s and 60’s with the National Hand Dance Association. Take one class or take them all; you do not need to bring a partner nor do you need any experience to learn these fun dance moves that will have you swinging, stepping and swaying to the beat. To reserve a space for this and other classes, go to a community center or register online with SmartLink on www.pgparks.com
Tickets: $5/person (For seniors 60 and better only)

Weekend Performance
Saturday, October 21, 8 pm
Heatwave

Heatwave remains one of the most beloved groups of the 70s. Heatwave is an international funk/disco band and is best known for its successful songs "Boogie Nights", "Always and Forever", and "The Groove Line". Heatwave is still bringing the heat and they are still a welcome sound to hear. So break out your bellbottoms, put on your platforms, and get ready to dance all night.
Tickets: $35/person; $30/person for seniors, students, and groups of 20 or more

Thursday, October 19, 2017, 7 pm
Artist Reception: Alma Selimovic

Selimovic is a local artist investigating the “humanness” of diverse peoples and communities. An immigrant from Bosnia, she seeks to present the beauty and uniqueness of individuals, the liveliness that persist despite the struggles of migration, exclusion and even oppression. Through a dynamic mix of media, she invites the viewer to experience the vivid and often complex fabric that forms contemporary communities across the world.

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Wednesday, October 18, 2017, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Soul Line Dancing - Drop-In Class

Soul Line Dancing is fun for everyone! This is not just the Cupid Shuffle or the Electric Slide, Soul Line Dance will show you how to put some style & rhythm into your dance moves. Take one class or take them all, no experience or partner is needed and the classes are Senior Friendly. For seniors 60 and better only. Space is limited, advance purchase is recommended. To reserve a space for this and other classes, go to a community center or register online with SmartLink on www.pgparks.com

$5/person

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, October 17, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Maximus Mars

Maximus Mars has crash-landed on a foreign planet and must work to stop the bullying residents from destroying his ship. When he begins receiving messages on his communication device, he turns to the audience who helps him put an end to the cyber-bullying.
Recommended for grades 3-5
Curriculum Connections: Anti-Bullying, Character Education, Language Arts (Foundational Skills, Informational Text, Literature, Reading, Speaking & Listening, Writing)
Tickets: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Monday, October 16, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Hand Dance – Drop-In Class

Bring back the dances and music of the 50’s and 60’s with the National Hand Dance Association. Take one class or take them all; you do not need to bring a partner nor do you need any experience to learn these fun dance moves that will have you swinging, stepping and swaying to the beat. To reserve a space for this and other classes, go to a community center or register online with SmartLink on www.pgparks.com
Tickets: $5/person (For seniors 60 and better only)

Weekend Performance
Saturday, October 14, 8 pm
¡Azúcar al rojo! A Celebration of Latin Dance

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with an extravaganza of Latin American dance. This mesmerizing showcase of music and movement features professional dancers from Mexico, Bolivia, and throughout the Latin world, whose swirling skirts, tapping boots, and pulsating beats transform the Playhouse stage into a festival.
Tickets: $15/person

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, October 12, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
The Great Zucchini

Tots love this hilarious, interactive entertainer who keeps them mesmerized with magic tricks, jokes, and games. He has performed at the White House Easter Egg Roll, The Vice President’s House, embassies, and many D.C. area festivals and schools to thousands of tots who can’t stop laughing when he’s on stage.
Recommended for grades Pre-K and Kindergarten.
Tickets: $5/person
Photo by Susan Kang

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Wednesday, October 11, 2017, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Soul Line Dancing Drop-In Class

Soul Line Dancing is fun for everyone! This is not just the Cupid Shuffle or the Electric Slide, Soul Line Dance will show you how to put some style & rhythm into your dance moves. Take one class or take them all, no experience or partner is needed and the classes are Senior Friendly. Space is limited, advance purchase is recommended. To reserve a space for this and other classes, go to a community center or register online with SmartLink on www.pgparks.com

$5/person. For seniors 60 and better only.

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, October 10, 10:15 a.m. & 12 noon
Smithsonian Associates Discovery Theater on Tour: African Roots/Latino Soul

This vibrant play explores what it means to be Latino, African-American, and proud, growing up in the heart of the American melting pot. How many cultures can we be? Why not all of them? Celia Cruz, mama’s kitchen, and a crowded subway make for lots of laughs and surprises. Written with the Young Playwrights' Theater, Latino Soul is a look into the triumphs of today’s multicultural kids.
Recommended for Grades 1-2
Curriculum Connections: Character Education, Language Arts, Social Studies, World Cultures, World Languages
Tickets: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more

Saturday, October 7, 2:00 pm
The Cashore Marionettes: Simple Gifts

The internationally acclaimed Cashore Marionettes redefine the art of puppetry with marionettes that are astounding in the range of emotion they convey. In “Simple Gifts,” everyday episodes are transformed into humorous and sensitive stories that all ages will enjoy.
Tickets: $5/person
Photo by Stuart Dahne Photography

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Wednesday, October 4, 2017, 10:00 -11:30 a.m.
Soul Line Dancing Drop-In Class

Soul Line Dancing is fun for everyone! This is not just the Cupid Shuffle or the Electric Slide, Soul Line Dance will show you how to put some style & rhythm into your dance moves. Take one class or take them all, no experience or partner is needed and the classes are Senior Friendly. For seniors 60 and better only. Space is limited, advance purchase is recommended. To reserve a space for this and other classes, go to a community center or register online with SmartLink on www.pgparks.com

$5/person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, September 30, 2017, 8 pm
Monk on Monk: A Centennial Celebration of Thelonious Monk

Celebrate the 100th birthday of jazz icon Thelonious Monk with his son T.S. Monk, who carries on his father’s legacy in a memorable performance that includes newly discovered compositions as well as the celebrated pieces that made his father a legend. An illustrious jazz musician in his own right, T.S. Monk along with his ensemble pays tribute to the man called the “High Priest of Bebop” and “Father of Modern Jazz” in a performance of tremendous, swinging, eternal jazz.
Tickets: $35/person; $30/person for seniors, students, and groups of 20 or more

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, September, 29, 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Gentle Yoga for Beginners

Gentle Yoga for Beginners
Learn why millions of people of all ages are enjoying the benefits of yoga. Calm your mind, stretch your muscles, improve your balance and feel better when you join this class specially designed for seniors who are new to yoga. Please bring a yoga mat and water. For seniors 60 and better only, free for Active Aging Week. Space is limited, advance reservation is recommended. To reserve a space for this and other classes, go to a community center or register online with SmartLink on www.pgparks.com

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, September 28, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
1, 2, 3 Andrès

“A rockstar for little language learners” according to Billboard Magazine, Andrés Salguero, better known as 123 Andrés, is one of the most exciting new voices on the family music scene in the U.S. and Latin America. A native of Bogotá, Colombia, Andrés brings to audiences joyful sounds, passion for bilingualism and a high-energy love of music that gets kids singing and dancing in Spanish and English.
Recommended for grades Pre-K–3
Tickets: $5/person

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Wednesday, September 27, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Soul Line Dancing

Soul Line Dancing is fun for everyone! This is not just the Cupid Shuffle or the Electric Slide, Soul Line Dance will show you how to put some style & rhythm into your dance moves. Take one class or take them all, no experience or partner is needed and the classes are Senior Friendly. For seniors 60 and better only, this session is a free demonstration for Active Aging Week.
Space is limited, advance reservation is recommended. To reserve a space for this and other classes, go to a community center or register online with SmartLink on www.pgparks.com

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Monday, September 25, 2017, 10:00 -11 a.m.
Hand Dance: the Dance of Our City

Bring back the dances and music of the 50’s and 60’s with the National Hand Dance Association. Take one class or take them all; you do not need to bring a partner nor do you need any experience to learn these fun dance moves that will have you swinging, stepping and swaying to the beat.

For seniors 60 and better only, this session is as free demonstration for Active Aging Week. Space is limited, advance reservation is recommended. To reserve a space for this and other classes, go to a community center or register online with SmartLink on www.pgparks.com

Saturday, September 23, 2017, 2 pm
Capoeira Angola with Skher Brown & The Dancing Warriors

The whole family will be dazzled by the spins, kicks, flips and live music of this unusual art form, which has its origins in Central Africa but evolved in Brazil. Learn a few words if Brazilian Portuguese as you join the call-and-response songs and stories, and go onstage to participate in the movement and drumming of this high-energy and interactive presentation.
Tickets: $5/person

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, September 22, 2017, 11 am
Platinum Live: Tribute to Sam Cooke and Otis Redding

Platinum Live: Tribute to Sam Cooke and Otis Redding
You’ll be transported back to one the great eras of soul and R&B when you hear the hit songs of musical giants Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. Otis Redding’s hits such as “Try a Little Tenderness,” and “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” remain indelibly woven into the fabric of the 60s, and Sam Cooke’s singable, danceable songs had everyone “Twistin’ the Night Away.” “You Send Me,” “Chain Gang,” and more will have you recalling the “Wonderful World” of these two iconic singers.
Tickets: $10/seniors 60 and better

Weekend Performance
Saturday, June 24, 2017, 8 pm
A Tribute to the Soul Divas

Relive the hit songs and powerhouse vocals of music’s greatest divas: Tina Turner, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Stephanie Mills, and Chaka Khan. You won’t want to miss this evening of powerhouse performances.
Tickets: $30/person; $25/seniors, students, and groups of 20 or more

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, June 16, 2017, 11 am
Platinum Movie: The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne (2013)

How does a poor, single, African-American mother from segregated 1950s America wind up as one of the world’s most notorious jewel thieves? A glamorous 81-year-old, Doris Payne is as unapologetic today about the nearly $2 million in jewels she's stolen over a 60-year career as she was the day she stole her first carat.
For seniors 60 and better.
Tickets: $2/person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, June 10, 2017, 8 pm
YahZarah: “Purple Reign” A Tribute to the Life & Music of Prince

Grammy-nominated vocalist YahZarah stars in this performance that recalls the iconic, provocative, and revolutionary music of one of the music industry’s most popular and successful stars. This performance consistently sells out throughout the mid-Atlantic, so don’t wait to buy your tickets.

Tickets: $25/person
$20/person (seniors, students, groups of 20 or more)

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, May 23, 2017, 11 am
Platinum Live: Live Blues featuring Anthony “Swamp Dog” Clark

Anthony Clark is a world class musician who has performed his trademark mix of contemporary blues with a funk edge up and down the east coast. He has recorded with some of the best local and national blues acts, and his CD “RAW” has been featured on many college and internet radio stations. Don’t miss this memorable blues concert that has been specially tailored for a senior audience.
For seniors 60 and better
Tickets: $10/person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, May 13, 2017, 2 pm
Mark H. Ronney: An Introduction to Taiko, the Art of Japanese Drumming

High energy, engaging teacher and performer Mark H. Rooney leads this interactive program that features both traditional and contemporary songs and rhythms. Learn more about the instruments, the use of one’s voice in taiko, as well as a bit of Japanese history and vocabulary. Performances include the chance for volunteers to get up and try their hand at playing these BIG drums!
Tickets: $5/person

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, May 11, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Bob Brown Puppets: Doggy Doodles

It's dogs’ day out when Bob Brown’s puppet canines romp in the snow, do tricks with snowballs, and perform their own rockin’ version of the Elvis Presley hit “Hound Dog.”
Recommended for Grades Pre-K – 2
Tickets: $5/person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, May 6, 2017, 8 pm
Comedy Night: I Can't Stop Laughing

If you love to laugh then don’t miss this Comedy Night at the Publick Playhouse. “I Can’t Stop Laughing” features comedian SKIBA and Friends. SKIBA has appeared on BET Comic View, Apollo, the Roland Martin Show, and has headlined at major comedy venues around the world. He is bringing some of his funniest friends with him to keep you laughing all night long. This show contains adult-oriented material and may not be suitable for children under the age of 18.
Tickets: $15/person

Weekend Performance
Friday, April 28 & Saturday, April 29, 8 pm; Sunday, April 30, 4 pm
Dallas Black Dance Theatre

Celebrated for a repertory that features innovative modern choreography but also upholds African-American dance traditions, Dallas Black Dance Theatre performs dance pieces that address our collective political, social, and personal experience. Experience the stunning athletic grace of the dancers in works both new and venerable.
Tickets: $30/person; $25/seniors, students, and groups of 20 or more
Early bird purchase: The first 50 tickets for each full-length performance sold before December 1, 2016 are $20/person, limit 4 per patron.

Workshop
Thursday, April 27, 2017, 7:45 pm
Master Class with Dallas Black Dance Theatre: Liturgical Dance for Teens & Adults

Dancers ages 15 and up won’t want to miss the opportunity to learn Praise dance movements and choreography from the world-class dancers of DBDT. This class sold out early last year, so don’t want to reserve your spot. Call 301-277-1710
Class fee: $20/per person; $10/observer

Workshop
Thursday, April 27, 2017, 6 pm
Master Class with Dallas Black Dance Theatre: Liturgical Dance for Youth

Dance students ages 8-14 will enjoy learning praise movements and choreography from the professionals of DBDT. This class sold out last year, so reserve your space now, call 301-277-1710.
Class fee: $20/per person; $10/observer

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Thursday, April 27, & Friday, April 28, 11 am
Platinum Live: Dallas Black Dance Theatre

A perennial favorite, Dallas Black Dance Theatre returns to the Playhouse with a matinee especially designed for seniors. Tickets sell quickly and early, so don’t wait to buy yours. For seniors 60 and better.
Tickets: $10/seniors; $8/groups of 20 or more

Workshop
Wednesday, April 26, 2017, 7 pm
Master Class With Dallas Black Dance Theatre: African Dance

Experience African dance and drumming in an open master class of West African movement. Join the dancers from Dallas Black Dance Theatre in this great adventure.
Ages 15 & up
Class fee: $20/per person; $10/observer

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, April 14, 2017, 11 am
Platinum Movie: Risen (2016)

In 33 AD, a Roman Tribune in Judea is tasked to find the missing body of an executed Jew rumored to have risen from the dead. Thoughtful acting by star Joseph Fiennes and a script that deftly blends elements of detective yarn, war story, and religious epic make for a film described by Matt Zoller Seitz (rogerebert.com) as “an old-fashioned Biblical spectacular with fresh blood in its veins.”
For seniors 60 and better.
Tickets: $2/person

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, April 13, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Billy B.: Billy B. Pre

Billy B. introduces preschoolers to the pride of helping themselves and to the joys of nature in this performance bursting with energetic songs and dances about swamps, estuaries, biodiversity, rainforests, geology and natural wonders. Billy knows that kids love to move and make noise so he creates kinetic learning experiences with original and outlandish melodies that have children dancing, singing, and celebrating life on Earth.
Recommended for Grades Pre-K – 2
Tickets: $5/person
Special offer: Buy 1 ticket, get 1 free

Weekend Performance
Saturday, April 8, 2017, 2 pm
Smithsonian Associates Discovery Theater on Tour: Mother Earth and Me

The magic of earth science takes center stage in this fun, interactive Discovery Theater original as we explore the origins of our planet, the water cycle, and our important role in the ecosystem, as well as folklore about the “big blue marble” we call home. Kick off Earth Month by pledging to become an Earth Warrior—and find out some great ways to start right away!
Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
Monday, April 3, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Miss Nelson is Missing

Room 207 has the worst behaved students in the whole school, but when their sweet teacher Miss Nelson vanishes, the class is taught by a strict substitute, and the students want to find Miss Nelson. This lighthearted musical based on the popular children’s book reminds us all to appreciate the people we have.
Tickets: $8/person; $6/groups of 20 or more
Recommended for Grades K - 5

Weekend Performance
Saturday, April 1, 2017, 8 pm
Story District presents What Was I Thinking?!?

Join DC's most popular storytelling establishment for a night of hilarious and heartfelt true stories about mistakes, missteps, and epic disasters. Story District is the nation's expert in turning good stories into great performances, being a platform for diverse perspectives and a training ground for new voices on the storytelling stage. Find out more at StoryDistrict.org or follow them on social media at #storydistrict
This show contains adult-oriented material and may not be suitable for children under the age of 18.
Tickets: $15

Weekend Performance
Saturday, March 25, 2017, 8 pm
World Dance Showcase

Experience a myriad of fascinating cultures at the World Dance Showcase. Professional dance companies representing a wide range of national and regional traditions bring beguiling dance, exquisite costumes, and intriguing music to the Playhouse stage for an evening of truly global entertainment.
Tickets: $15/person; $10/seniors, students, and groups of 20 or more.

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, March 24, 2017, 11 am
Platinum Live: Lil' Margie and Friends

Margie Clarke, also known as Little Margie, is a powerhouse blues, soul, and R&B vocalist. She is one of the original Jewels, a group that has been performing and recording since the late 1950s and whose hit “Opportunity” stayed on the national charts for 11 weeks. Little Margie performs at the Playhouse with her blues band, so don’t miss this morning of pure blues entertainment.
Tickets: $10/person

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, March 23, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Baba Jamal Koram: The Story Man

Master storyteller Baba Jamal Koram shares the history, humor, music, and lore of African and African-American cultures. Blending traditional and contemporary storytelling techniques with drumming, movement, call and response, and playful wit, his stories encourage children to care for our earth and its animals and believe in the good in everyone. From beginning to end, audiences are inspired by these tales and have fun following Baba Jamal’s lead. Recipient of the Circle of Excellence Award, Baba Jamal has been featured at the National Storytelling Festival, Kennedy Center, Smithsonian museums, National Black Storytelling Festival, regional festivals, and schools nationwide.

Recommended for Grades Pre-K – 2
Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, March 21, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Gus Goes Green: A STEM Adventure

Wacky Professor Parsnip takes audiences on an adventure through science while teaching young people how to make good choices with diet, exercise and the environment. Exciting science experiments from the lab of Professor Parsnip reinforce healthy habits and good character traits. Interactive and fun, this production features a lots of fun and interesting science experiments.
Recommended for Grades Pre-K – 5
Curriculum Connections: Literature, Mathematics, Reading
Tickets: $8/person; $6/groups of 20 or more

Hours vary, call 301-277-1710 for information.
Exhibition: Past as Prologue: Portals and Doors by Julee Dickerson-Thompson

With over 44 years of experience using found objects in her artistic process, local artist Julee Dickerson-Thompson creates multi-medium works that seek to record recent histories, physically involved the audience into her artmaking, and create a bridge to access past histories. In Past as Prologue: Portals and Doors, she vibrantly composes narratives using doors and half doors to create series of colorful portals. Using Adinkra symbols, she layers the stories that have “touched her soul” and invites the viewer to navigate the realm of the stories presented.
The exhibition runs March 20 - May 30, 2017.
Free admission

Weekend Performance
Saturday, March 18, 2017, 8 pm
Frank McComb

For 20 years Frank McComb has been beguiling fans with his silky, soulful vocals and splendid keyboard work. His expressive neo-soul songs are backed by instrumentals that embrace contemporary jazz and R&B while staying true to the spirit of soul. “Worldwide fans and followers of Frank McComb says that his sound and style of music is the perfect combination of Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea.” cdbaby.com
Tickets $30/person $25/seniors, students, groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, March 14, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Thomas Edison: Inventor, Lecturer, and Prankster

Meet the greatest inventor of all time, live and in-person! Help Thomas Edison recreate some of his most famous experiments and learn some secrets that will help you every day: the importance of hard work, the value of mistakes, the ability to turn liabilities into assets, and the necessity of enjoying one’s work.
Tickets: $8/person; $6/groups of 20 or more
Recommended for Grades K - 4
Curriculum Connections: Mathematics, Science, U.S. History

Thursday, March 9, 7-9 pm
J’nell Jordan: Artist Reception and Exhibition

Meet Hyattsville-based artist, J’Nell Jordan, at a free reception in the lobby of the Publick Playhouse. Jordan paints with oil on top of metallic acrylics using a subtractive fashion of painting, where she wipes away, etches into and press against the top layers of oil paint to layers underneath. Lighting plays big part in her work because it interacts with the metallic colors to reveal different intricacies and patterns from certain angles. Her work often depicts festive environments, capturing people in "feel good" moments; those moments where figures are caught in the vibe of the music, posing, flirting or caught mid-smile.
The exhibition runs January 13 through March 19, 2017.
Free admission.

Midweek Matinee
Wednesday, March 8, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Alexander Who is Not Not Not Not Not Not Going to Move

When Alexander learns his family is moving to a new city, he is sure that he will hate it, so he decides that he won't move. First he tries to live with three different neighbors. Then he tries to build a tent so he can live by himself. Then he decides he'll hide so that his parents will never find him, but that doesn't work out either. With a little help from his mom and dad and even his bossy older brothers, Alexander learns that home is "where your family is, where you're with the people who love you best of all."
Recommended for Grades Pre-K - 3
Curriculum Connections: Language Arts, Literature-Based, Music, Relationships and Family
Tickets: $8/person; $6/groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Saturday, March 4, 2017, 8 pm
District Comedy

District Comedy will have you in stitches when they bring DC’s hottest comedians to the Playhouse stage. Since 2009 District Comedy has kept people laughing through nearly 7,000 performances across the DMV, so don’t miss this chance to see the latest, brightest, and funniest talent. This show contains adult-oriented material and may not be suitable for children under the age of 18.
Tickets $15/person

Weekend Performance
Friday, March 3, 2017, 7 pm
Prince George’s Best Dance Crew Competition

Come cheer for your favorite rising stars from Prince George’s as they compete for cash prizes in this exciting and entertaining contest.
Tickets: $3

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, March 2, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Bob Brown Puppets: Jellybean Circus

Bob Brown Puppets: Jellybean Circus

The Jumping Jellybeans are the stars of Bob Brown’s puppet circus, with friendly bears, adorable elephants, wacky goony birds and their hilarious pals entertaining kids with tumbling, tricks, and lots more circus fun.
Recommended for Grades Pre-K – 2
Tickets: $5/person

Weekend Performance
Sunday, February 26, 2017, 4 pm
PRAISE Dance Festival

Be inspired and uplifted when this popular annual festival returns with outstanding liturgical dance performances by the best studios and dance ministries in the DC area. Audition date 11/12/16, deadline to apply 11/4/16, 5 pm, for an audition application call 301-277-1710.
Tickets: $25/person; $20/seniors, students, groups of 20 or more

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, February 24, 2017, 11 am
Platinum Live: A Black History Month Gospel Celebration featuring Washington DC's own Pink PaLiSh.

Pam Ward, Alisha Glover and SHANG will honor some of the greatest Gospel Artists and pay tribute the Music of Whitney Houston, Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin, CeCe Winans, Tramaine Hawkins, The Clark Sisters and more.
For seniors 60 and better
Tickets: $10/person

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, February 23, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Black History Hall of Fame

Join us in this fast-paced adventure and meet over a dozen important African Americans who have made significant contributions in shaping our nation’s past, present and future. Maya Angelou, Aretha Franklin, the Buffalo Soldiers and Mae Jemison are just a few of the hall-of-famers in this interactive performance that makes Black History come alive.
Recommended for Grades Pre-K – 5
Tickets: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Saturday, February 18, 2017, 8 pm
Luther Re-Lives: A Tribute to the Music of Luther Vandross

Re-experience the satiny, magic vocals of Luther Vandross with a Las Vegas style show starring William “Smooth” Wardlaw, backed by an eight-piece band and light show that takes you back to the days of “The Velvet Voice.” Sing and dance to your favorite Luther song at this special Valentine’s Day concert.
Tickets: $30/person; $25/seniors, students, and groups of 20 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, February 16, 2017, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Anansegromma of Ghana: African Dance, Drums, Story and Games

Anansegromma presents an exhilarating and memorable introduction to West African culture. Audiences become members of a typical Ghanaian village, gathering with “royal elders” and court musicians to experience traditional music, storytelling and dance, enhanced by the vibrant colors of their native attire. Through “call and response” songs, games, mime, dance and drum rhythms, Kofi and Kwame offer an engaging, first-hand exploration of West African culture. Their energetic program includes demonstrations of authentic musical instruments, and an explanation of kente cloth symbolism.
Recommended for Grades Pre-K – 2
Tickets: $5/person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, February 11, 2017, 2 pm
Smithsonian Associates Discovery Theater on Tour: How Old is a Hero? Young People of the Civil Rights Movement

How Old is a Hero? Young People of the Civil Rights Movement
Discovery Theater’s original touring production introduces us to young heroes—and calls us to join them in changing the world. Meet Ernest Green of the Little Rock Nine, the first student to graduate from an integrated high school; Claudette Colvin, the 15-year-old who refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus (nine months before Rosa Parks); and Ruby Bridges, who won equal rights before she could read. Moving archival musical recordings accent these scenes of struggle and hope.
Tickets: $5/person

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, February 10, 2017, 11 am
Platinum Movie: Miles Ahead (2015)

A critically acclaimed exploration of the life and music of Miles Davis, with director Don Cheadle in the title role and also starring Ewan McGregor. Described by the Chicago Tribune as “a fluid, well-staged, freely inventive response to a man's life and music,” Miles Ahead shatters the biopic mold with its original and clear-eyed look at one of jazz music’s greatest artists.
For seniors 60 and better.
Tickets: Free Admission; Groups of 20 or more are requested to call and reserve tickets.

Weekend Performance
Sunday, February 5, 2017, 4 pm
Cotton Field to Concert Hall

All ages will enjoy this multi-media extravaganza of drumming, singing, dancing, music, spoken word, narration, and classical music. Follow a young slave from a plantation to the stages of great opera house in this invigorating performance that will gladden your heart.
Tickets: $20/person

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, February 2, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Black History Heroes, Soldiers & Spies

Black American heroes are celebrated in this engrossing production that shares the stories of Colonel Charles Young and the Buffalo Soldiers as they explore and settle the American West, the Tuskegee Airmen as they take flight to help win World War II, and Mary Elizabeth Bowser as she works as a spy for the Union during the Civil War. This exciting and interactive production will captivate audiences as they are drawn into some of the most unique and exciting stories from Black History.
Recommended for Grades 3 and up
Curriculum Connections: History, Language Arts, Social Studies
Tickets: $8/person; $6/groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, January 19, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Building Stories

Plot, summary, characters and settings can be confusing things to learn about. Join our actor-educators as they get you involved and excited about reading, writing, and making stories. Learn all the different parts of a story as you help create the play onstage in this entertaining presentation.
Recommended for Grades 1 - 6
Curriculum Connections: Character Education, Creative Writing, Reading, Theatre
Tickets: $8/person; $6/groups of 20 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, January 12, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
RC Dance Discovery: Stories to Stage

Relive favorite books and stories through dance, music, and creative movement. Children enjoy familiar, timeless tales while exploring how music and dance can help create characters, settings, and plots.
Recommended for Grades Pre-K – 2
Tickets: $5/person

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, December 20, 2016, 11 am
Platinum Live: A Christmas Carol Sing-A-Long featuring The BRENCORE ALLSTARS Band.

Come and celebrate Christmas holiday season by singing favorite songs and greatest hits like Silent Night, Holy Night, We Wish You A Merry Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and more. Tis the season to be jolly! Bring the family out for this Sing-A-Long and joyous occasion.
For seniors 60 and better
Tickets: $10/person

Midweek Matinee
Friday, December 16, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Frosty

Frosty

The beloved holiday song “Frosty the Snowman” has inspired a brand new musical play filled with enchanting new songs. A young orphan named Billy discovers magic in a stolen hat. When he places the hat on a snowman’s head, the snowman comes to life! But can Frosty the Snowman help Billy find his real family in time for Christmas? Join Billy and Frosty as they embark on a New York City adventure filled with thrills and chills, and the discovery that the real magic of the holidays is love.
Recommended for Grades K -5
Curriculum Connections: Communication and Language Arts, Literature-Based, Music, Relationships & Family.
Tickets: $8/person; $6/groups of 20 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, December 15, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Bob Brown Puppets:Nutcracker Fantasy

Master puppeteer Bob Brown returns to the Playhouse with a holiday show packed with fun and adventure. Youngsters travel to the Kingdom of Snow, where they meet the enchanting Margo Polar Bear, and then it’s on to the Kingdom of Sweets, the Kingdom of Flowers, and more.
Tickets: $5/person
Recommended for Grades Pre-K – 2

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, December 13, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Snowday: An "A Capella" Musical History

Young audiences are mesmerized by this dynamic vocal quintet that creates unique music using just their voices. Snowday’s talented singers perform upbeat songs and moving rhythms as they trace the history of "a cappella" singing (singing without instrumental accompaniment). The performance includes an audience-participation vocal drumming lesson and a demonstration of how to create vocal harmonies.
Recommended for all ages. Curriculum Connections: Language Arts, Social Studies, Music.
Tickets: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more
This performance is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation and is free to qualifying Title 1 Schools.

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, December 9, 2016, 11 am
Platinum Movie: Heaven Is For Real (2014)

A small-town father must find the courage and conviction to share his young son's extraordinary, life-changing experience with the world. Based on the popular book by Pastor Todd Burpo and Lynn Vincent, starring Connor Corum and Greg Kinnear.
For seniors 60 and better.
Tickets: $2/person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, December 3, 2016, 8 pm
Holiday Concert featuring Chelsey Green and the Green Project

Billboard charting recording artist Chelsey Green performs holiday music and trounces stereotypes of violin divas as she and The Green Project meld classical technique and themes with modern idioms.
R&B, pop, soul, funk, jazz, alternative, hip hop and gospel are all part of this evening of unique and appealing arrangements of seasonal pieces.
Tickets: $25/person; $20/seniors, students, and groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, December 1, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Holiday Songs: Music Around the World

Holiday Songs: Music Around the World

Travel the globe and explore some of the many celebrations that happen this time of year in this musical revue. Learn about traditional holiday songs from around the world, including “I Have A Little Dreidel,” “Auld Lang Syne,” “Away in a Manger,” and “Santa Lucia.” Songs and stories come together for a truly magical wintertime show.
Recommended for Grades Pre-K – 5
Tickets: $8/person; $6/groups of 20 or more

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, November 18, 2016, 11 am
Platinum Movie: Of Mind and Music (2014)

Joaquim de Almeida plays a neuroscientist attempting to help a street singer with Alzheimer's disease in this poignant film set in New Orleans. “Richie Adams' Of Mind and Music is a particularly moving entry in the genre, gaining strength through its undeniable authenticity. Featuring outstanding performances and making excellent use of its scenic New Orleans locations, the film handles its delicate subject matter with a deeply affecting emotional restraint.” The Hollywood Reporter
For seniors 60 and better.
Tickets: $2/person

Thursday, November 17, 7 pm - 9 pm
Roslyn Cambridge: Artist Talk & Reception

Roslyn Cambridge’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, and is included in permanent collections in Europe, the West Indies, and North America. She is a Ford Foundation Grant recipient, and was awarded Excellence in Art Installation by the D. C. Art Content Specialist. Raised in Trinidad and Tobago, Cambridge resides in the D.C. area, where she is a highly regarded teacher. This exhibition reflects her outward focus, “The universality and beauty of God’s nature, the sparkle and joy of life persistently excites me. This consciousness inspires me to observe and create paintings reminiscent of my surroundings.” Free Admission.

Saturday, November 12, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
PRAISE Auditions

Liturgical dance companies, studios, ministries, and individual dancers are invited to audition for the annual PRAISE Liturgical Dance Festival. In 2017 the Festival will be presented on Sunday, February 26, at 4 pm. Bring a CD of the music and audition one complete work in costume; the piece presented in the audition should be one you wish to perform at the Festival. Auditions are by appointment, for an application call 301-2747-1710 (TTY 301-699-2544). Application deadline: Friday, November 4, 5 pm.

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, November 10, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Uncle Devin Show

Interactive, educational and just plain fun, the Uncle Devin Show is a musical experience for children that takes them on a magical journey through the Land of Percussion where they hear, see and play different percussion instruments. Children will gain an understanding of the history of percussion and why it is the easiest, oldest and most diverse form of musical creativity in this positive, uplifting and entertaining program.
Recommended for Grades Pre-K – 2
Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
Monday, November 7, 10:15 am & 12 noon
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

This enchanting musical is based on C.S. Lewis' adventure story about four children of war-torn England, who accidentally enter the land of Narnia by climbing through a magic wardrobe. This strange and wondrous place is ruled by the cold-hearted White Witch, who makes the winter last year round. Although they seem unlikely saviors, the children fulfill an ancient prophecy by defeating the witch, thus restoring sunshine and peace to the spell-bound Narnia and returning the great Lion King Aslan to his throne.
Recommended for Grades 1 - 5
Curriculum Connections: Literature-Based, Music, Visual Arts
Tickets: $8/person; $6/groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Saturday, November 5, 8 pm
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (also known as The Bad Boys of Jazz) is an eight-piece, Chicago-based brass ensemble consisting of eight sons of the jazz trumpeter Phil Cohran. Their musical style ranges from hip-hop to jazz to funk and rock, with calypso and gypsy influences evident as well. The aptly-named Hypnotic Brass Ensemble will mesmerize you with their unique and memorable sound.
Tickets: $25/person; $20/seniors, students, groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Friday, November 4, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble

Join the Chicago-based Hypnotic Brass Ensemble for a music education program that will focus on performance elements; history of the band and instrumentation; and the exploration of composition and creativity. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble are seven brothers from the south side of Chicago who come from an extraordinary musical family. The band freely mix the brass band tradition with generous doses of hip hop, soul and funk, creating an intoxicating and boisterous blend
Recommended for Grades 7-12
Curriculum Connections: Language Arts, Social Studies, Music
Tickets: $8/person; $6/groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, October 25, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Alice in Wonderland

The Lewis Carroll literary classic is magically brought to life in this 45-minute adventure. Join Alice, the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, and the Mad Hatter in this imaginative rendition of the tale that has been entertaining youngsters since 1865.
Recommended for Grades Pre-K – 5
Curriculum Connections: Character Education, Language Arts, Literature, Reading
Tickets: $8/person; $6/groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Saturday, October 22, 2016, 8 pm
An Evening with Vivian Green

Singing star Vivian Green has been captivating fans since her first hit “Emotional Rollercoaster” debuted in 2002. Her latest album “Vivid,” was released last year and showcases the spirited, sassy, and vibrant side of her performing style. A neo-soul artist whose work embraces elements of R&B and jazz, Green performs heartfelt ballads and upbeat songs in a concert of lyrical, restorative music.
Tickets: $40/person; $35/seniors, students, groups of 20 or more

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, October 21, 2016, 11 am
Platinum Live: Blues Concert Featuring Memphis Gold

International blues star Memphis Gold has been entertaining audiences with his guitar and vocal blues performances for over 50 years. He has shared the stage with such artists as James Brown, Mavis Staples, The Temptations, and many more. Memphis Gold has released four albums and has been featured in numerous blues magazines throughout the world.
For seniors 60 and better
Tickets: $10/person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, October 15, 2 pm
Smithsonian Associates Discovery Theater on Tour: Fábulas Fairy Tales

Start with three bears, three pigs, and three billy goats gruff. Add two languages, and what do you get? The perfect combination for a fresh and fun introduction to Spanish, literacy through storytelling, math, music and more —and a fábulas new take on a trio of familiar stories in this interactive Discovery Theater original. Children will find our “found” costumes, puppets, and set pieces crafted from recycled materials pretty fabulous, too.
Free

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, October 11, 10:15 am & 12 noon
USA to Z

This election season join Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam as they take you on a journey through the American political process. Learn the differences between the judicial, legislative and executive branches and what it means to vote while you take part in a live-action game show featuring patriotic prizes and hilarious hosts. From the Constitution to the Declaration of Independence to the swing vote, this show leaves no political stone unturned. USA to Z encourages good citizenship by showing people how they can make a difference in their own communities.
Recommended for Grades 3 - 8
Curriculum Connections: Character Education, Civics, Government, History, Social Studies
Tickets: $8/person; $6/groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Saturday, October 8, 2 pm
Andes Manta

The vibrant music of the Andes Mountains will captivate you when the four Lopez brothers perform this centuries-old music on the traditional instruments such as six-foot long pan pipes, llama toenail rattles, and four-foot long flutes known as moxeños.
Free

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, October 6, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Pete the Cat

When Pete the Cat gets caught rocking out after bedtime, the cat-catcher sends him to live with the Biddle family - and boy are they square! But for the groovy blue cat, life is an adventure, so the minute Pete walks in the door, he gets the whole family rocking - except for young Jimmy Biddle, the most organized second grader on planet earth. But when Jimmy draws a blank in art class during the last week of school, it turns out Pete is the perfect friend to help him out. Together, they set out on a mission to help Jimmy conquer second grade art, setting out on an adventure all the way to Paris and back in a VW Bus.
Recommended for Grades Pre-K – 2
Curriculum Connections: Communication and Language Arts, Literature-Based, Music, Relationships and Family
Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, October 4, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Andes Manta

This educational program features dozens of traditional instruments, from the lyrical sounds of the Quena (Andean flute) to the haunting tones of the six-foot-long panpipes. The musicians’ signature piece – “Causai Pacha” – weaves music into a trip to the Amazon Rain Forest, complete with chirping frogs and calling birds.
Recommended for grades 7-12
Curriculum Connections: Language Arts, Social Studies, Music, History
Tickets: $8/person; $6/groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Saturday, October 1, 8 pm
Tiempo Libre

Don’t miss this three-time Grammy-nominated Afro-Caribbean group of seven classically-trained musicians performing sophisticated tropical music featuring an irresistible, exhilarating mix of jazz harmonies, contemporary sonorities and seductive Latin rhythms. Internationally renowned, their critically acclaimed Latin-fused music was described by The New York Times as “dance music of sophistication and abandon.”
Tickets: $25 person/$20 seniors, students, and groups of 20 or more

Workshop
Saturday, October 1, 2016, 4 pm
Latin Percussion Master Class with Tiempo Libre

Serious percussion students have the opportunity to take a class with the professional musicians of Tiempo Libre. The class begins with the basics of rumba/Afro-Cuban drumming, exploring the poly-rhythms that make up the rhythmic foundation of rhumba. Tiempo Libre musicians also demonstrate how the essential elements of Afro-Cuban rhythms infuse and function in other forms of Cuban music, including cha-cha-chá, danzón, son, latin jazz and timba. Students are encouraged to bring a percussion instrument and participate in the class.
Tickets: $20 / person; $10 /observers

Weekend Performance
Saturday, September 24, 2016, 2 pm
Animal Tales (Animales)

Sing and laugh as Latin American singer-storyteller-musician extraordinaire Felix Pitre presents a collection of wonderful animal stories and songs celebrating the environment. Teaching respect for creatures large and small, this audience-participation treat for young audiences includes stories from Brazil, Mexico, and Peru, with songs such as "Froggie Went a Courtin'," "Alouette," and "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," among others.
Free

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, September 23, 2016, 11 am
Platinum Movie: Race

Jesse Owens' quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history thrusts him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler's vision of Aryan supremacy. Directed by Stephen Hopkins, starring Stephan James, Jeremy Irons, and Jason Sudeikis.
For seniors 60 and better.
Tickets: $2/person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, September 17, 2016, 2 pm
¡Vamos al Carnaval!

Experience the excitement of Carnaval (the Latin American version of Mardi Gras) with joyful rhythms from different Carnaval traditions. Audiences sing, play instruments and dance to carnavalito from Bovilia, festejo from Peru, plena from Puerto Rico, conga from Cuba, and samba from Brazil.
Free
(photo by Kendall Carr)

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, September 15, 2016, 7 pm
Artist Reception: Luis Peralta - Featuring Joe Falero and the DC Latin Jazz Allstars

Inspired by ballerina Misty Copeland, the exhibition is a reflection on commitment and dedication across generations, “…of our veterans, teachers and community leaders as they exemplify positive behaviors for youth.”

Peralta describes his approach, “Through vibrant colors that merge graffiti art with surreal and traditional concepts and techniques I connect the viewer to raw emotion.”

Celebrate the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month with this noteworthy Latin American artist and outstanding Latin Jazz performance!

Free

Weekend Performance
Saturday, June 25, 2016, 8 pm
A Tribute to the Music of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye

Get ready to sing and dance to your favorite hits by two iconic music stars Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. Stevie Wonder’s vibrant music reflects a joyous positivity even when addressing serious racial, social and spiritual issues, and he is acclaimed as a genius of both R&B and popular music. A pioneer of Motown, Marvin Gaye’s music helped shape the sound of R&B and soul music and inspires singers and songwriters today. Enjoy an evening of greatest hits in this tribute to two musical legends.

Tickets: $30/Person; $25/Seniors, Students, Groups of 20 or More.

Weekend Performance
Friday, June 24, 2016, 8 pm
Afro Bop Alliance

Latin Grammy Winner Afro Bop Alliance performs Afro-Cuban jazz with a big band sound that exquisitely balances jazz and Latin styles. The band has released five CDs and won four WAMMIEs (Washington Area Music Awards), and continues to electrify fans with their smart, steamy, exhilarating sound.

Tickets: $20/Person

Weekend Performance
Sunday, June 19, 2016, 4 pm
Juneteenth Concert Celebration

Celebrate Black Music Month with good music for the soul. Nasar Abadey's SUPERNOVA® Chamber Orchestra mixes jazz, bebop, fusion, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian in a celestial performance of spiritual music honoring Juneteenth, followed by Allyn Johnson and the Sonic Sanctuary performing a medley of gospel and spiritual songs with touches of jazz and soul.

Tickets: $20/Person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, June 18, 2016, 8 pm
Orquesta La Romana

Salsa lovers, prepare for a night of pure Salsa entertainment when Edwin Ortiz brings the “Hard Salsa” sound of Orquesta La Romana to the Playhouse stage. This “high-torque salsa machine … honors classic salsa numbers with fresh, feisty arrangements that exude the spirit of exploration that once defined the golden age of salsa. Mario Iván Oña, Washington Post.

Tickets: $20/Person

Weekend Performance
Friday, June 17, 2016, 8 pm
The Fabulous Hubcaps

Rock n' Roll is alive and well! The Fabulous Hubcaps perform classic 50s and 60s Rock to sell-out crowds throughout the Mid-Atlantic, in a show where the music and costumes create a virtual reincarnation of some of Rock's greatest stars.

Recognized as one the best oldies bands in the U.S., The Fabulous Hubcaps bring your favorite songs to the Playhouse stage, so plan to sing, dance, and rock the night away!

Tickets: $20/Person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, June 11, 2016, 8 pm
The Tribe Band

Do you have trouble finding a concert that pleases everyone in your family or group of friends? Are you a Blues fan dating someone who loves Funk? Do you love R&B but your BFF only likes Gospel? Then this concert is for you!

The Tribe Band is a versatile group that performs all types of music for all types of fans. Whether you are a fan of Gospel, Smooth Jazz, R&B, Soul, Funk, Old School Music, Blues – or something in between – The Tribe Band does it all.

Tickets: $20/Person

Weekend Performance
Friday, June 10, 2016, 8 pm
Joe Falero & DC Latin Jazz Allstars

Both jazz and Latin music lovers will find Joe Falero’s vocals and pulsating rhythms of the DC Latin Jazz Allstars irresistible. Performing vibrant original material and classic covers with a fresh, inspiring sound, and "packing a heavy groove with a light touch, DCLJAS continues a tradition of Latin-jazz from the Nation's Capitol that reflects DC itself: intelligent and funky!" - Jim Byers, host, WPFW 89.3 FM's "Latin Flavor/Classic Edition."

Tickets: $20/Person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, June 4, 2016, 8 pm
Clones of Funk

Devotees of Parliament and Funkadelic won’t want to miss Clones of Funk. Since 1989 this eight-piece band has been performing to enthusiastic fans, who rave about their slammin’ rhythm section – complete with horns – and fantastic vocals.

Tickets: $20/Person

Weekend Performance
Friday, June 3, 2016, 8 pm
Trio Caliente

Since 2003 Trio Caliente’s blend of Flamenco, Pop, and Brazilian Jazz has been entertaining fans throughout the U.S., Latin America and the Middle East. Named Best Latin Group by the Washington Area Music Awards (Wammies) in 2013, Trio Caliente’s guitars, vocals and rhythms create a matchless evening of entertainment.

Tickets: $20/Person

Workshop
Wednesday, May 18, 6:30-8 pm
Hand Dance Workshop for Youth and Young Adults

Youthful instructors from the National Hand Dance Association's engage a new generation of youth and young adults in hand dancing through a fusion of traditional hand dance and hip-hop music and movements. Hand dancing is fun and offers a great aerobic workout. Instructors Markus Smith and Tren Veal. For ages 10-25.
FREE

Midweek Matinee
Monday, May 9, 10:15 am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series: My Heart in a Suitcase

Anne Lehmann and her family no longer feel safe in their Berlin home. Life in 1938 Germany is deteriorating quickly for the Lehmanns and all Jews living there. This gripping production about Anne and her family's decision whether or not to send her on the Kindertransport is a tribute to the strength of the human spirit and the enduring power of a family's love. Recommended for grades 4 - 8. Curriculum Connections: Family Relationships, Historical, Literature-Based, Values-Based.
Tickets: $8 /Person; $6/Groups of 20 or More; Free to Title 1 Public Schools.
This performance is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, May 6, 2016, 11 am
Platinum Movie: Hand Dancing for Seniors

A 30-minute film on the popular dance form Hand Dancing will be followed by a brief panel discussion with noteworthy dancers, and a showcase by the National Hand Dance Association: Classic Hand Dancers. The hand dancers will present hand dance styles from the 50s and 60s. After the showcase, the hand dancers will come off stage and engage seniors in freestyle dances of the 60s such as The Jerk and The Twist.

For seniors 60 and better.
Tickets: $10/Person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, April 30, 2 pm & 8pm Sunday, May 1, 4 pm
Dallas Black Dance Theatre

The acclaimed modern dance company returns to the Publick Playhouse, performing new works by Bruce Woods and Kirven Drought-Boyd, set to music by Philip Glass and Prince.

Tickets: $30/Person, $25/Seniors, Students, Groups of 20 or more

Photo by Brian Guilliaux

Friday, April 29, 2016, 8 - 9 pm
Master Class with Dallas Black Dance Theatre - Scholarship Audition

Scholarship opportunity for the DBDT Professional Level Summer Intensive Workshop - June 27 - July 8 (Ages 16 & up).

The Dallas Black Dance Theatre is seeking advanced dance students ages 16 & older with an interest in attending the Dallas Black Dance Theatre Summer Intensive Workshop.

This workshop will be held June 27-July 8 in Dallas, TX. Those interested in the intensive workshop may attend this open master class to be considered for a scholarship.

The one-hour class will consist of jazz and modern technique and include a combination from one of DBDT's dances.

Class fee: $20 per person, $15 if purchased with a ticket to an April 30 or May 1 performance, $10 observers

Friday, April 29, 7 - 8 pm
Master Class with Dallas Black Dance Theatre - Scholarship Audition

Scholarship opportunity for the Summer Youth Workshop, June 6 - 24
(Ages 12-14)

Advanced dance students ages 12 -14 who would like to attend the Dallas Black Dance Theatre Summer Youth Workshop, which will be held June 6 -24 in Dallas, may attend this open master class to be considered for a scholarship. Call the Box Office at 301-277-1710 for more information.

Class fees: $20 per person per class; $15 if purchased with a ticket to an April 30 or May 1 performance; $10 per observer per class.

Photo by Sharen Bradford.

Thursday, April 28, 7:45 - 9:15 pm
Master Class with Dallas Black Dance Theatre: Liturgical Dance for Teens and Adults

This class designed for teen and adult dancers will expand students' knowledge of praise dance movement and choreography that can be used in worship services or special events. Students will also learn a spiritual ballet. For ages 15 and up.
Class fees: $20 per person per class; $15 if purchased with a ticket to an April 30 or May 1 performance; $10 per observer per class.

Thursday, April 28, 2016, 6 - 7:30 pm
Master Class with Dallas Black Dance Theatre: Liturgical Dance for Youth

Young dancers won't want to miss this 90-minute class that teaches praise dance movements that can be used in worship services or special events. Students will also learn a spiritual ballet. For ages 8-14.
Class fees: $20 per person per class; $15 if purchased with a ticket to an April 30 or May 1, 2016 performance; $10 per observer per class.

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Thursday, April 28 and Friday, April 29, 11:00 am
Platinum Live: Dallas Black Dance Theatre

Dallas Black Dance Theatre returns to the Publick Playhouse with a program specially created for the Platinum audience. The performance includes dance pieces set to music by Marvin Gaye and Ray Charles, and "The Ostrich" returns for another lively appearance.
Tickets: $10/Person, $8/Groups of 20 or More

Wednesday, April 27, 7 - 9 pm
Master Class with Dallas Black Dance Theatre: African Dance

Experience African dance and drumming in an open master class of West African movement. Join the twelve dancers from Dalls Black Dance Theatre in this great adventure. For ages 15 and up.
Class fees: $20 per person per class; $15 if purchased with a ticket to an April 30 or May 1, 2016, performance; $10 per observer per class.

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, April 21, 2016, 10:15 am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series - Butterfly: The Story of a Life Cycle

Each stage of the journey is brought to life by giant puppets, fun songs and dances. Hudson Vagabond Puppets, known for amazing, untraditional, larger-than-life puppetry and masks, examines the amazing metamorphosis from egg to caterpillar to adult butterfly.
Recommended for grades Pre K - 5. Curriculum Connections: Science, Music, Theatre, Dance and The Arts.
Tickets: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more, Free to Title 1 Schools
This performance is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation

Weekend Performance
Saturday, April 16, 2016, 8 pm
In Gratitude: A Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire

Paying homage to one of the most prolific musical ensembles in history, and offering an impressive body of familiar Earth, Wind &Fire tunes, this 13 piece band is led by four exceptional male singers that evoke a nostalgic listen to a legend that today continues its musical reach around the world. In Gratitude performs EW&F hits from the classic years (1973-1985) and more, don’t miss these talented and established musicians performing your favorites: Can’t Hide Love, Reasons, Love’s Holiday, Serpentine Fire, Shining Star, Getaway, Mighty, Mighty, That’s the Way of the World, Devotion, Gratitude, September, Let’s Groove Tonight and more.

Tickets: $30/Person, $25/Students, Seniors, Groups of 20 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, April 14, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Chicken Dance

Marge and Lola are two barnyard chickens on a mission to win the barnyard talent contest. First prize is two tickets to see the great Elvis Poultry in concert! But first, they must present a performance that will score higher than a flock of very talented ducks who seem to have the contest locked up. Can Marge and Lola face their challengers, against all odds, and win the talent contest?

Recommended for grades Pre-K - 2.
Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, April 12, 2016; 10:15 am & 12 noon
Henry and Mudge

Moving from the city to a new house in the country can be tough. Just ask Henry, who can't find a playmate in his new neighborhood. Luckily, he's got Mudge, a great big, 182-pound canine buddy, with whom he can share all kinds of adventures. Henry teaches his new friend to sit, heel, and shake his hand, but rolling over is one trick Henry just can't seem to teach Mudge, no matter how hard he tries. When Henry's cousin Annie comes for a visit, Mudge is so charmed by her that he finally rolls over at her command! Henry thinks Mudge must love Annie more than him. Very upset, Henry runs away into the cold dark woods to find adventures on his own. Mudge follow's the boy's scent into the forest -- he really does love Henry and doesn't want to be without him. Will the two friends be reunited? Find out in this delightful musical, based on the best-selling series of books by Cynthia Rylant. Recommended for grades Pre-K – 3. Curriculum Connections: Communication and Language Arts, Literature-Based, Music, Relationships & Family.
Tickets: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more
photo by Joan Marcus

Friday, April 8, 2016; 10:15 am & 12 noon Saturday, April 9, 2 pm
Schoolhouse Rock Live!

Tom, a school teacher nervous about his first day of teaching, tries to relax by watching TV when various characters representing facets of his personality emerge from the set and show him how to win his students over with imagination and music, through such beloved Schoolhouse Rock songs as “Just A Bill,” “Lolly, Lolly, Lolly” and “Conjunction Junction.” Based on the Emmy-award winning series from the 1970s, Schoolhouse Rock Live! is lighting up stages everywhere bringing its infectious zest to a cross-generational audience. Recommended for grades K-8. Curriculum Connections: Language Arts, History, Science, Math.

Tickets: Friday performance: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more; Saturday performance: $10/person

Midweek Matinee
Monday, March 21, 2016; 10:15 am & 12 noon
Skippyjon Jones: Snow What (and the 7 Chihuahuas)

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the bravest Chihuahua of them all? Siamese cat Skippyjon Jones looks in the mirror and sees a brave Mexican Chihuahua looking back, so while his sisters read Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Skippy heads off for the REAL adventure awaiting him in his closet. There he transforms into Skippito Friskito, and with the help of his friends the Four Chihuahuas (who think they’re really Seven) Skippyjon must rescue the beautiful princess Nieve Qué (Snow What), battle the evil dragon and defeat the Bruja. Recommended for grades Pre K-3. Curriculum Connections: Communication and Language Arts, Literature-Based, Music, Relationships & Family.

Tickets: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Sunday, March 20, 2016, 4 pm
Jeff Majors

The popular gospel and jazz harpist returns for another Palm Sunday concert. Performing inspirational favorites like “The 23rd Psalm” along with newer compositions, Jeff Majors is a charismatic artist who lights up the theatre with his talent and energy. This concert sold out early last season, so don’t wait to buy your tickets.

Tickets: $30/Person, $25/Students, Seniors, Groups of 20 or More

Weekend Performance
Saturday, March 19, 2016, 8 pm
World Dance Showcase

A fascinating program of dance from around the world, World Dance Showcase features professional, globally diverse dance companies who bring their proud cultural traditions to the stage. Stunning costumes, fascinating music, and graceful dance artistry make this a memorable and unique performance.
Tickets: $15/person; $10/Seniors, Students, and Groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Monday, March 14, 2016, 10:15 am
GEICO Gecko Series: Upcycled Cinderella

This imaginative production brings to life the story of Cinderella in a way that will surprise and delight audiences. The wacky duo Dustmop and Binny “accidentally” stumble upon and audience and decide to put on a play with what they have before them. Using household items, recycled objects and physical comedy, the performers create hilarious characters, inventive settings and lively scenes. Packed with character education lessons, Upcycled Cinderella will activate the imagination and encourage young audiences to use teamwork, friendship and creativity in their everyday lives. Recommended for grades Pre-K-5. Curriculum Connections: English Language Arts, Social Studies
Tickets: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more; Free to Title 1 Schools in Prince George’s County
This performance is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, March 10, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Mark Lohr

An entertainer who has studied the masters of his craft– Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton– Mark Lohr’s interactive vaudeville will have kids joining in the fun as they help Mark clown around and perform circus tricks. Lohr has been wowing audiences around the globe for more than two decades, and his unique comic style brings together many disciplines of performance art in hysterical ways that will have you laughing and cheering along with your kids.
Recommended for grades Pre-K – 2, but enjoyable for all ages.
Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
Monday, March 7, 10:15 am & 12 noon
*CANCELLED* Miss Nelson is Missing

Room 207 has the worst behaved students in the whole school, but when their sweet teacher Miss Nelson vanishes, the class is taught by a strict substitute, and the students want to find Miss Nelson. This lighthearted musical based on the popular children’s book reminds us all to appreciate the people we have.
Recommended for grades K-5. Curriculum Connections: Communication and Language Arts, Literature-Based, Music.
Tickets: $8/Person, $6/Groups of 20 or More

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, March 3, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Junkman

Donald Knaack is The Junkman. Played 100% on recycled materials, Junk Music has gained audiences from rock and jazz to classical and world-fusion. "He introduced the students to new and relevant information about percussion, music, acoustics, the environment and construction." -Seabrook Middle School Seabrook, NH Recommended for all ages. Curriculum Connections: Music, Dance, Visual Arts.
Tickets: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more;

Midweek Matinee
Monday, February 29, 10:15 am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series: The Right to Dream

The story of a young African-American's coming of age in Mississippi during the 1950s and 1960s is vividly told in this compelling production, offering the audience an individual, inside view of this tumultuous, challenging period of American history. Recommended for Grades 5 and up. Curriculum Connections: Civil Rights, Human Rights, Civics (Government), US History, African American History,

Tickets: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more; Free to Title 1 Schools in Prince George’s County

This performance is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation.

Weekend Performance
Saturday, February 27, 2016, 8 pm
Tribute to the Music of B.B. King

Experience the music of the King of the Blues when the BRENCORE BLUES ALLSTAR BAND comes to the Playhouse with a sensational and heartfelt musical tribute. Top blues artists from the DMV perform the music that made King a legend.

Tickets: $30/Person, $25/Students, Seniors, Groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, February 23, 10:15 am & 12 noon Wednesday, February 24, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Inauguration of Barack Obama: A Change is Gonna Come

The story of the nation’s first African American President is told in this compelling drama. Recommended for all ages. Curriculum Connections: U.S. History, African American History, Social Studies.
Tickets: $8/person; $6/groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Sunday, February 21, 2016, 4 pm
PRAISE Dance Festival

The popular annual liturgical dance festival returns with the best of DC area liturgical dance by studios, schools, and ministries. This performance usually sells out early, so don't wait to buy your tickets for an inspirational afternoon of dance.

Tickets: $25\Person, $20\Seniors, Students, Groups of 20 or more

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, February 19, 2016, 11 am
Queen Nur's Sweet Potato Pie

Incomparable storyteller Queen Nur presents a rich blend of tales, songs and rhymes celebrating African-American heritage and the art of storytelling, all accompanied by African percussion instruments. This highly energetic and interactive performance will delight as well as enlighten all ages.
Tickets: $10/person $8/groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, February 18, 2016 10:15 am & 12 noon
Queen Nur’s Voices of Courage: Profiles of 19th Century African American Women

Critically acclaimed storyteller Queen Nur creates indelible portraits of seven pioneering, brave African-American women: Sojourner Truth, Maria Stewart, Frances Harper, Cathy Williams, Ida B. Wells, Mary Church Terrell and Mary McLeod Bethune. Don’t miss this stirring historical program of stories and music. Recommended for grades 6 and up. Curriculum Connections: Women’s History, African American History, U.S. History.
Tickets: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, February 11, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Tots Percussion Workshop: "Samba!"

Students will learn to play and groove to the rhythms of different instruments found in a traditional Brazilian samba band in this workshop specially designed for small children. All instruments provided. Reserve early, space is limited. Recommended for Grades Pre-K – 1.
$5 Students and Observers

Sunday, January 31, 4 pm Monday, February 1, 10:15 am & 12 noon Tuesday, February 2, 11 am
Jackie Robinson: A Game Apart

Acclaimed actor and playwright Mike Wiley brings legendary athlete Jackie Robinson to life, in this compelling drama that contrasts Jackie Robinson, the baseball star who was cheered by thousands in the stadium, with the Jackie Robinson who had to live in segregated America, using separate restrooms and entering restaurants through the back door. Recommended for all ages. Curriculum Connections: U.S. History, African-American History, Social Studies. Recommended for all ages. Curriculum Connections: U.S. History, African-American History, Social Studies.

Sunday, January 31, 4 pm
Tickets: $10/person $8/groups of 20 or more

Monday, February 1, 10:15 am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series Midweek Matinee
Tickets: $8/person $6/groups of 20 or more Free to Title 1 Schools in Prince George's county
The Monday performances are supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation.

Tuesday, February 2, 11 am
Platinum Show for Seniors
Tickets: $10/person $8/groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, January 26, 2016, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Snowday

What sounds like a band but doesn't have instruments? Snowday! This dynamic quintet creates unique music using just their voices to delight audiences of all ages. Snowday's talented singers present upbeat songs and moving rhythms that trace the history of acappella singing and demonstrate how to create its harmonic parts with a vocal drumming lesson with the audience. Recommended for all ages. Curriculum Connections: Language Arts, Social Studies, Music. Study Guide available.
Tickets: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more.

Sunday, January 17, 10 am - 3 pm (Snowdate: January 24, 10 am - 3 pm)
World Dance Showcase Auditions

Be a part of this annual program of international dance. Dance companies are invited to audition traditional work in any culture-specific dance style. Work must not exceed 15 minutes in length and must be auditioned in finished form in costume. Auditions are by apointment only and open to performers 16 years and older. Apply online at arts.pgparks.com or call 301-446-3232, TTY 301-446-6802. Application deadline is Friday, January 8, 5 pm. Performance date is Saturday, March 19, 8 pm.

Sunday, January 17, 10 am - 6 pm (Snowdate: January 24, 10 am - 6 pm)
World Dance Showcase Auditions

Be a part of this annual program of international dance. Dance companies are invited to audition traditional work in any culture-specific dance style. Work must not exceed 15 minutes in length and must be auditioned in finished form in costume. Auditions are by appointment only and open to performers 16 years and older.

Apply online at arts.pgparks.com or call 301-446-3232, TTY 301-699-2544. Application deadline is Friday, January 8, 5 pm.

Performance date is Saturday, March 19, 8 pm.

Weekend Performance
Sunday, December 27, 2015, 4 pm
KWANZAA-IT’S KUJICHAGULIA!

Join in the traditional storytelling, song and ceremony in a joyous Kwanzaa celebration presented by Queen Nur.
Tickets: $20 / Person, $15 / Students, Seniors, Groups of 20 or more

Photo by Walter Petrule

Friday, December 18, 11 am Saturday, December 19, 2 pm
Mistletunes Rock N’ Roll Multicultural Holiday Celebration

Share in the celebrations of holidays around the world in this inclusive and entertaining performance that presents traditions of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Dongzhi, Three Kings Day and Eid-al-Fitr. Sing along in this show packed with everyone’s favorite holiday songs and learn more about how customs such as lighting candles, exchanging gifts, festive meals and family gatherings are universal to end-of-the-year holidays. Recommended for all ages. Curriculum Connections: Visual Arts, Music, Social Studies
Tickets: $10

Photo by Bob Krasner

Midweek Matinee
Monday, December 14, 2015; 10:15 am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series: Season's Greetings

There's holiday magic galore in this fast-moving, festive winter wonderland that features a levitating elf, a dancing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, toy soldiers, and real white doves. Recommended for all ages.
Tickets: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more, free to Title 1 Schools in Prince George's County
This performance is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation

Midweek Matinee
Monday, December 14, 10:15 am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series: Season's Greetings

There's holiday magic galore in this fast-moving, festive winter wonderland that features a levitating elf, a dancing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, toy soldiers, and more. Recommended for all ages. Curriculum Connections: Language Arts, Theatre. Study Guide available.

$8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more, free to Title 1 public schools.
This performance is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation.

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, December 10, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Bob Brown Puppets: Winter Wonderland

The amazing Bob Brown brings some fun friends to the Playhouse to show kids how to enjoy the cold weather. Snowmen, snowflakes and lots of wacky winter fun make this a great show to beat the winter blues. Recommended for Grades Pre-K - 3.
Tickets: $5/Person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, December 5, 2015, 8 pm
A New Orleans Christmas with the Marsalis Family

Celebrate the holidays and Laissez Bon Temps Roulez! When the First Family of Jazz comes from New Orleans with Big Easy entertainment and their incomparable jazz sound. Ellis Marsalis and his sons Jason and Delfeayo perform jazz interpretations of holiday favorites in a festive performance that makes a great gift. So treat your friends, loved ones and yourself to an evening of superb jazz.
Tickets: $30 / Person, $25 / Students, Seniors, Groups of 20 or more

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, December 4, 2015, 11 am
Platinum Movie: Last Vegas

Morgan Freeman, Michael Douglas, Kevin Kline and Robert DeNiro star in this amiable comedy about old friends and a bachelor party. For Seniors 60 and better
Tickets: $2/person

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, December 3, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Holidays Around the World

Join Nick and Joy as they travel home for the holidays. On the way they encounter people celebrating many different traditional holidays, including The Festival of Lights, Kwanzaa, The Lohri Festival of India, and even Chinese New Year. Experience the costumes, stories, and celebrations that occur around the globe during this special time of year. Recommended for Grades K-5. Curriculum Connections: Social studies, Language Arts.
Tickets: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Saturday, November 21, 2pm & 8pm
Lula Washington Dance Theatre

The nationally acclaimed dance company blends African, modern, ballet and performance art to create innovative and provocative dance pieces performed with powerful, high-energy artistry.
Tickets: $30 / General Admission, $25 / Students, Seniors, Groups of 20 or more

Workshop
Friday, November 20, 8 - 9:30 pm
Master Class by Lula Washington Dance Theatre: Dunham/Afro-Haitian/African

This workshop focuses on the Katherine Dunham style of dance. It blends African, Afro-Haitian, modern, and ballet to create a distinct Dunham dance approach. Taught by Lula Washington, students will learn actual choreography created by Katherine Dunham, a pioneer African-American dance artist.
Class fees: $20 per person per class; $15 if purchased with a ticket to a November 21, 2015 performance; $10 per observer per class.

Workshop
Friday, November 20, 6:30 - 8 pm
Master Class by Lula Washington Dance Theatre: Jazz Dance

Beginning to intermediate dance students will learn classic jazz dance to high energy music. Lula, aided by members of her dance company, will teach dancers to twirl, kick, spin, leap and do fantastic, fun movements.
Class fees: $20 per person per class; $15 if purchased with a ticket to a November 21, 2015 performance; $10 per observer per class.

Workshop
Thursday, November 19, 8-9:30 pm
Repertory Workshop with Lula Washington Dance Theatre

This is for intermediate and advanced modern dance lovers. This workshop focuses on teaching actual movements from the dance company’s range of dance pieces by choreographers as diverse as Donald McKayle, Christopher Huggins, Lula Washington, Tamica Washington-Miller, and Rennie Harris. Dancers will learn to interpret the movement, and to execute phrases and varying dance styles with the proper approaches.
Class fees: $20 per person per class; $15 if purchased with a ticket to a November 21, 2015 performance; $10 per observer per class.

Workshop
Thursday, November 19 6:30 – 8 pm
Master Class by Lula Washington Dance Theatre: Fusion

This is an open level class for students of all ages and skill levels. This fun, fast moving class focuses on a fusion of dance styles including ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, and African dance. Strengthening, stretching, and stamina building will be emphasized.
Class fees: $20 per person per class; $15 if purchased with a ticket to a November 21, 2015 performance; $10 per observer per class.

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Thursday, November 19, 11 am & Friday, November 20, 11 am
Platinum Live: Lula Washington Dance Theatre

The renowned dance company presents a one-hour program created especially for the Platinum audience.
For seniors 60 and better
Tickets: $10/person $8/groups of 20 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, November 12, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Monster Intelligence

When Melvin the monster makes a birthday wish, the Division for Monster Screams grants his wish, provided he passes a test. Melvin sets off on a quest to learn and study, teaching kids about different learning styles and giving them confidence to tap into their own “monster intelligence.”
Recommended for grades K- 5. Curriculum Connections: Communication and Language Arts, Visual and Performing Arts, Relationships & Family, Music, Theatre Education, Values-Based, Self-Discovery.
Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, November 10, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Native Pride Dancers

Rainbow colored headresses...pulsating drumming...fancy footwork...experience the excitement of a Native American powwow! World Champion Fancy Dancer Larry Yazzie of the Meskwaki Nation 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 regalia, and sacred songs from the Northern Plains. Recommended for all ages. Curriculum Connections: Language Arts, Physical Education/Health, Social Studies.
Tickets: $8/Person, $6/Groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Saturday, November 7, 2015, 8 pm
Black Violin

“Rule No. 1 for a Black Violin show — this is a party!” proclaims this inventive, imaginative duo as they perform their groundbreaking blend of classical, hip-hop, rock, and R&B. Entertaining, intense and spellbinding, Black Violin has created a new genre of music that defies simple categorization and creates a sensation whenever they perform.
Tickets: $30/General Admission, $25/Students, Seniors, Groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, November 5, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Madeline and the Bad Hat

Madeline doesn’t like her new next door neighbor, Pepito, but she eventually discovers that Pepito’s father is rarely at home and that her new neighbor is misbehaving because he is desperate for attention. When Madeline rescues Pepito from danger, they become friends and Madeline learns that first impressions aren’t everything. Recommended for grades K – 2.
Curriculum Connections: Language/Communication Skills, Literature-Based, Musical, Values-Based
Tickets: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, November 3, 10:15 am & 12 noon
It Takes Courage

Different Americans faced different challenges but all had one thing in common: courage. Helen Keller, Franklin Roosevelt, Bill Gates and Justin Timberlake all overcame enormous obstacles to beome inspiring figures for today's youth. Bullying, disabilities and other issues facing kids today are explored in this remarkable program. Recommended for grades 2-6. Curriculum Connections: Language Arts, Anti-Bullying, Character Education, History, Social Studies.
Tickets: $8/Person $6/Groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, October 29, 10:15 am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series: Petunia and Chicken

GEICO Gecko Series: Petunia and Chicken

Based on the stories of Pulitzer Prize winning author Willa Cather, Petunia and Chicken depicts the struggles of life on the homestead with imagination, movement, and song, in this award-winning play that inspires students to learn more about the American Frontier. Recommended for grades 6 and up. Curriculum connections: American Literature, U.S. History, Social Studies, Music.
Tickets: $8/person, $6/groups of 20 or more, free to Title 1 Schools in Prince George's County.

Saturday, October 24, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
PRAISE Auditions

Liturgical dance groups are invited to audition for the annual PRAISE Liturgical Dance Festival, held at the Playhouse every February. The 2016 performance will be held on Sunday, February 21, 4pm. Participants are asked to bring a CD of the music, and to perform one complete work in costume.
Pre-registration is required. Call 301-277-1710, TTY 301-277-0312.
Application deadline: Friday, October 16, 5 pm

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, October 23, 2015, 11 am
Platinum Movie: The Good Lie

Reese Witherspoon (“Walk the Line”) stars in this compelling, warm-hearted, and often funny film based on the true stories of Sudanese war refugees. For Seniors 60 and Better
Tickets: $2/person

Midweek Matinee
Monday, October 19, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Mi Casa es Su Casa

This entertaining program of live music and puppets brings to life the culture of Latin America and introduces some Spanish words and phrases. Recommended for grades K-5. Curriculum connections: Historical, Cultural and Social Context; World Languages.
Tickets: $8/person $6/groups of 20 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, October 15, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Bob Brown Puppets: Panda-monium

Bob Brown Puppets: Panda-monium

Master Puppeteer Bob Brown’s enchanting new production presents a delightful cast of adorable, multi-talented pandas and other Chinese circus performers in a 45-minute extravaganza of skill and daring. Recommended for Pre-K – 1
Tickets: $5/person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, October 10, 2015, 8 pm
Mud Morganfield

Drawing on the legacy of his father, Muddy Waters, Mud Morganfield’s rich baritone voice, excellent timing, and engaging stage presence have made him a blues star. His album “For Pops – A Tribute to Muddy Waters” won Best Traditional Blues Album at this year’s 36th Annual Blues Music Awards, and he was a featured performer at the 2015 Chicago Blues Festival. Backed by some of the best blues musicians in the business, he performs both classics and original songs.

Tickets: $30 / General Admission, $25 / Students, Seniors, Groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, October 8, 10:15 am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series: Felix Pitre - Stories & Songs of Latin America

Felix Pitre brings to life the culture of Latin America with puppetry, stories, songs, instruments and dance, performed in English interwoven with Spanish words and phrases. Recommended for grades K-3. Curriculum connections: Historical, Cultural and Social Context; World Languages.
Tickets: $8/person $6/groups of 20 or more; free to Title 1 schools in Prince George's County.

Weekend Performance
Saturday, September 26, 2015, 8 pm
Tribute to the Music of Motown by the BRENCORE ALLSTARS

Don’t miss this great night of live entertainment featuring the biggest Motown hits in a series of medleys and powerhouse songs that will have you singing and dancing to your favorites all night long.
Tickets: $30/General Admission, $25/Students, Seniors, Groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Friday, September 25, 10:15 am & 12 noon
The Lightning Thief

Characters from Percy Jackson’s Greek Mythology textbook come to life as Percy tries to find Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt, settle a conflict on Mount Olympus, and solve the riddle of the Oracle. Recommended for grades 2-6. Curriculum connections: Communication and Language Arts, Literature-Based, Music, Relationships and Family, Social Studies.
Tickets: $8/person $6/groups of 20 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, September 17, 9:30 am & 11:15 am
Let's Drum! Workshop for Tiny Tots

Let

Children learn to play a variety of drums and get an introduction to rhythm, dynamics, and how to play in a group. All instruments are provided. Space is limited, reserve early. Recommended for grades Pre K–1.
Tickets: $5/students and observers

Midweek Matinee
Thursday-Friday, July 23-24, 10 am & 12 noon
African Acrobats

This sensational group from Kenya will amaze and delight you as they tumble, balance, leap and dance across the stage. Showcasing the best acrobatic techniques of China and Africa and with music from East Africa, this is a performance all ages will enjoy. All seats $10.

Weekend Performance
Friday, June 19, 2015, 8 pm
Hardway Connection

Celebrate Juneteenth at the Publick Playhouse with Hardway Connection. This DC-based band has been around since 1979, best known for southern soul hits like "It Must Be Love," and "Dirty O' Man." High energy, outstanding vocals, and a tight band are hallmarks of this popular group.

Tickets $20/General Admission

Workshop
Thursday, May 21, 7 - 8:30 pm
Samba Workshop

Learn Samba from one of the best in the business: professional dancer and teacher Sonia Pessoa will guide you through the basics of this popular dance style. Students love her workshops so space fills up early - reserve now by calling 301-277-1710. For ages 16 and up, wear comfortable clothes and shoes, free admission.

Weekend Performance
Sunday, May 17, 2015, 4 pm
Sons of Freedom

THIS PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have already purchased tickets, please contact the box office at 301-277-1710 for refund information.

Workshop
Wednesday, May 13, 7 - 8:30 pm
Afro-Brazilian Dance

Learn the fascinating Samba-Reggae dance style that has roots in Brazil, Africa, and the Caribbean. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes and get ready to have fun learning some new dance moves. Taught by professional dancer and teacher Sonia Pessoa, these workshops fill up early - so reserve your space now by calling 301-277-1710. For ages 16 and older, free admission.

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, May 12, 10:15 am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series: Dog Loves Books

Based on The New York Times best-selling children’s book, ArtsPower’s new musical is about the irresistible dog who loves books so much that he decides to open his own bookstore. At first, no customers come to his store, but Dog decides that he’s not alone if he’s surrounded by books, and he begins to read everything in his store. When customers finally arrive, he knows exactly which books to recommend. The delightful performance celebrates the power of imagination, encourages self-expression, and helps ignite the desire to read.

This performance is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation and is free to Title 1 Schools in Prince George's County. Call Group Sales at 301-277-1711 for more information.

Curriculum Connections: literature-based, language arts, reading, music
Recommended for grades K-2. Tickets: $8; $6/groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Saturday, May 9, 2015, 8 pm
Maestro Khan and Sistah Mafalda & The Kuumba Performers

Ustad Shafaat Khan may be the only musician who can simultaneously boast a musical legacy dating back to the 16th century, a headline performance at Bonnaroo with Stevie Wonder, and CDs produced by famed wellness guru Deepak Chopra. Acclaimed for his prodigious skills in Indian classical music and fusing East and West grooves, he is a master of sitar, surbahar and tabla. Sista Mafalda adds an energetic blend of African, Caribbean and American dance and drum traditions, and Kuumba Performers from age 5 to 18 showcase their kuumba (“creativity” in Swahili), led by the award-winning teacher and performer Mafalda T. Bouzy.
Tickets: $20 (Purchase World Dance Showcase together with Maestro Kahn tickets for a $5 adult discount. Two-event ticket: $30)

Midweek Matinee
Wednesday, May 6, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Our Earth, What a Gas!

The Grand Falloons use their former career with the Big Apple Circus to examine the bubble of our atmosphere, what we need to survive in it, and the carbon/oxygen/hydrogen exchange between plant and animal kingdoms. Circus skills, Vaudeville routines, and song and dance numbers engage the audience in how litter, pollution, and other wasted resources threaten life. The program represents a collaboration with several museums and other non-profit organizations to produce an entertaining program based on earth science curriculum standards for public schools. Dishing up intriguing facts with laughter and fun, the Grand Falloons help start their young audiences on a life-long journey of awareness of our limited resources and the part everyone plays in keeping nature’s balance.
Curriculum Connections: earth science, health, biology, recycling, theatre arts
Recommended for grade K-6 Tickets: $8; $6/groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Friday, April 24, 8:00pm, Saturday, April 25, 8:00pm, Sunday, April 26, 4:00pm
Dallas Black Dance Theatre

The Playhouse is proud to present the internationally famous Dallas Black Dance Theatre, performing a new repertory for the Playhouse audience with an exciting blend of modern, jazz, ethnic and spiritual works by famous choreographers in a program of incredible energy, flashing color and emotional intensity. “Charismatic stage presence…left the audience hungry for more” Richmond Times Dispatch; “Appealing high energy performance” New York Times; “Toward the end of the evening, even I felt compelled to dance” Front Row Blog
Tickets: $25; $20/seniors, students, and groups of 20 or more

Workshop
Thursday, April 23, 2015, 7:45 pm
Dallas Black Dance Theatre Master Class: Liturgical Dance

Thursday, April 23, 7:45pm–9:15pm

For advanced students of liturgical dance, professionals from the internationally acclaimed Dallas Black Dance Theatre coach technique and style in this popular annual master class.
Early reservations strongly recommended, space is limited and fills up quickly.
Tickets: $20; $15/person if purchased with ticket to weekend performance; $10/observers

Workshop
Thursday, April 23, 2015, 6 pm
Dallas Black Dance Theatre Master Class: Modern Dance

For advanced dance students, members of the renowned company teach aspects of the modern dance techniques, style and choreography for which Dallas Black Dance is celebrated.
Space is limited and fills up quickly, so reserve early by calling 301-277-1710 (tty301-277-0312).
Tickets: $20; $15/person if purchased with ticket to weekend performance; $10/observers

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Thursday, April 23, 11 am Friday, April 24, 11 am
Platinum Live: Dallas Black Dance Theatre

Incredible Dallas Black is back with a whole new program planned just for Playhouse seniors of modern, jazz, and spiritual dance by celebrated choreographers. “Fully engaged in an extremely athletic series of stomping, jumping, running and leaping, the energy in this ensemble was contagious.” Front Row Blog. “Congratulations for a job well done!” Harlem World “Appealing high energy performance” New York Times Don’t miss it!
Tickets: $10/person; $8/groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Friday, April 17, 2015, 7 pm
Café Groove

CAFE GROOVE HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 7PM

Heavy on hip hop, hot teen dance teams compete before a panel of celebrity judges for trophies, cash prizes, and the title of Prince George’s “Best Area Dance Crew.” It’s scorching, fast, and fly, so come out and cheer for your favorite dance team. (Want to compete? To sign up, dancers age 13-18 should contact Chelsea Mitchell-Reynolds at 301-446-3244.)
Tickets: $3

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, April 16, 9:30 & 11:15
Salsa Cinderella

The classic tale is presented with whimsy, beautiful puppets, and a Latin twist. Grey Seal Puppets goes south of the border to have Cinderella dance to a salsa beat, as the pungent Onion and Garlic Stepsisters try to keep the Pepper Prince from finding his true love. Kids learn about Latin foods and pick up some Spanish words while delighting in this ageless story of dreams coming true.
Recommended for pre-K-2
Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, March 31, 10:15 am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series: Slim Bodyology - FANTASTIC YOU

Nationally renowned Slim Goodbody performs an amazing health and body musical that introduces children to the Heart-the greatest pump in the world; Brain-body control center; Lungs-the breath of life; Bones & Muscles-the team that hustles; Senses-the sensational five; and Digestive System- the energy factor. Song, dance and lots of audience participation highlight the importance of nutrition, fitness, hygiene, and a positive self-image. “Great program for our curriculum, everything we study in our Body Unit.” Meadowland Elementary, Sandusky, Ohio

This performance is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation and is free to Title 1 Schools in Prince George's County. Call Group Sales at 301-277-1711 for more information.

Curriculum Connections: science, health, nutrition, fundamentals of anatomy, fitness, hygiene. Recommended for grades K-8
Tickets: $8; $6/groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Sunday, March 29, 2015, 4 pm
Jeff Majors

Former DC radio and TV gospel host Jeff Majors is a musician of national renown. A dream at age 15 inspired him to start playing the harp and launched a musical career that has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show and named him Outstanding Gospel Instrumentalist at the Gospel Truth Magazine Music Awards. He brings his groundbreaking and unique harp sound to the Playhouse for a special Palm Sunday concert. Majors’ mellow style mixes gospel, soul and jazz traditions for an inspirational performance.
Tickets: $25; $20/seniors, students and groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Saturday, March 28, 2015, 8 pm
World Dance Showcase

One of the enriching benefits of living in greater Washington, DC is the fabulous diversity of our community. The world beats a path to our doorstep, bringing historic and colorful customs, traditions, and folk arts. This popular annual event showcases wide-ranging dance traditions performed with a swirl of vivid costumes
Tickets: $15; $10/students, seniors, and groups of 20 or more
(Purchase World Dance Showcase together with Maestro Kahn tickets for a $5 adult discount. Two-event ticket: $30)

Weekend Performance
Sunday, March 22, 2015, 4 pm
Love 2 Dance Teen Showcase

Outstanding young dancers from Prince George’s County high schools and dance studios perform jazz, hip-hop, ballet, modern and world dance. Bring the whole family to see these teens twirl, spin and leap across the stage in a terrific and uplifting program showing the depth of young talent in our community.
Tickets: $10; $5/students, seniors, and groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Friday, March 20, 10:15 am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series: Berenstain Bears LIVE!

Following their hit off-Broadway run in New York and based on the award-winning book series, everyone's favorite bear family arrives at the Playhouse to sing and dance through a life full of complications. Brother Bear's grades are slipping, Sister Bear still has a few things to learn about making new friends, and Papa Bear just can't stop eating junk food. But we can always depend on Mama Bear and her loving patience to help set things right. “A fantastic experience for kids!” NYTheatre.com

This performance is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation and is free to Title 1 Schools in Prince George's County. Contact Group Sales at 301-277-1711 for more information.

Curriculum Connections: literature based, theatre arts, language arts, social studies, health and physical education, relationships. Recommended for grades Pre-K-2
Tickets: $8; $6/groups of 20 or more

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, March 17, 2015, 11 am
Platinum Movie: Peeples (2013)

Sparks fly when Wade Walker crashes the Peeples’ annual reunion in the Hamptons to ask for their precious daughter Grace’s hand in Marriage. Starring Craig Robinson, Kerry Washington, David Alan Grier, with Diahann Carroll as Nana.
For ages 60 and better.
Tickets: Free

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, March 12, 9:30am & 11:15 am
Tots Body Percussion Workshop

Having fun combines with enhancing children’s fine and gross motor skills and coordination, led by teachers from the award-winning Cultural Academy for Excellence (CAFÉ Youth). This journey of creativity has kids finding music on themselves, as they express their creativity through improvisation and composition using the sounds that their body can make like stomping, clapping, and snapping fingers. Reserve early, space is limited and fills quickly. Call 301-277-1710 (tty 301-277-0312)
Recommended for pre-K-2
Tickets: $5/students and observers

Weekend Performance
Saturday, March 7, 2015, 6 pm
Youth 4 PRAISE

RESCHEDULED TO SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 6PM
We’re pleased to introduce a new Playhouse program featuring talented young dancers inspired by liturgical traditions. Look forward to being charmed and impressed by this showcase of new praise talent.
Tickets: $10; $8/students; $5/children age 6 and under

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, February 26, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Four Score and Seven Years Ago

Lemuel has escaped slavery in Georgia and finds a new life in Gettysburg, but his ideas about the North and the South are challenged when he unexpectedly befriends Jacob, a young Confederate soldier. Understanding and empathy combat racial prejudice when these young men realize that fighting back is not the path to peaceful resolution, and that each has much to teach each other about bravery and loyalty. Gary Blackman, ArtsPower’s producer, says “By encouraging young people to see history through the eyes of characters who endured and succeeded despite facing tremendous adversity, children are able see new possibilities in their own lives.”
Curriculum Connections: American history, relationships, language arts, music
Recommended for grades 3-8
Tickets: $8; $6/groups of 20 or more

Weekend Performance
Sunday, February 22, 2015, 4 pm
PRAISE Dance Festival

The annual dance festival presents top liturgical dance companies from area studios and dance ministries. Inspiring and colorful, this in-demand program showcases the depth of praise dance talent in the metropolitan area.
Tickets: $25 / $20 students, seniors and groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, February 17, 10:15 am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series: Coretta Scott King and the Fight for Freedom

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.

This performance is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation and is free to Title I Schools in Prince George's County. Call Group Sales at 301-277-1711 for more information.

Curriculum Connections: American history, social studies, civics and politics, music, language arts and self-esteem. Recommended for grades 3-8
Tickets: $8; $6/groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, February 10, 10:15 am & 12 noon Wednesday, February 11, 10:15 am & 12 noon
One Noble Journey: A Box Marked Freedom

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 Tickets: $8; $6/groups of 20 or more
Artwork illustrated and donated by Kent Barton

Weekend Performance
Saturday, February 7, 2015, 8 pm
Jazz Meets Blues: Phil Wiggins and Karen Lovejoy

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.
Tickets: $25 / $20 seniors, students, groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, February 3, 10:15 & 12 noon
How a Town Fought Hate

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. Tickets: $8; $6/groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, January 22, 10:15 am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series: Classroom Character - The Road to Success

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.

This performance is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation and is free to Title I Schools in Prince George's County. Call Group Sales at 301-277-1711 for more information.

Curriculum Connections: Language Arts, Relationships, Character Development, Social Issues. Recommended for Grades K-3.
Tickets $8, $6 groups of 20 or more

Sunday, January 18, 2015 10am-6pm
Annual World Dance Showcase Auditions

Dance companies are invited to audition traditional work in any culture-speciic dance style. Work must not exceed 15 minutes in length and must be auditioned in finished form with costumes. Six dance groups will be selected to perform in concert on Saturday, March 28, at 8:00pm. Selected groups will receive an honorarium of $500. Auditions are by appointment only and open to performers 16 years and older. Apply online at http://arts.pgparks.com/Community_Arts_Services/Artist_Resources.htm or call 301-446-3232, tty 301-446-6802. Application deadline is Friday, January 9, 5:00pm.

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, January 15, 9:30am & 11:15 am
Tots Making Music Around the World Workshop

Students learn about and play a collection of musical instruments from North America, South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe, and Asia. All instruments are provided and the class is taught by instructors from CAFÉ Youth. Reserve early, space is limited and fills quickly. Call 301-277-1710 (tty 301-277-0312).
Recommended for pre-K-2
Tickets: $5/students and observers

Weekend Performance
Sunday, December 28, 2014, 3 pm
Kwanzaa, Kwanzaa!

Sankofa Dance Theatre of Baltimore presents a joyous program celebrating heritage, family and community. The symbols of Kwanzaa are enhanced with African music, traditional tales, dance and drumming. “Sankofa” means learning from the past to build for the future. Join us for a heartwarming, interactive performance for the whole family that reaches into the rich legacy of African culture and history to embrace the proud shared culture of African Americans.
Tickets: $20; $15/seniors, students and groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, December 16, 10:15 am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series: Holiday Tales

A sparkling multi-cultural collection full of holiday legends, the program includes Gift of the Magi, The Nutcracker, Kwanzaa Kite, and Soul of a Menorah. Performed by the Emmy-nominated Pushcart Players, at the heart of each story are gifts of love, kindness, compassion and generosity. This program will warm your heart with the genuine spirit of the season.

This performance is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation and is free to Title I Schools in Prince George's County. Call group sales at 301-277-1711 for more information.

Curriculum Connections: literature classics, language arts, music, dance, and theatre arts. Recommended for grades K-8
Tickets: $8; $6/groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, December 9, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Cricket on the Hearth

This classic story was Charles Dickens’ most popular holiday tale in 19th century London. Theatre IV’s new musical shows how lucky it is to have a cricket on the hearth watching over things, especially if you’re a poor and kindly toymaker with a beautiful blind daughter, a curmudgeonly boss, and a mysterious stranger as a houseguest.
Curriculum Connections: language arts, literary classic, music, reading, character development, history, and family
Recommended for grades K-5. Tickets: $8; $6/groups of 20 or more

Saturday, December 6, 10am-3pm
Youth 4 PRAISE Auditions

Youth Dance Companies/Ministries are encouraged to audition for the first Youth 4 Praise Liturgical Dance Concert. The performance will be held on Saturday, February 21, at 8:00pm Bring a CD of the music and plan to perform one complete work in costume. Participating youth must be age 10-15 by application deadline date. Pre-registration is required. Call 301-277-1710, tty 301-277-0312. Application deadline: Friday, November 14, 5:00pm.

Midweek Matinee
Friday, November 21, 10:15am & 12noon
We the People

Just as the national election season heats up, TheatreWorks USA puts an energizing spin on the workings of democracy with a new, upbeat musical that presents the three branches of government, the First Amendment, the judicial process, presidential elections and more with a sizzling rock, R&B and hip-hop beat. “Funny, fresh, and inspired! Young audiences discover what democracy can be when it functions as it’s meant to.”
The New York Times
Recommended for grades 4-8
Curriculum Connections: American history, music, civics and law
Tickets: $8; $6/groups of 20 or more
Photo by Joan Marcus

Midweek Matinee
Wednesday, November 19, 10:15am & 12noon
A Christmas Carol

Ushering in the holiday season, Charles Dickens’ classic story is presented in a beautiful musical version by TheatreWorks USA. Cheer along as the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future turn Scrooge’s “Humbug” into generosity.
Curriculum Connections: communications, language arts, literary classic, music,
relationships and family
Recommended for all ages.
Tickets: $8; $6/groups of 20 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, November 13, 9:30am & 11:15 am
Tots Move to the Beat Workshop

Children sway, swing, and step to the beat as instructors from CAFÉ Youth lead them in basic movement and dance techniques specially tailored for small children. Space is limited, reserve early for this popular program by calling 301-277-1710 9tty301-277-0312).
Recommended for grades pre-K-2
Tickets: $5/students and observers.

Saturday, November 8, 10am-3pm
PRAISE Auditions

Liturgical dance companies are invited to audition for the annual PRAISE Liturgical Dance Festival held at the Playhouse every February. The 2015 performance will be held on Sunday, February 22, at 4:00pm. Companies are asked to bring a CD of their music and to perform one complete work in costume. Pre-registration is required. Call 301-277-1710, tty 301-277-0312.
Application deadline: Friday, October 31, 5:00pm.

Weekend Performance
Friday, November 7, 2014, 8 pm
Philadanco!

With a leaping legacy of breaking barriers and building cultural bridges through eye-popping choreography, the term Smokin’ defines Philadanco. One of the featured works in the performance is “Bamm!” which says it all. Don’t miss this powerhouse performance by an acclaimed national dance company that sizzles with excitement.
Tickets $30 ($25 before October 1); $25/seniors, students, groups of 20 or more.
Photo by Lois Greenfield

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, November 7, 2014, 12 pm
Platinum Live: Philadanco!

The famed Philadelphia Dance Company performs a fast-paced dance concert for seniors. This one-hour matinee features modern dance selections that are new to Playhouse patrons and guaranteed to mesmerize the audience with the troupe’s beauty, energy and excitement.
For ages 60 and better.
Tickets: $10/person; $8/groups of 20 or more
Photo by Lois Greenfield

Workshop
Thursday, November 6, 2014, 7 pm
Philadanco Master Class: Modern Dance

Advanced and intermediate dance students are encouraged to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to train for an evening with one of the most distinguished modern dance companies in the country.
Tickets: $20; $15/person if purchased with ticket to November 7 performance; $10/observers
Space is limited, reserve early by calling 301-277-1710 (tty 301-277-0312).
Photo by Lois Greenfield.

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, October 30, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Page Turner Adventures: The Mixed Up Fairy Tale

The Emmy Award-Winning Comedy Story Theatre sparks children's imagination, curiosity and laughter. Everyone in the audience becomes the main character, solving clues and participating in the storytelling experience. Recommended for grades K-3. Curriculum Connections: Literature, Music, Theatre Arts.
Tickets: $8, $6 groups of 20 or more.

Weekend Performance
Friday, October 24, 8:00pm & Saturday, October 25, 8:00pm
Rennie Harris Puremovement

For more than twenty years, the recognized king of hip hop Rennie Harris Puremovement has performed to capacity audiences in theatres in the U.S. and abroad, presenting Hip Hop in works that display the rich cultural traditions of the genre, serve as a voice for a new generation, and crumble negative stereotypes. The program includes “Something to do with Love, Volume 1” the first part of a trilogy that Harris says, “reflects the trials and tribulations of our relationships with our friends, families and lovers as a way of tracking our spiritual growth.” Experience the dazzling virtuosity and vibrant athleticism of this celebrated dance company as they dance to Marvin Gaye, Nina Simone, Parliament Funkadelics, Groove Collective, and more. (Performance geared for families, but may contain profanity)
Tickets $20 ($15 before October 1); $10/Prince George’s County youth
Photo by Brian Mengini

Workshop
Thursday, October 23, 2014, 7 pm
Rennie Harris Puremovement Master Class

This 90-minute class for experienced dancers will include exercises to develop muscle strength, flexibility and stamina. Basic movement and techniques are defined, practiced and developed into combinations, with hip hop popping, locking, stepping, break, house and other styles explored as sources for inspiration and vocabulary for choreography with challenging, invigorating and uplifting driving rhythms. For ages 13 & up.
Space is limited, so reserve early by calling 301-277-1710 (tty 301-277-0312)
Tickets: $15; $10/Prince George’s County Youth, $8/observers
Photo by Brian Mengini

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, October 23, 2014, 12 pm
Rennie Harris Puremovement: History of Hip Hop

Moderated by principals from Rennie Harris Puremovement, this one-hour lecture/demonstration illustrates how African American, Afro-Brazilian, Afro-Cuban and Puerto Rican cultures and ancient traditions influenced contemporary Hip Hop. The program includes a question and answer session with the audience.
Curriculum Connections: ancient and contemporary history, social studies, multi-cultural traditions, music, dance
Recommended for grades 3 and up
Tickets: $8; $6/groups of 20 or more
Photo by Brian Mengini

Midweek Matinee
Monday, October 20 10:15 am & 12:00 noon
Arithmetickles

Math leaps out of the textbook and into everyday life in this unique and interactive show. Fast-paced comedy, mime, theatrical effects and creative number games make multiplication, division, fractions, and geometry fun and exciting. Recommended for grades 3-5.

Curriculum Connections: Math, Problem Solving, Theatre Arts.

Tickets: $8, $6 Groups of 20 or more.

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, October 16, 9:30 & 11:15 am
Tangle of Tales

Three classic children's stories are presented with a tangle of zany vaudeville-like characters who bring toddlers laughter and surprises before, after, and between each tale. The Frog Prince teaches children about keeping promises, The Three Billy Goats Gruff cleverly outsmart the troll, and The Three Little Pigs demonstrate the value of hard work. Recommended for grades Pre-K - 2.
Tickets: $5

Midweek Matinee
Wednesday, October 8, 10:15 am & 12 noon
The Wright Stuff: First in Flight

Here is the amazing true story of two young brothers, barely out of their teens, who use their bicycle shop to do what generations of scientists only dreamed of: invent the airplane. The Wright brothers and their studious sister proved that determination and hard work can change the world forever. Recommended for grades 3-8. Curriculum Connections: Science, Math, American History, Relationships.
Tickets $8, $6 groups of 20 or more

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, September 25, 10:15am & 12 noon
Curious George

Enjoy this great new musical starring everyone's favorite storybook monkey. Curious George's inquisitive, attention-getting stunts make their mark in Rome, where he helps a chef win the Golden Meatball Contest. Recommended for grades pre-K - 3. Curriculum Connections: Literature, Relationships, Family, Music.
Tickets $8, $6 for groups of 20 or more.

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, September 16, 2014, 11 am
Platinum Movie: 12 Years a Slave

The 2014 Oscar and Golden Globe winner for Best Motion Picture is the true story of Solomon Northup, a freed black man from upstate New York who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Louisiana. Dramatic and emotional, the gripping film illustrates the tragic extremes of life in the mid-1800s, and how a brave and determined man survived to regain his freedom.
For ages 60 and better.
Free Admission.
(photo copyright Fox Searchlight)

Tiny Tots Thursday
Tuesday, September 9, 9:30am & 11:15 am
Found Instruments Workshop

Almost anything can be transformed into a percussion instrument. Bring a small pot or pan from home to get the most from this workshop taught by instructors from the award-winning Cultural Academy for Excellence (CAFE Youth). Space is limited and fills up early, so call 301-277-1710 to reserve your space. Please note, this workshop is offered on Tuesday (not Thursday), September 9.
Tickets $5 / students and observers

Weekend Performance
Friday, August 8, 2014, 8 pm
Frozen

Frozen

A prophecy traps a kingdom in eternal winter, so Anna must team up with Kristoff, a daring mountain man, on the grandest of journeys to find the Snow Queen and put an end to the icy spell. Encountering Everest-like extremes, mystical creatures and magic at every turn, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom from destruction.
FREE call 301-277-1710 for more info, tty 301-277-0312

Rated PG: Parents urged to give "parental guidance." May contain some material parents might not like for their young children.

A special presentation for our Latin neighbors, this hit Disney animated film will be screened in Spanish with English Subtitles

Friday, July 25, 2014, 8 pm
Instructions Not Included

Instructions Not Included - "A sweet, funny, and poignant comedy," is how the Los Angeles Times described this film about a playboy who grows up when meeting the challenges of being a single parent. A surprise smash hit in the U.S. and Mexico, it stars Eugenio Derbez (Jack & Jill, La Misma Luna) who also directed and co-produced the film. In Spanish with English Subtitles, rated Pg-13: some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. FREE. For information call 301-277-1710.

Weekend Performance
7/25/2014, 8/8/2014
Latin Film Series

The Latin Film Series originally scheduled for the following dates June 26 and July 11 are CANCELLED. We regret any inconvenience this may have caused.

Moving forward, the two films scheduled for July 25 and August 8 are still on and will be held at the Publick Playhouse Theatre (not the parking lot). Both shows begin at 8 pm and admission is free.

For more information on the film festival, please visit our website or join our e-mail list.

Weekend Performance
Saturday, June 21, 8:00pm
Global Beat: Farafina Kan

Traditional African percussion and dance fills the stage in this hypnotic performance of song, drumming and movement.

Tickets: $20

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, May 20, 10:15am & 12:00noon
The Wizard of Oz

Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion all come to the stage in this delightful musical about the magical Land of Oz Recommended for preK-4th grade.
Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, May 20, 10:15am & 12:00noon
The Wizard of Oz

Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion all come to the stage in this delightful musical about the magical Land of Oz! Recommended for pre-K-4th grade.

Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more

Friday, May 16 & Saturday, May 17
Debbi Morgan: The Monkey on My Back!

Debbi Morgan returns with her popular one-woman show "The Monkey on My Back!" Debbi's engrossing personal memoir sold out quickly when it was here last September, so don't wait to buy your tickets. Call the box office at 301-277-1710, tickets $40/general admission $50/VIP (includes early admission and book signing).

Midweek Matinee
Friday, May 9, 10:15am & 12:00noon
Caps for Sale /TheThree Billy Goats Gruff

Help the peddler find his caps and help Billy find his brothers as these two classic tales are told with puppets, song, and dance. Recommended for grades K-4.

Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, May 8, 2014, 9:30 am
Global Beat: Percussion Workshop 2 for Tiny Tots

Taught by instructors from the award-winning Cultural Academy for Excellence (CAFE Youth), tots will design, build, and learn to play a shaker instrument! In addition, they'll have the chance to play traditional shaker instruments from different cultures. Snack provided.

Space is limited, so reservations are recommended.

Tickets: $4/person

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, May 6, 10:15am & 12:00noon
Mexican Legends and Song

Historical characters Pancho Villa, Doña Marina, Cortés and Montezuma are brought to life with wit and charm by this versatile performer. Be prepared to sing along with "La Cucaracha", "Cu curu cu cuPaloma" and other favorites as Felix brings to life the culture of Mexico with puppetry, stories, songs, instruments and dance, performed in English interwoven with Spanish words and phrases.. Recommended for grades K-5

Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more

Weekend Performance
Friday, April 25, 8:00pm Saturday, April 26, 8:00pm Sunday, April 27, 4:00pm
Dallas Black Dance Theatre: The Nina Simone Project

Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents the life, music, and story of acclaimed pianist, singer, performer and civil rights activist Nina Simone. Narrated and set to the gospel, blues, folk and jazz that shaped Simone’s life and career, this extraordinary production is choreographed by renowned dance artist Dianne McIntyre. The presentation of The Nina Simone Project was made possible by the New England Foundation for the Arts' National Dance Project, with lead funding from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and additional funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Tickets: $25/$20 seniors, students and groups

Workshop
Thursday, April 24, 7:30-9:00PM
Master Class with Dallas Black Dance Theatre: Liturgical Dance

For advanced students only, reservations required.

Tickets: $15/$5 with purchase of weekend performance ticket

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, April 24, 10:15am
Dallas Black Dance Theatre: Nina Simone Project Lecture-Demonstration

The story of Nina Simone encompasses decades of important African-American music and history. Students will learn about her life, her music, and her work as a Civil Rights Activist and aspects of dance performance technique.

Tickets: $7/$6 groups of 15 or more

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Thursday, April 24, 12:00noon Friday, April 25, 11:00am
Dallas Black Dance Theatre: Nina Simone Project

Enjoy this matinee sampler of the full-length Nina Simone project, highlighting important events in her life and career as a pianist, singer, performer and civil rights activist. A narrated, multi-media production choreographed by acclaimed dance artist Dianne McIntyre.

Tickets: $7/$6 groups of 15 or more

Workshop
Wednesday, April 23, 7:30-9:00pm
Master Class with Dallas Black Dance Theatre: Modern Dance

Advanced students only, reservations required.

Tickets: $15/$5 with purchase of weekend performance ticket

Weekend Performance
Saturday, April 12, 4:00pm
Global Beat: Washington Korean Dance Company

Experience the exquisite grace of Korean culture when this nationally recognized company brings an hour of dance and percussion to the stage.

Tickets: $10

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, April 8, 10:15am & 12:00noon
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

Claudia and her brother Jamie run away from their comfortable, boring suburban home to have an adventure in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They encounter a statue that may or may not be by Michelangelo, and Claudia becomes determined to find out the truth about the mysterious statue and its donor, Mrs. Frankweiler. Based on the classic, award-winning book by E.L. Konigsburg.Recommended for grades 2-6. This presentation is available at no cost to Title I schools in Prince George's County. Call 301-277-1710 for more information.

Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more

This presentation is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation.

Midweek Matinee
Wednesday, March 26, 10:15am & 12:00noon
Helping Drew

This interactive musical puppet show has everyone helping Drew, as the principal tries to stop Lee from bullying Drew. Lee thinks bullying Drew is fun. Lee’s best friend Victoria doesn’t think so, but what can she do to help Drew? Recommended for grades K-3

Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more

Weekend Performance
Saturday, March 15, 8:00pm
World Dance Showcase

Metro DC’s premier multicultural dance companies are selected by audition, and perform works from an array of cultures and dance traditions.

Tickets: $20/$15 seniors, students and groups of 15 or more.

Weekend Performance
Sunday, March 9, 4:00pm
Love 2 Dance Teen Showcases

Exciting young dancers from area schools and studios heat up the stage with sizzling steps and modern moves in this popular annual program.
Tickets: $12/$10 seniors, students, and groups.

Weekend Performance
Saturday, March 8, 8:00pm
All-County Student Music Ensemble Showcase

March is National Music in Our Schools Month. Celebrate the joy of music with outstanding young musicians from Prince George’s County, performing vocal and instrumental selections ranging from smooth jazz to show tunes. All ages welcome.

Tickets $12/$10 seniors, students, groups of 15 or more

Weekend Performance
Friday, March 7, 7:00pm
Café Groove

Teen dancers from metro DC compete for audience votes in this lively battle of the best. Please note: dancers must be ages 13-18 to participate.

Tickets: $3/person

Midweek Matinee
Friday, March 7, 10:15am & 12:00noon
Diary of a Worm, a Spider, and a Fly

Three quirky crawlers face the first day of school together in this musical coming-of-age story about overcoming fears, exploring and accepting personal differences, and making friends. Based on the bestselling book series by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss.Recommended for grades K-5. This presentation is available at no cost to Title I schools in Prince George's County. Call 301-277-1710 for more information.

Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more

This presentation is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation.

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, March 4, 11:00am
Free Platinum Movie: Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012)

In an isolated Louisiana Bayou, a six-year-old girl with a buoyant spirit and extraordinary imagination contends with an ailing, abusive father and a storm that threatens to destroy her small community. Roger Ebert wrote, “Sometimes miraculous films come into being, made by people you've never heard of, starring unknown faces, blindsiding you with creative genius. "Beasts of the Southern Wild" is one of the year's best films.”

For seniors 60 or better

Midweek Matinee
Friday, February 28, 12:00noon Saturday, March 1, 11:00am
Sunjata Kamalenya

13th century Mali comes to life as both actors and audience tell the story of Sunjata Keita, a young boy who is destined to save his people. Traditional music, costumes, and scenery create a fascinating world where this timeless tale of personal struggle, family love, and community is depicted. Recommended for grades 6 and up

Tickets: $10/person; $8/groups of 15 or more

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, February 25, 10:15am & 12:00noon
Mammoth Follies & Dinosaur Friends

Explore the wonders of evolution and learn the facts and myths about the great age of dinosaurs as host Willie Mammoth takes you through a musical revue of songs, jokes, and dance, performed by Smiley the Saber-Toothed Tiger, Bessie the lovable 27-foot long Apatosaurus, Terry the Pterodactyl, and many more lovable dino-puppets. Recommended for grades 2-5.

Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more

Weekend Performance
Sunday, February 23, 2014 at 2pm & 6pm
PRAISE Dance Festival

Noteworthy dance troupes from area churches present inspiring liturgical dance selections in this crowd-pleasing program.

Tickets: $20/$15 seniors, students, groups of 15 or more

Midweek Matinee
Wednesday, February 19, 10:15am & 12:00noon
William's Adventure in Black History

William

Enjoy this brisk panorama of 400 years of Black History in America, and meet some of the remarkable people who shaped our country. Audience members join historical figures onstage and experience important events and decisions as they travel into space with Mae Jemison and encourage Rosa Parks to stay in her seat. Recommended for grades pre K – 5.

Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, February 13, 9:30 am
Global Beat: Percussion Workshop for Tiny Tots

Learn all about a percussion instrument – where it comes from, how it’s made, then learn to play it in this class especially designed for grades pre-K – 2

Seating is limited, reservations recommended.

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, February 11, 10:15am & 12:00noon
Songs of Freedom

Experience Black History through the music of our past. Spirituals that carried secret messages, the blues of Beale Street, and the anthems of the Civil Rights Movement spanned both centuries and continents and made a lasting impact on our culture today. Hear the songs and the stories behind them in this energetic and entertaining performance. Recommended for grades 3 and up. This presentation is available at no cost to Title I schools in Prince George's County. Call 301-277-1710 for more information.

Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more

This presentation is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation.

Weekend Performance
Saturday, February 8, 2014, 8 pm
Raisin’ Cane: A Harlem Renaissance Odyssey starring Jasmine Guy and the Avery Sharpe Trio.

Jasmine Guy and the Avery Sharpe Trio celebrate Black History Month and the birth of jazz with a trip back to the glory days of Harlem and the music of Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton and Duke Ellington.

Tickets: $40 / $55 limited VIP seating, includes early entrance with wine & cheese reception

Workshop
Saturday, February 8, 11:00am
Master Class: Scene Clinic with Jasmine Guy

For advanced theatre students.

Tickets: $20/$15 if purchased with ticket to Saturday performance

Midweek Matinee
Friday, February 7, 2014, 10:15 am
Raisin’ Cane: A Harlem Renaissance Odyssey starring Jasmine Guy and the Avery Sharpe Trio

Celebrate Black History Month and the renaissance of artistic expression in post-World War I Harlem in this production that weaves poetry, fiction, art and music and creates a multi-media window into a critical point in cultural history.

Tickets: $6/$5 groups of 15 or more

Midweek Matinee
Friday, January 31, 10:15am & 12:00noon Saturday, February 1, 11:00am
Dream Carver

Mateo is a young Mexican boy whose father has taught him traditional wood carving. But when Mateo has an inspiring dream of colorful singing animals; he wants to carve new things in new ways. This bilingual musical explores creativity, generational differences, and the importance of following your dreams. Recommended for grades K-6. This presentation is available at no cost to Title I schools in Prince George's County. Call 301-277-1710 for more information.

Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more

This presentation is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Foundation.

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, January 28, 10:15am & 12:00noon
Archimedes & the Power of Math

The ancient world’s greatest mathematician is brought to life in this entertaining performance that shows kids that math is cool, fun, and powerful. With audience participation and fun factoids (Archimedes held of the Roman Army for 3 years using nothing but math) kids will come away inspired and ready to learn math. Recommended for grades 3-5.

Workshop
Thursday, January 23, 2014, 11 am
Global Beat: Tambourine Workshop

Learn the art of playing one of the most popular hand percussion instruments in the world in this fascinating workshop.

Free, space is limited, reservations recommended.For ages 16 and up.

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, January 16, 9:30am & 11:30am
Grey Seal Puppets on Parade

Enjoy this hilarious parade of adorable puppets featuring Mr. Crabcake and Humpty Dumpty as host Stubbs McGee brings you laughs and limericks. Recommended for grades pre K-2

Tickets: $4/person

Sunday, January 12, 10:00am-6:00pm
Annual World Dance Showcase Auditions

Eligibility: Open to performers of traditional, culture-specific dance styles, aged 16 years and older.
AUDITIONS ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. APPLICATION FORM IS AVAILABLE BY CALLING 301-446-3232, OR APPLY ONLINE at http://arts.pgparks.com/Community_Arts_Services/Artist_Resources.htm
Audition application deadline: January 9, 5 p.m.
Auditions Sunday, January 12, 10:00am-6:00pm by appointment only
Entries: Any traditional work not exceeding 15 minutes in length, in any culture-specific dance style. Work must be auditioned in finished form with costumes. Six dance groups will be selected to perform in concert. Selected groups will receive an honorarium of $500 .
Concert Date: Saturday, March 15, 2014, at 8 pm

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, December 17, 12:00noon
Kwanzaa with Queen Nur

Professional storyteller Queen Nur involves the entire audience in a Kwanzaa celebration, with the principles and symbols of the African American holiday expoinded through original call and response songs, storeis, drumming, and dance. Her programs are described as "fascinating, wonderful, mesmerizing" and "spiritually moving and historically exhilarating." For ages 60 and better.

Tickets $5/person

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, December 17, 10:15am
Kwanzaa with Queen Nur

Learn about the symbols and stories of Kwanzaa and the history of this important African American celebration with professional storyteller Quen Nur. Stories, drumming, dance, and audience participation call and response songs are highlights of this beautiful program. Recommended for all ages.

Tickets: $5/person.

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, December 10, 10:15am & 12:00n
Season's Greetings

Season

Midweek Matinee
Monday, December 9, 10:15am & 12:00n
'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Theatre IV of Richmond's marvelous musical puts a riotous twist on the classic and timeless holiday poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas." Recommended for grades K-5.

Tickest $5/person

Saturday, December 7, 2013, 8 pm
Holiday Doo Wop starring The Orioles and The Clovers

Baltimore and DC's own classic R&B stars each perform their biggest hits then join together for a rockin' DooWop holiday finale. Dance to the Orioles "Crying in the Chapel," and The Clovers "Blue Velvet," and "Love Potion No.9." Dancing in the aisles encouraged!

Tickets: $20/person

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, December 3, 10:15am & 12:00n
Snow Queen

A young girl seaches the Nordic forest for her friend who has been put under the spell of an evil mirror and taken prisoner by the Snow Queen, in Hans Christian Andersen's beguiling tale presented as a beautiful narrated ballet of life-size puppets. Recommended for grades K-3. The presentation is available at no cost to Title I schools in Prince George's County. Call 301-277-1710 for more information.

Tickets $5/person

This presentation is supported by the GEICO Philanthropic Fdn.

Weekend Performance
Saturday, November 23, 10:00am-3:00pm
PRAISE Dance Festival Auditions

Liturgical dance companies are invited to audition for thea nnual PRAISE Liturgical Dance Festival held at the Playhouse every February. Companies are asked to bring a CD of their music and to perform one complete work in costume. Pre-registration is required; call 301-277-1710, TTY 301-277-0312.

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, November 19, 10:15am & 12:00n
The Bully-Free Zone with Queen Nur

Folk tales, fables, and hip hop take center stage in Queen Nur's interactive and inspiring performance about accepting others' differences. A professional storyteller, Queen Nur is also a recognized expert in adolescent psychology and dispute resolution. Her warm and friendly stage presence captures the attention and wins the involvement of young audiences. Recommended for all ages.

Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more.

Weekend Performance
Saturday, November 16, 2013, 8 pm
Broderick Rice

An evening of sanctified humor will have you rolling in the aisles when the acknowledged King of Gosepl Comedy hits the stage. This son of a Baptist preacher "pokes gentle fun at church folk without ever going over the fine line that separates hilarity from irreverence" (gospelflava.com). Opening for Broderick Rice is our own from Maryland, Nikkie Johnson, a comic mom of four who sees life a little differently than most. Crazy, nutty, and original, Nikkie Johnson will show you the funny side of parenting, working, and simply getting through the day.

Tickets: $25/person, $20/seniors, students & groups of 15 or more.

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, November 14, 10:15am & 12:00noon
Junie B. Jones - Jingle Bells, Batman Smells

Holiday time is approaching, and the first graders in Room One are creating the perfect party. But when Junie B. draws the name of her arch nemesis for a Secret Santa Gift, she has to decide whether to give Tattletale May what she deserves...or not. Recommended for grades K-5.

Tickets $6/person, $5/groups of 15 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, November 7, 9:30am & 11:00am
Aesop's fables

Aesop

Jim West returns with a stage full of puppets presenting Aesop's delightful tales of wit and wisdom, including "The Tortoise and the Hare," The Fox and the Grapes," and more, including Aesop himself and his dog Moral, who dance to beautiful music.

Tickets: $4

Midweek Matinee
Friday, November 1, 10:15am and 12:00n
Cinderella

An enchanting musical version of the classic tale, where goodness prevails and the mistreated child finds lasting happiness. Recommended for pre-K - 5. Tickets: $6/person, $5/groups of 15 or more.

Midweek Matinee
10/29/13 10:15 AM 10/29/13 12:00 Noon
Splat the Cat

It's Splat's first day of school and, afraid that he won't make new friends, he brings his pet mouse for company. When Seymour the mouse escapes from his hiding place in Splat's lunchbox, the school full of cats goes wild, until the teacher calms things down and everyone learns some important lessons. Recommended for grades K-4.

Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more.

Midweek Matinee
10/25/2013 10:15AM 10/25/2013 12:00PM
Skippyjon Jones

The popular storybook kitten with the big ears is presented in a musical theatre version, with Skippyjon transforming into Skippito Friskito, the greatest Chihuahua sword fighter of old Mexico! But when the local canines are terrorized by a huge bee, will Skippyjon turn into a ‘fraidy-cat or will he still be top dog?
Recommended for grades K-4
Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more

Weekend Performance
Thursday, October 17, 2013, 8 pm
Balé Folclórico da Bahia

An exuberant fusion of Afro-Brazilian folk, samba Reggae, African liturgical dance, and capoeira comes to the Playhouse when this world-renowned troupe of 38 dancers, musicians and singers brings a mesmerizing swirl of excitement to the stage. A top choice on TripAdvisor, audiences raved about the quality of the performers, the spectacular costumes and the fabulous expression of Brazilian Bahian culture. “Never seen such a concentration of beautiful athletic people in one small place- gorgeous men and women, amazing energy, artistic flow, amazing music.”

Ticket: $20/person

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, October 17, 2013, 12 pm
Balé Folclórico da Bahia

Brazil’s incredible national dance company takes the audience on an explosive and exhilarating trip to the heart of Brazil, for an hour-long immersion into the colorful history and culture of our Latin American neighbor. Experience the excitement of one of the major folk dance companies in the world.
Recommended for all ages

Tickets: $7/person; $6/groups of 15 or more

Workshop
Tuesday, October 15, 7:30pm
Brazilian Dance with Sonia Pessoa

Vibration, beat, energy: the elements of Bahian-Brazilian Samba, capoeira, Samba-Reggae and Afro-Brazilian dance, taught by professional dancer and instructor Sonia Pessoa. Pessoa is a former Oba Oba dancer and has performed on Broadway, at the Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap and at prestigious events such as the New Orleans Jazz Festival.

The workshop is free, but reservations are strongly recommended: 301-277-1710 or email jenna.ward@pgparks.com

Weekend Performance
Saturday, October 12, 2013, 8 pm
The Stylistics

Legendary vocal group The Stylistics brings a Sweet Soul season opening to the Playhouse that will transport you back to the smooth, romantic sounds of the 70s and 80s. Enjoy an evening of pure pleasure spent with original members Airrion Love and Herb Murrell, joined by Harold Eban Brown and Jason Sharp, singing “You Make Me Feel Brand New”, “Betcha by Golly, Wow”, “You Are Everything”, and other chart-busting hits by these acclaimed musical stars.

Tickets: $30/person; $45/limited VIP seating, includes early entrance with wine & cheese reception

Tiny Tots Thursday
10/10/2013 9:30AM, 10/10/2013 11:30AM
Mandy the Clown

Perfecting the art of goofiness, Mandy is a trained circus artist and kid-friendly clown who juggles, stilt walks, does magic and keeps children fascinated and having fun. Recommended for grades pre-K-2.

Tickets: $4/person

Midweek Matinee
10/2/2013 10:15AM, 10/2/2013 12:00noon
Teacher from the Black Lagoon

TheatreWorks USA presents a wonderful new musical revue based on favorite contemporary children’s books. Along with the title work, the audience will meet big stinky “Dogzilla”, “Grumpy Bird”, the “I Want My Hat Back” bear, “Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse”, and the “The Grasshopper and the Ant.”
Recommended for grades K-4

Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more

Weekend Performance
9/27/13, 8:00pm 9/28/13, 4:00pm 9/28/13, 8:00pm
Outcry

Outcry

What happens when no one hears you scream? Experimental playwright Thais Francis creates an imagined dream shared by Sean Bell’s fiancé and Emmett Till’s mother. Actors in the roles of Emmett Till, Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell and Trayvon Martin are ignored when crying for help.

Tickets: $10/person; $8/seniors, students and groups of 15 or more

Tuesday, September 17, 2013, 11 am
Free Platinum Movie: Lilies of the Field

Sidney Poitier’s charismatic performance makes this film a classic. When Homer Smith’s car overheats near a convent in the desert, the nuns believe God sent him to fulfill their dream of building a chapel, and Homer’s determination to move on is no match for their indomitable faith.

Poitier won the 1963 Academy Award for this performance; he was the first African American to win the Best Actor award.

Free admission

Tiny Tots Thursday
11:30 AM
Jim West's Dinosaurs

Jim West's giant puppets take small fry on a happy prehistoric musical journey through a land full of friendly dinosaurs. Recommended for grades pre-K through 2. Tickets $4/person, available August 15.

Tiny Tots Thursday
9/12/2013 9:30AM, 9/12/13 11:30AM
Jim West's Dinosaurs

Jim West’s giant puppets take small fry on a happy prehistoric musical journey through a land full of friendly dinosaurs.
Recommended for grades pre-K-2

Tickets: $4/person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, September 7, 2013, 8 pm
The Monkey on my Back: An Intimate Evening with Debbi Morgan

TV actress Debbi Morgan (All My Children, The Young and the Restless, Charmed) presents a personal memoir of her journey through a legacy of fear and abuse, which spanned three generations of women, beginning with her grandmother. Told with both candor and humor, Debbi takes her audience on a captivating ride as she describes how she finally broke the cycle.

Please note: This program is suitable for mature audiences; it contains adult themes and strong language.

Tickets: $30/person; $45/limited VIP seating, includes early entrance with wine & cheese reception

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, July 23, 10 am & 12 noon Wednesday, July 24, 10 am & 12 noon
Playing by Air

These wacky guys from Nashville captivate audiences with a joyful fusion of music, juggling, and theater. The award-winning performers share their contagious creativity and sense of play in a production that showcases breathtaking feats of balance and grace, hilarious improvisation, and imaginative puppetry. NYtheatre.com said, "I just spent an hour laughing my face off," and you will too, at the Publick Playhouse July 23 & 24.

Tickets: $10/person

Weekend Performance
Wednesday, July 17, 2013, 8 pm
This Fall at the Playhouse

The Publick Playhouse has another season of outstanding dance, comedy, music and more coming up this fall for you. The Stylistics bring a sweet soul season opener on October 12, VIP tickets will be available. On October 17, the exuberant Afro-Brazilian dance troupe Balé Folclórico da Bahia presents their electrifying fusion of folk, Samba Reggae, and African liturgical dance. In November King of Gospel Comedy Broderick Rice will have you rolling in the aisles as he pokes gentle fun at church folk.

The Playhouse is only 3 blocks west of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway Rte. 202 exit and has free, attended, on-site parking.

Tiny Tots Thursday
6/13/2013 9:30 am & 11:30 am
Magpie's Living Planet

Magpie

Sing and dance along with Magpie, learn some sign language, and have a wonderful time discovering differences in animals around our world.

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, June 4, 2013, 11 am
Flipped

Flipped

This is a heartwarming tale of two eighth graders, with nothing in common, who fall for each other.

Tickets: $2/person

Workshop
5/23/2013 7pm-8:30pm
Line Dancing

National Fitness Month Dance Workshop-You'll be leading the fun at wedding parties after this choreographed dance workout.

For ages 16 & up

Free; advance reservations required

Workshop
5/21 2013 7pm-8:30pm
Rumba

Rumba

National Fitness Month Dance Workshop-Have fun and get fit with this Latin style dance that orginated in Cuba.

Ages 16 & up

Free; advance reservations required

Weekend Performance
Saturday, May 18, 2013, 8 pm
Nai Ni Chen & The Ahn Trio

Performing to live music, Nai-Ni Chen surprises and captivates the audience with an exciting mix of sleek contemporary and colorful traditional Asian dance.

Tickets: $25/person;$20/DancePass holders, seniors, students & groups of 15 or more

Workshop
Saturday, May 18, 2013, 10 am
Nai-Ni-Chen Master Class

Nai-Ni-Chen Master Class (for advanced dancers only)

Class fee $15

Midweek Matinee
5/17/2013 10:15 am & 12 noon
Nai Ni Chen Dance Company

The wonder of traditional Chinese festival dances and amazing costumes combine with modern dance to take the young audience on a cultural adventure spanning centuries.

Tickets: $5/person

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, May 14, 2013, 11 am
Waiting for Superman

Sundance Festival featured this documentary that puts a glaring light on the state of education today by following several bright kids making their way through the discouraging system.

Tickets: $2/person

Midweek Matinee
5/10/2013 10:15 am & 12 noon
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Theatreworks USA makes this popular book a wonderful musical showing that bad days can be hilarious.

Tickets: $5/person

Tiny Tots Thursday
5/9//2013 9:30 am & 11:30 am
Clowning Around

Bob Brown's most popular production gets young audiences shouting with laughter as merry marionettes perform feats of skill, daring and sillines.

Tickets:$3/children;$4/adults

Midweek Matinee
5/8/2013 10:15 am & 12 noon
Food Play

There's lots of audience participation when this Emmy-winning TV show comes to stage with juggling, motivational rap messages, music and magic to get kids caught up in having a good time with healthy nutrition.

Tickets: $5/person

Weekend Performance
4/26/2013 8pm 4/27/2013 8pm 4/28/2013 4pm
Dallas Black Dance Theatre

The internationally renowned modern dance company has planned a special program in celebration of their 10th anniversary in residence at the Publick Playhouse.

Tickets: $25/person;$20/DancePass holders, seniors, students & groups of 15 or more

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, April 25, 2013, 10:15 am
Dallas Black Dance Theatre Lecture/Demo

Just back from a European tour. Dallas Black celebrates its 10th year in residence at the Playhouse with an inspiring and entertaining lecture demonstration.

Tickets: $7/person;$6/person groups of 15 or more.

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
4/25/2013 12 noon 4/26/2013 11 am
Dallas Black Dance Theatre

Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Dallas Black's return to the Playhouse with a special performance for seniors.

Tickets: $7/person;$6/person groups of 15 or more

Workshop
4/24/2013 7:30pm-9pm-Modern Dance 4/25/2013 7:30pm-9pm-Liturgical Dance
Dallas Black Master Classes

These two workshops give area dancers the opportunity to train with the Dallas Black Dance Theatre company for the evening.

(For advanced dance students only)

Tickets: $15/workshop (No observers)

Midweek Matinee
4/18/2013 10:15 am & 12 noon
The Civil War

The Civil War was a defining moment in American History - the fire of war burned away the scourge of slavery and, in time, melded the separate states into a true nation. In telling the tale of this large and complex event, this Theatreworks show focuses on the smaller stories of some of the soldiers who are caught up in it, including, Zak, a runaway slave who demands the right to fight his own fight; Will, his former best friend and "master;" Johnny, an Irish immigrant who volunteers to defend his new home; and Jackie, a girl who becomes a drummer boy.

Tickets: $6/person;$5/groups of 15 or more

Midweek Matinee
4/16/2013 10:15 am and 12 noon
The Ugly Duckling

Sign Stage on Tour presents Han Christian Anderson's wonderful fable about finding beauty within a drama presented in both spoken word and American Sign Language.

Tickets: $6/person;$5/person for groups of 15 or more.

Weekend Performance
Friday, April 12, 2013, 7 pm
Rumplestiltskin

Children's Theatre of Cincinnati's Art Reach tour brings a mad-cap version of the classic fairy tale with a troll coming to the rescue and lots of audience participation. A performance for the whole family to enjoy.

Tickets: $6/person;$5/person for groups of 15 or more.

Midweek Matinee
4/12/2013 10:15 am and 12 noon
Rumplestiltskin

Children's Theatre of Cincinnati brings their mad-cap version of the classic fairy tale with a troll coming to the rescue and lots of audience participation.

Tickets: $6/person;$5/person for groups of 15 or more.

Tiny Tots Thursday
4/4/2013 9:30 am & 11:30 am
Animala

Animala

Hobey Ford's Golden Rod Puppets investigate the fascinating natural world of animals and insects large and small with storytelling, beautiful scenery, and life-like puppets that may even wander into the audience.

Tickets: $3/person;$4/adults

Weekend Performance
Saturday, March 16, 2013, 8 pm
World Dance Showcase

The metropolitan area's finest multi-cultural companies are selected to appear in this annual world festival.

Tickets: $12/person;$10/seniors students & groups of 15 or more.

Midweek Matinee
3/12/2013 10:15 am & 12 noon
Butterfly Story

Hudson Vagabond Puppets bring their larger-than-people dancing butterflies for a beautiful science lesson, following the monarch as it growns from caterpillar through metamorphosis and onto an incredible 1,500 journey to Mexico.

Tickets: $6/person;$5/person for groups of 15 or more.

Tiny Tots Thursday
3/7/2013 9:30 am & 11:30 am
Punch & Judy Show

Professor Horn captivates toddlers and makes parents laugh along with clever comedy, magic and America's own version of the world-famous British Punch & Judy show.

Tickets: $3/person;$4/adults

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, March 5, 2013, 11 am
Red

Red

When a black ops agent in retirement has his life threatened, he gathers the old team together for one last stand.

Tickets: $2/person

Weekend Performance
Sunday, March 3, 2013, 4 pm
Love 2 Dance Teen Showcase

Talented dancers from area schools and dance studios perform modern, ballet, and world dance, and local dance celebrity will make a special guest appearance.

Tickets: $10; $5/seniors and students

Weekend Performance
3/1/2013 7pm-10pm
Cafe Groove

In this fast-paced annual face-off contest, the young Cafe Groove audience names the best area dance crew. Please Note: This is a teen-only event limited to ages 13-18.

Tickets:$3/person

Midweek Matinee
2/26/2013 10:15 am & 12 noon 2/27/2013 10:15 am & 12 noon
Bella Under the Bullying Big Top

Behind the scenes at the circus, a new monkey would rather bully performers than build friendships. Ringmaster Bella works with the audience to come up with a number of anti-bullying tools to help stop this bad monkey business through team-work, compassion and respect.

Tickets: $6/person;$5/person for groups of 15 or more

Weekend Performance
Sunday, February 24, 2013, 4 pm
Praise

Praise

Reserve your tickets early for the popular annual liturgical dance festival featuring exceptional dance troupes from area churches.

Tickets: $15/person;$12/seniors, students & groups of 15 or more.

Weekend Performance
Sunday, February 24, 2013, 4 pm
PRAISE

Reserve your tickets early for the popular annual liturgical dance festival featuring exceptional dance troupes from area churches.

Tickets: $15/person; $12/seniors, students, & groups of 15 or more.

Midweek Matinee
2/21/2013 10:15 am & 12 noon
Warriors Don't Cry

The tumultuous and terrifying experience of being one of the Little Rock Nine, the first black teens to integrate to a white high school in the Deep South grabs the audience. "This play is one of the those rare few that entertains, educates and enlightens."

Tickets: $6/person;$5/person for groups of 15 or more.

Saturday, February 16, 2013, 8 pm
John Amos, Halley's Comet

The famous actor of stage and screen presents a warm, humorous and dramatic performance spanning a lifetime of love, family and war in a thought-proving journey of the American experience.

Tickets: $25/person;$20/senior, students & groups of 15 or more.

Workshop
2/16/2013 10 am - 12 noon
Adult Acting Class

Pick up some tips from the master by treating yourself to an acting class with John Amos.

Tickets: $30/person

Weekend Performance
Thursday, February 14, 2013, 8 pm
Sweetheart Blues Valentine Concert

Charles “Big Daddy” Stallings really knows the essence of the Blues. Good-Time Blues With A Twist!!!!!! The BAND: "A Dynamic Band With a Powerful Stage Presence and Tight Sound!! The Horn Section distinguishes "Big Daddy's group from other typical Blues Bands!

Tickets: $10/person

Tiny Tots Thursday
2/14/2013 9:30 am & 12 noon
Jack & the Beanstalk

Crabgrass Puppet Theatre's hilarious version of this favorite tall tale includes a beanstalk that grows before your eyes leading Jack up to the giant with life-size puppets and giant-size entertainment.

Tickets: $3/person; $4/adults

Midweek Matinee
2/12/2013 10:15 AM & 12 noon
Guess Who Signed the Constitution?

Imagine being taken back in time, to Philadelphia in 1810 … only 23 years after the Delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia turned the original 13 states into a nation. The story is told through the eyes of 10-year old Adam, who not only studies history … he lives it! And ultimately, Grandfather’s secret is revealed … can YOU guess who signed the Constitution

THIS PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FROM NOVEMBER 1, 2012.

Tickets: $6/person;$5/groups of 15 or more

Weekend Performance
Tuesday, February 5, 2013, 7 pm
Peking Acrobats

Festive pageantry decorates an edge-of-the-seat performance of Chinese acrobatics with tightrope walkers, jugglers, tumblers and contortionist, accompanied by musicians playing traditional instruments.

Tickets: $15/person; $12/seniors, students & groups of 15 or more.

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, February 5, 2013, 12 pm
Peking Acrobats

A special one-hour performance for seniors by the renowned company of tightrope walkers, jugglers, somersaulting tumblers and gravity defying contortionist, accompanied by musicians playing traditional instruments.

Tickets: $8/person; $6/person for groups of 15 or more

Midweek Matinee
2/5/2013 10:15 am 2/6/2013 10:15 am and 12 noon
Peking Acrobats

Cultural immersion that puts you on the edge of your seat describes this awe inspiring hour of Chinese acrobatics accompanied by musicians or traditional instruments.

Tickets: $8/person; $6/person for groups of 15 or more

Weekend Performance
Saturday, January 26, 2013, 8 pm
Soul In Motion Players

Founded in 1984, this outstanding and exciting African dance, drumming and spoken word troupe is invited to represent American dance companies in Africa.

Tickets: $10/person; $8/seniors, students & groups of 15 or more.

Tiny Tots Thursday
1/17/2013 9:30 am and 11:30 am
Tangle of Tales

Grey Seal Puppets begin with a zany ballet that leads into three favorite folk tales. "The Frog Prince" from Germany teaches the importance of a promise. "Three Billy Goats Gruff" from Scandinavia warns against gluttony, and "The Three Little Pigs" from England is all about doing the job right.

Tickets: $3/person; $4/adults

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, January 15, 2013, 11 am
Good Deeds

Tyler Perry's contemporary romantic film is about two people on opposite ends of the economic ladder who find love can be the answer to solving most problems.

Tickets: $2/person

Midweek Matinee
1/10/2013 10:15am and 12 noon
Freedom Train

Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and the creation of the Under-ground Railroad is a true story of self sacrifice and survival, laced with warmth and humor, and told through drama, dance and gospel music by TheatreWorks USA.

Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more

Weekend Performance
Friday, December 28, 2012, 8 pm
Kwanzaa Celebration

Richmond's Elegba Folklore Society's dancers and drummers celebrate African and African-American c ultures and the Diaspora experience to understand the present by valuing the past.

Tickets: $10/person;$8/seniors, students & groups of 15 or more

Weekend Performance
Friday, December 28, 2012, 8 pm
Kwanzaa Celebration

Richmond's Elegba Folklore Society's dances and drummers celebrate African and African-American cultures and the Diaspora experience to understand the present by valuing the past.

Tickets: $10/person; $8/seniors, students & groups of 15 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
12/20/2012 9:30am & 11:30am
The Magic Toy Shop

You never know what to expect with this magical, sure-to-make-you-laugh holiday show of Bob Brown Puppets.

Tickets: $3/children;$4/adults

Midweek Matinee
12/18/2012 10:15 & 12 noon
Pre-Kwanzaa

Melvin Deal's African Heritage Dancers & Drummers and The Honorable BaBa C presents a program of cultural heritage, music, dance and griot storytelling.

Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
12/11/2012 10:15 am & 12 noon
One Applachian Christmas

The year is 1936. Christmas is coming but Santa might not make it to this poor mountain town. Two kids work to make it a special time, and the whole town learns that the best holidays don't come from a mail order catalog.

Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
12/4/2012 10:15am & 12 noon
Santa's Enchanted Workshop

Santa

When Theatre IV's new musical asks if Santa is real, you find yourself in a blizzard and take shelter in an old gas station, where a guy named Nick just might have the answer.

Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
12/3/2012 10:15 am & 12 noon
Nego Gato Afro Brazilian Music & Dance Ensemble

The Nego Gato Afro-Brazilian Music and Dance Ensemble bring to their audiences the rich African influenced rhythms and dances originating in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, a region known for custom deeply rooted in the traditions and spirituality of ancestral Africa. Join us for an experience of African Brazilian culture through our promotion of cross-cultural understanding

Tickets: $6/person;$5/person groups of 15 or more.

Weekend Performance
Sunday, December 2, 2012, 3 pm
Nego Gato Afro Brazilian Music & Dance Ensemble

The Nego Gato Afro-Brazilian Music and Dance Ensemble bring to their audiences the rich African influenced rhythms and dances originating in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, a region known for custom deeply rooted in the traditions and spirituality of ancestral Africa. All are accompanied by live percussion and traditional instruments making for an exciting and engaging performance.

Tickets: $15/person;$12/person; groups of 15 or more, seniors & students.

Weekend Performance
Friday, November 30, 2012, 8 pm
Red Baraat Concert

In just three short years, the pioneering Brooklyn dhol ‘n’ brass party juggernaut Red Baraat have made a name for themselves as one of the best live bands playing anywhere in the world. Led by dhol player Sunny Jain, the nine piece comprised of dhol (double-sided barrel shaped North Indian drum slung over one shoulder) drumset, percussion, sousaphone and five horns, melds the infectious North Indian rhythm Bhangra with a host of sounds, namely funk, go-go, latin, and jazz. Simply put, Sunny Jain and Red Baraat have created and deﬁned a sound entirely their own

Tickets: $15/person

Midweek Matinee
11/19/2012 10:15am & 12 noon
Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon

Amber Brown is having what may be the worst year of her life. She and Justin Daniels were the perfect team: they laughed at each other's jokes, sat next to each other in class, and stayed best friends when Justin's dad had to move away. But now things are different. Now Justin's house has been sold and he is going to Alabama; that's too far from New Jersey to think about.

Tickets:$6/person;$5/person groups of 15 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, November 15, 9:30am & 11:30am
The Bugtown Follies

Look down at the ground with a magnifying lens and what do you see? Insects, of course. But in this show, they're doing lots of things you wouldn't expect. As a matter of fact, they're singing, they're dancing, they're clowning around and using their unique and varied attributes to perform great feats of theatrical skill.

All ages welcome.
Tickets: $3/person for children; $4/person for adults.

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, November 13, 2012, 11 am
Cabin In The Sky

Based on the Broadway hit musical, some of the finest entertainers of their time including Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong and Lena Horne. A compulsive gambler dies during a shooting, but he'll receive a second chance to reform himself and to make up with his worried wife

Workshop
Saturday, November 10, 2012, 9:30 am
PRAISE AUDITION

Audition: Saturday, November 10, 9:30am – 5 pm
Prince George’s Publick Playhouse

The auditions will select dance companies that will perform in the 2013 PRAISE Liturgical Dance Festival on Sunday, February 24, 4 pm. Companies selected must also be available for technical rehearsals on Saturday, February 23. Companies selected must perform the same work as performed during audition.

For the Praise Dance audition form please call 301-277-1711.

Weekend Performance
Saturday, November 3, 2012, 1 pm
Short Dragon's Code

As part of Washington DC's Kids Euro Fest, an interactive theatre, music and puppet theatre from Greece presents a performance with a wise dragon and crocodile family who stumble on a chest with hidden secrets.

Tickets: Free; advance registration requested

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, November 1, 10:15am & 12 noon
Guess Who Signed The Constitution?

Imagine being taken back in time, to Philadelphia in 1810 … only 23 years after the Delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia turned the original 13 states into a nation. The story is told through the eyes of 10-year old Adam, who not only studies history … he lives it! And ultimately, Grandfather’s secret is revealed … can YOU guess who signed the Constitution.

All ages welcome.
Ticket: $6/person/$5/person in group of 15 or more.

Weekend Performance
Friday, October 26, 2012, 8 pm
Philadanco

This leggy-jet propelled Philadelphia Dance Company brings an exciting program of modern dance by famous choreographers that include New York’s Ronald K. Brown, hip-hop’s famous Rennie Harris, and George Faison using the music of Otis Redding.

$25/person
$20/seniors, students, and groups of 15 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
Thursday, October 18, 9:30am & 11:30am
Circus on a String

All action and music, this tour de force marionette production presented by the Robert Rogerts Puppet Company is truly a delight for the eyes, and fun for the soul. Not just an arry of puppet clowns and acrobats, but a carefully choreographed series of vignettes set to the light-hearted musical suite, especially written for young people, The Comedians by classical composer Dmitri Kabelevsky.

All ages welcome.
Tickets: $3/person for children; $4/person for adults

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 11 am
Joyful Noise

"Joyful Noise" is the story of a small town choir out to win a national competition despite overwhelming odds. A story of faith and determination by the choir leaders (Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton) and the young talent who give their all to win God's praise and beat the competition for the grand prize.

Tickets: $2/person

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, October 9, 10:15 am & 12 noon Wednesday, October 10, 10:15am & 12 noon
Treasure Island

Sail aboard the HMS Hispaniola with young Jim Hawkins for a daring adventure on Treasure Island. In a conflict between good and evil, Jim courageously faces danger, learns that evil can masquerade as good, and matures from a boy into manhood. Join him, the good doctor, the squire, sinister Blind Pew, marooned Been Gunn, the infamous Long John Silver and a colorful crew of buccaneers for this exciting musical adventure presented by Windwood Theatricals.

All ages welcome.
Tickets: $6/person; $5 person/in groups of 15 or more

GEICO Gecko Series!

To make it easier for Prince George’s County Title I schools to have the cultural experience of attending professional theatre productions, GEICO is sponsoring a series of six wonderful educational musicals during the 2012-2013 season. Call 301-277-1710 and ask for the GEICO option when making reservations for those performances. These tickets are offered as available on a first-request basis.

Tuesday, December 11, 10:15 & 12noon
GEICO Gecko Series
One Appalachian Christmas

Thursday, January 10, 10:15 & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series
Freedom Train

Thursday, February 12, 10:15am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series
Guess Who Signed the Constitution

Tuesday & Wednesday, Feb 26 & 27, 10:15am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series
Bella Under the Bullying Big Top

Thursday, April 18, 10:15am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series
The Civil War

Friday, May 10, 10:15am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Tiny Tots Thursday
9/13/2012, 9:30am & 11am
The Mother Goose Caboose

Mother Goose introduces us to her friends, including Leonardo the Lion, in the opening number. Kelly, a near-sighted duckling, does acrobatics in her high chair baby seat. Doofus, the dog with floppy ears, walks on a rolling log, while a bear balances a ball atop a pole and birds do their best to try and stay on a seesaw. Molly, the cow, and her little calf try to jump over the moon.

All ages welcome.
Tickets: $3/person for children; $4/person for adults.

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, September 11, 2012, 11 am
SKIN

SKIN

SKIN is one of the most moving stories to emerge from apartheid South Africa: Sandra Laing is a black child born in the 1950s to white Afrikaners, unaware of their black ancestry. Her parents are rural shopkeepers serving the local black community, who lovingly bring her up as their ‘white’ little girl. But at the age of ten, Sandra is driven out of white society. The film follows Sandra’s thirty-year journey from rejection to acceptance, betrayal to reconciliation, as she struggles to define her place in a changing world - and triumphs against all odds.

Tickets: $2/person

Midweek Matinee
Wednesday, August 1, 10 am & 12 noon
Soul In Motion Players

Enjoy a soul stirring experience with the Soul In Motion Dancers and Drummers as they perform authentic African dances. Founded 1984, this outstanding troupe specializes in African dance, African drumming, theatre, and spoken word. Come out and enjoy an exciting performance that will leave you cheering for more.
All ages welcome.
Tickets: $7/person

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, July 24, 10 am & 12 noon Wednesday, July 25, 10 am & 12 noon
African Acrobats

Originating from Kenya, the talented African Acrobats have thrilled audiences of all ages with their unique display of athleticism, art, movement and acrobatic majesty. This breath-taking performance will include acrobatics, contortions, tumbling, human pyramids, and a chair balancing act. Comedy, electrifying music, and audience participation make this a performance that's great for the entire family.
All ages welcome.
Tickets: $7/person; $6/person in groups of 15 or more; $10/person after July 10.

Workshop
Thursday, July 19, 7-8:30 pm and Friday, July 20, 7-8:30 pm
Tribute to Michael Jackson Workshop

Two-day workshop featuring the music and dance of Michael Jackson. Attendees of the workshop will have the opportunity to perform on stage during the performance on Saturday, July 21, 11 am. Pre-registration is required by Friday, July 13. Space is limited.
Fee: $20/person

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, July 19, 10 am & 12 noon Friday, July 20, 10 am & 12 noon Saturday, July 21, 11 am
Tribute to Michael Jackson

Performed "By Kids," "For Kids," "Not Just for Kids!"
This will be a breathtaking and high energy performance honoring the memory of the King of Pop and music legend, Michael Jackson, through a melody of some of his greatest hits. There will be a historical narration by a Michael Jackson lokk-alike presenting dance in the unique style that incorporates hip-hop, cha-cha slide, acrobatics, and jazz. This will be a spectacular and unforgettable performance you will never forget. An awe-inspiring show for all ages.
All ages welcome.
Tickets: $7/person; $6/person in groups of 15 or more; $10/person after June 30.

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, June 12, 2012, 11 am
Platinum Live: Bill Thomas Blues Band

After many years performing in Europe to critical acclaim, Bill Thomas has returned to Appalachia and is a staple at blues festivals and concert halls across America. A sensual and emotional player, Thomas electrifies audiences with a mix of classic blues and original tunes drawn from rural and urban blues cultures. This a welcome-to-summer concert that will have you tapping your feet and wishing for more.
Tickets: $5/person

Tiny Tots Thursday
6/7/2012, 9:30 am & 11 am
How the Elephant Got Its Trunk & Other Animal Tales

Rudyard Kipling's famous tale comes to life with Jim West's large-scale puppet extravaganza, followed by colorful rod puppets performing a madcap barnyard opera to Mozart, Strauss, Rossini and other classical greats. The program is a young audience pleaser full of music and laughter.
Recommended for grades Pre-K-2
Tickets: $3/person

Tiny Tots Thursday
5/24/2012, 9:30 am & 11:00 am
Butterfly Story

Hudson Vagabond Puppets brings their larger-thank-life puppets in the form of dancing butterflies on stage. The young audience follows the monarch as it grows from caterpillar stage, amking an amazing metamorphosis to become a butterfly that goes on an incredible 1,500-mile journey to Mexico. This is a beautiful science lesson showing small children one of life's wonders.
Recommended for grades Pre-K-2
Tickets: $3/person

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, May 22, 2012, 11 am
Platinum Movie: Madea's Big Happy Family

When getting the family together for help bubbles over with trouble from all ages, it's up to outrageous Tyler Perry as Madea and rambunctious Aunt Barn to cool things down with tough love, laughter and a too-long-buried family secret.
Run time: 106 minutes

Workshop
Thursday, May 10, 2012, 6:30-8:00 pm
National Fitness Month-Big Girls Belly Dance Workshop

Ladies in dress size 14w and up are invited to join in spirited bellydance workout. Come dressed to get down and shimmy. You will learn some feel-good moves that will make you smile.
FREE/one workshop per person
Advance registration required.

Workshop
5/8/2012, 6:30-8:00 pm
National Fitness Month-Big Girls African Dance Workshop

Ladies in dress size 14w and up are invited to join in spirited dance workouts. Come dressed to get down and loose, and ready to learn some feel-good moves that will make you smile.
FREE/one workshop per person
Advance registration required.

Weekend Performance
4/27/2012, 8:00 pm 4/28/2012, 8:00 pm 4/29/2012, 4:00 pm
Dallas Black Dance Theatre

Celebrating its 35th anniversary, Dallas Black Dance Theatre returns to the Playhouse with a fiery new show of contemporary dance. The professional touring ensemble of 12 dancers presents a mixed repertory of modern, jazz, ethnic and spiritual works by famous choreographers in a program of leaping energy and flashing color.
Tickets: $20/person; $15/person in groups of 15 or more, seniors, students & DancePass holders.

Workshop
Thursday, April 26, 2012, 7:30 pm
Dallas Black Dance Theatre Master Class: Liturgical Dance

Workshop for intermediate and advanced liturgical dancers. Register early. Space is limited.
Fee: $15/person for participants and observers.

Workshop
Wednesday, April 25, 2012, 7:30 pm
Dallas Black Dance Theatre Master Class: Modern Dance

Modern Dance workshop for advanced dancers to train with Dallas Black Dance Theatre.
Fee: $15/person for participants and observers

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
4/25/2012, 11:00 am 4/26/2012, 11:00 am 4/27/2012, 11:00 am
Platinum Live: Dallas Black Dance Theatre

The sensational modern, jazz, and spiritual dance troupe from Dallas returns for its 35th anniversary tour. Enjoy a new, inspirational, highflying, one-hour presentation for seniors that features the work of national and international choreographers performed by the 12-member professional dance ensemble.
Tickets: $7/person; $6/person in groups of 15 or more.

Weekend Performance
Saturday, April 21, 2012, 8 pm
Nibaya! Women Master Drummers of Guinea

Nibaya! Women Master Drummers of Guinea

Formerly called “Amazones,” the world famous women’s drum and dance company returns on its first US tour in several years. These talented, brave women break ancient traditions by playing the instruments, singing the songs, and doing the dances, that for centuries, were only performed by men, and doing it better than the men! Their energy-driven performances have won international awards and made them role models throughout Africa for women trying break through age-old social barriers to independence and economic freedom.
Tickets: $20/person, $15/person in groups of 15 or more, seniors, students & DancePass holders

Workshop
Saturday, April 21, 10-11:30 am
Nimbaya! African Drumming Workshop

African Drumming Workshop with the amazing women master drummers of Guinea. Participants supply their own drum. Preregistration is suggested as spaces are limited.
Fee: $15/person

Workshop
Saturday, April 21, 12 noon-1:30 pm
Nimbaya! African Dance Workshop

Here's a wonderful opportunity for dancers ages 13 and up to train with the world famous Nimbaya! Come dressed to move. Preregistration is suggested as space is limited.
Fee: $15/person

Midweek Matinee
Friday, April 20, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Nimbaya! Women Master Drummers of Guinea

Nimbaya! Women Master Drummers of Guinea

Formerly called “Amazones”, the world famous women’s drum and dance company returns with its first US tour in several years. These talented and brave women break ancient traditions by being the first to play the instruments, sing the songs, and do the dances that for centuries were only performed by men. They are an internationally award-winning company and role models for women throughout Africa who want to break through age-old social and political barriers to female independence and economic freedom.
Recommended for all ages
Tickets: $6/person, $5/person in groups of 15 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
4/19/2012, 9:30 am & 11:00 am
Milkshake

This children's rock 'n roll duo won two Parents' Choice Awards and a NAPPA Gold Award, and they're seen on PBS' KIDS, Discovery Kids and Noggin. They present a lively and inspiring interactive performance that encourages kids to be part of the band by joining in the music making, responding to singing games that introduce beat, tempo, and rhythm.
Recommended for grades Pre-K-2
Tickets: $3/person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, April 14, 2012, 11 am
GEICO Gecko Series for Families: School House Rock Live!

TheatreBam Chicago presents an acclaimed production of the Emmy Award-winning series. In this performance, when a nerve-wracked school teacher, nervous about his first day of teaching, tries to relax by watching TV, various characters representing facets of his personality emerge from the set and show him how to win his students over with imagination and music.
Tickets: $6/person; $5/groups of 15 or more

Midweek Matinee
4/12/2012, 10:15 am & 12 noon 4/13/2012, 10:15 am & 12 noon
School House Rock Live!

TheatreBam Chicago brings an acclaimed production of the Emmy Award-winning series teaching history, grammar, math and science. In this performance, when a nerve-wracked school teacher, nervous about his first day of teaching, tries to relax by watching TV, various characters representing facets of his personality emerge from the set and show him how to win his students over with imagination and music.
Recommended for grades K-5
*Tickets: $6/person, $5/person in groups of 15 or more

Wednesday, March 21, 2012, 10:15 am
Magic School Bus

Buckle your seat belts! The Magic School Bus celebrates its 25th anniversary with an all new musical adventure about global warming. Bay Area Children’s Theatre of San Francisco takes Ms. Frizzle’s students and the audience on a whirlwind tour from the Arctic to the equator, learning with laughter how conservation, recycling and alternative energy can make a difference.
Recommended for grades K-3
Tickets: $6/person, $5/person in groups of 15 or more

Weekend Performance
Saturday, March 17, 2012, 8 pm
Annual World Dance Showcase

The 10th annual gathering of Washington area dancers highlights the broad cultural richness of talent found in our nation's capital.
Tickets: $12/person; $10/seniors & students

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, March 13, 2012, 11 am
Platinum Movie: Stormy Weather

The 1943 musical based loosely on the life of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, stars Robinson and Lena Horne. There are 20 musical numbers in this treasure trove of mid-century stars that also features Dooley Wison, Ada Brown, Cab Calloway and his band, Katherine Dunham and her dance troupe, the Nicholas Brothers, and Fats Waller performing "Ain't Misbehavin'" in his final film appearance.
Run time: 78 minutes
Tickets: $2/person

Workshop
Saturday, March 10, 2012, 2 pm
An Afternoon with Audrey Chapman and Lonnie Hunter

In celebration of Women's History Month, renowned radio hosts Audrey Chapman of WHUR-FM and Lonnie Hunter of PRAISE-FM will lead a relaxed, interactive forum with the audience on the topic "Surviving Romance & Relationships."

Tickets: $20/person, $15/person in groups of 15 or more, seniors & students

Tiny Tots Thursday
3/8/2012, 9:30 am & 11:00 am
DinoRock Junkyard Pirates

Singing, dancing Junkyard Pirate puppets made from recycled materials sail the urban seas on the lookout for ways they can recycle, reuse and reduce, as they confront the trash-hungry monster Landfill.
Recommended for grades Pre-K-2
Tickets: $3/person

Weekend Performance
Sunday, March 4, 2012, 4 pm
Love 2 Dance Teen Showcase

The Dream Starts Here: Hot dancers from area schools and studios bring the latest moves and steps to a high-energy performance.
Tickets: $12/person, $10/seniors & students

Weekend Performance
Friday, March 2, 2012, 7 pm
Bust a Move with Cafe Groove

Teen dance crews battle for cash prizes and the title “Prince George’s Best Dance Crew.” There’s also a visual arts contest with prizes.
Ages 13-18
Pre-registration required. Call 301-446-3232 for more information.
Tickets: $3/person

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 11 am
Platinum Live: My Grandmother Told Me: A Tribute to Black Women

Actress Debra Mims searches through an old trunk in her attic, pulling out memories of days past and of courageous black women and their struggles to be free, to vote, and to get an education. Using monologues, poetry, and songs, Debra leads the audience in an interactive walk through important history.
Tickets: $5/person

Weekend Performance
Sunday, February 26, 2012, 4 pm
PRAISE!

PRAISE!

The popular annual liturgical dance festival features performances by several exceptional dance troupes from area churches and by the exceptional gospel singer Cora Harvey Armstrong of Richmond.
Tickets: $12/person, $10/person in groups of 15 or more, seniors & students

Midweek Matinee
2/22/2012, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Frederick Douglass

Bright Star Theatre of North Carolina presents the leader of the abolition movement, and one of our nation’s most vibrant figures. From his escape from a Maryland plantation to his days as a newspaper publisher and his role as a presidential advisor, Douglass promoted education as the key to success, always bravely fighting to make America a better place for all.
Recommended for grades 3 and up
Tickets: $6/person,

Midweek Matinee
2/15/2012, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Rosa's Ride

Rosa

GEICO Gecko Series
Using jazz, blues and gospel music and drama, Flying Ship Productions from New York creates a powerful theatrical experience that follows the struggles of a young girl through the indignities of prejudice, as she gains the strength of conviction to work for basic human rights. Rosa’s simple act of civil disobedience on a bus gave birth to the civil rights movement.
Recommended for grades 2-8
* Tickets: $6/person, $5/person in groups of 15 or more

Midweek Matinee
2/9/2012, 10:15 am & 12 noon
The Satchel Paige Story

Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati’s ArtReach touring company presents an engrossing performance about the man who legends claim could throw a ball so fast that it would disappear into thin air before it ever reached the catcher’s mitt. His pro career began in the Negro Leagues in 1926, and he joined the Major Leagues in 1948. Along the way, he effected major changes in sports and government.
Recommended for grades 3-12
Tickets: $6/person, $5/person in groups of 15 or more

Tuesday, February 7, 10:15 am & 12 noon
History of Hip Hop

Illstyle & Peace Productions, Philadelphia’s young multicultural hip-hop dance company, travels worldwide bringing a positive message of individual expression. They present the history of hip-hop with jaw-dropping dance, audience participation and a compelling Q&A session.
Recommended for all ages
Tickets: $6/person, $5/person in groups of 15 or more

Tiny Tots Thursday
2/2/2012, 9:30 am & 11 am
Fancy Nancy & Other Story Books

TheatreWorks USA brings a musical review of favorite, funny children's books: Fancy Nancy; Baby Mouse, The Musical; Duck for President; I Have to Go!; Leondardo, the Terrible Monster; and Pirates Don't Change Diapers.
Recommended for grades Pre-K-2
Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
1/31/2012, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Kankoran West African Dancers

This award-winning dance company, whose artistic director and music
director are both from Senegal,
exposes students to traditional African culture by introducing the history, terminology, and techniques of the music and dance being performed in this audience participation event that introduces Black History Month.
Recommended for all ages
Tickets: $6/person, $5/person in groups of 15 or more

Weekend Performance
Saturday, January 28, 2012, 11 am
Charlotte's Web

GEICO Gecko Series for families
TheatreWorks USA presents a musical version of the novel about the renowned friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a little gray spider named Charlotte, along with other madcap and endearing farm animals in this tale of bravery, selfless love and the true meaning of friendship. Bring the whole family to see this famous book come to life on stage.
Tickets: $6/person, $5/seniors & students

Midweek Matinee
1/27/2012, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Charlotte's Web

GEICO Gecko Series
TheatreWork’s musical, based on E.B. White’s beloved tale, features singing, dancing farm animals. The play follows the book, exploring bravery, selfless love and the true meaning of friendship, as spider Charlotte spins the words “some pig” into her web to help save her friend Wilbur.
Recommended for grades K-5
* Tickets: $6/person, $5/person in groups of 15 or more

Weekend Performance
1/22/2012, 10:00 am-6:00 pm
Annual World Dance Showcase Auditions

Eligibility: Open to performers of traditional, culture-specific dance styles, ages 16 and older.

Application deadline: Friday, January 20

Audition Location:
The Publick Playhouse

Concert Date: Saturday, March 17, 8 pm

Entries: Any traditional work not exceeding 15 minutes in length, in any culture-specific dance style. Work must be auditioned in finished form with costumes. Six dance groups will be selected to perform in concert. Selected groups will receive an honorarium of $500.
A
pplication form available online at: http://arts.pgparks.com/Community_Arts_Services/Artist_Resources.htm

For additional information call 301-446-3232, TTY 301-446-6802.

Tiny Tots Thursday
1/19/2012, 9:30 am & 11:00 am
Native Voices

Storyteller Dovie Thomason presents traditional Indian stories told to her by her grandmother. Dovie's animated style and many voices for characters, including the talkative turtle and bossy buffalo, keep the young audience spellbound while learning about the diverse cultures of North American's First Nations.
Recommended for grades Pre-K-2
Tickets: $3/person

Midweek Matinee
1/13/2012, 10:15 am & 12 noon
The Color of Justice

A brilliant fighter for human rights and a brave little girl take on the doctrine of
“separate but equal.” The audience follows their case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court in this gripping drama about Thurgood Marshall’s struggle against school segregation resulting in the nation changing decision of Brown v. Board of Education.
Recommended for grades 3-9
Tickets: $6/person, $5/person in groups of 15 or more

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, January 10, 2012, 11 am
Platinum Movie: Jumping the Broom

The Taylors are Downtown. The Watsons are Uptown. It's a collision of worlds when two African-American families from divergent socioeconomic backgrounds get togther one weekend in Martha's Vineyard for a wedding.
Run time: 113 minutes
Tickets: $2/person

Weekend Performance
Friday, January 6, 2012, 8 pm
Moscow Festival Ballet of Russia

Cinderella
Founded in 1989 by Sergei Radchenko, a legendary principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet, the Moscow Festival Ballet of Russia presents the highest classical elements of the famed Bolshoi and Kirov Ballet companies. Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to see one of the world’s foremost ballet companies, as its North American tour comes to the Playhouse to present a magnificent and magical performance of everyone’s favorite tale.
Tickets: $20/person; $15/person in groups of 15 or more, seniors, students & DancePass holders

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 12 am
Platinum Live Event: Kwanzaa! Kwanzaa

African dancers, drummers and storytellers present an engaging, entertaining program about the seven principals of Kwanzaa celebrating human dignity, African American history, culture, family, community, environmental conservation, and spreading goodwill throughout the world.
Tickets: $5

Midweek Matinee
12/19/2011 10:15 am & 12 noon 12/20/2011 10:15 am
Kwanzaa! Kwanzaa!

Kwanzaa! Kwanzaa!

African dancers, drummers and storytellers present an entertaining, audience participation program about the seven principles of Kwanzaa celebrating human dignity, African American history, culture, family, community, environmental conservation, and the importance of spreading good throughout the world.
Recommended for all ages
Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
December 13, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Winter Wonderland

GEICO Gecko Series
Flying Ship Productions of New York presents a new holiday musical based on “Alice in Wonderland.” Alice has a life full of designer jeans and video games, but she also clings to what is familiar and is reluctant to accept the many different multicultural customs and celebrations of her friends. In a dream, she follows the White Rabbit to Wonderland, discovering how the unusual characters she meets there enrich her life, making her realize that embracing differences is truly the holiday spirit.
Recommended for grades K-6
* Tickets: $5/person

Weekend Performance
Sunday, December 11, 2011, 4 pm
Messiah Sing-Along

The Publick Playhouse and Maestro Darryl Winston invite you to add your voice and sing along in the audience to the majesty of Handel’s Messiah. This is a full audience participation production backed by live musicians, a large on-stage choir and professional soloists.
Tickets: $12/person, $10/seniors & students

Midweek Matinee
December 8, 10:15 am & 12 noon
A Christmas Carol

Mr. Scrooge, the ghosts, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and the whole Dickens gang gather for a spirited musical version of the holiday classic performed by Theatre IV of Richmond.
Recommended for all ages
Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, December 6, 2011, 10:15 am
Gift of the Magi

ArtReach touring productions from the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati brings a memorable contemporary holiday musical based on O. Henry’s moving tale about the couple who each secretly give up their most prized possession to surprise the other with a special gift.
Recommended for grades K-6
Tickets: $5/person

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, December 1, 10:15 am & 12 noon
A Beatrix Potter Holiday

Atlantic Coast Theatre for Youth from Florida presents the famous author at her annual holiday party. Stories including The Tailor of Gloucester and The Rabbit’s Christmas Party come to life on stage with the help of the audience, and Peter Rabbit may even make a surprise appearance.
Recommended for grades K-5
Tickets: $5/person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, November 19, 2011, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Praise Auditions

Liturgical dance groups are invited to audition for the popular annual Liturgical Dance Festival to be held on February 26. Dancers of all ages are welcome to participate. Please bring a CD of your music and be prepared to perform one or more excerpts from your repertoire.

Weekend Performance
Friday, November 18, 2011, 8 pm
PHILADANCO!

The Philadelphia Dance Company, a leggy jet-propelled troupe with soul, presents a mesmerizing new program of modern, jazz and spiritual dance. One of the top modern dance troupes in the nation, Philadanco gets the holiday season off to a high flying and joyous start.
Tickets: $20/person, $15/person in groups of 15 or more, seniors, students & DancePass holders

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Friday, November 18, 2011, 11 am
Platinum Live Event: PHILADANCO

Platinum Live Event: PHILADANCO

The wonderful, athletic and high-energy Philadelphia Dance Company presents a special one-hour program for seniors of selections from their repertory of modern, jazz and spiritual dance.
Tickets: $6; $5/groups of 15 or more

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 11 am
Platinum Movie: For Colored Girls

Platinum Movie: For Colored Girls

An all-star cast, featuring Janet Jackson, Anika Noni Rose, Whoopie Goldberg, Phylicia Rashad, Oprah Winfry and more, appears in this 2010 film version of the award-winning play "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf," based on a collection of 20 poems exploring issues impacting women of color. (120 minutes)
Tickets: $2/person

Weekend Performance
Sunday, October 23, 2011, 2 pm
Piip and Tuut at the Concert

As part of the Kids Euro Festival, 27 European Union nations present a free performance for families at the Publick Playhouse. "Piip and Tuut at the Concert" is a clown show performed by Piip and Tuut from Estonia. Come out and enjoy original clown routines, slapsticks, acrobatics, and singing.
FREE

Midweek Matinee
Saturday, October 22, 2011, 1 pm
Messiah Sing-Along Auditions

Calling all singers! Whether you have a trained voice, are a choir member, or just love to sing in the shower, you’re invited to audition for the on-stage chorus that will be backed by professional soloists and musicians at the Messiah Sing Along holiday performance on December 11.
All ages are invited to participate, from kids to seniors.

Weekend Performance
Saturday, October 15, 2011, 8 pm
Atlantic Starr

The rockin’ 1980s R&B band famous for “Always” and “Secret Lovers” is hotter than ever and touring the globe. Making a rare Washington, D.C. area full-band appearance, Atlantic Starr will be at the Playhouse with their eight-piece ensemble for a full concert performance that will blow you away remembering “My First Love”, and get everyone up and dancing “Circles” in the aisles. Come out for a night of steamy, hot, R&B, soul, and funk music.
Tickets: $30

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, October 13, 9:30 am & 12 noon
Tiny Tots Thursday: Grimm ‘n Grits

Storyteller Jon Spelman is joined by musician Tina Chancey to present some favorite classic tales with a country-fried twist. The Brothers Grimm’s Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella and Rumplestiltskin come at you with homespun humor that will have the young audience laughing as they learn some history and geography with each colorful story.
Tickets: $3/person

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, October 11, 2011, 11 am
Platinum Movie: The Grace Card

Platinum Movie: The Grace Card

Mac McDonald experiences 17 years of pain and bitterness, which erode his love for his family and relationship with God, after losing on of his sons in an accident. His attitude puts his job as a policeman and father on halt until he is partnered with a rising officer who is a part-time pastor and a big family man. Can these two men join forces to help one another and look past their differences?
(101 minutes)
Tickets: $2/person

Midweek Matinee
Monday, October 3, 10:15 am & 12 noon
GEICO Gecko Series: Yellow Brick Road

GEICO Gecko Series: Yellow Brick Road

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month watching a new, bilingual musical version of The Wizard of Oz presented by TheatreWorks USA of New York City. Clicking her heels together tres veces with a hot Latin beat. Dora and her dog meet the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. Follow the classic tale of a young girl’s search for home.
Recommended for grades 1-5
*Ticket: $6/person; $5/person in groups of 15 or more

Weekend Performance
Sunday, October 2, 2011, 4 pm
GEICO Gecko Series for families: Yellow Brick Road

Celebrate the National Hispanic Festival with a new bi-lingual musical version of The Wizard of Oz presented by TheatreWorks USA of New York City. Clicking her heels together tres veces with a hot Latin beat, Dora and her dog meet the scarecrow, tin man and cowardly lion as they follow the classic tale of a young girl’s search for home.
Tickets: $6; $5/seniors, students and groups of 15 or more

Midweek Matinee
9/22/2011 9:30 am & 11:00 am
Tiny Tots Thursday: Kinderman

Tiny Tots Thursday: Kinderman

The Tiny Tots season begins with the singing, dancing, TV superhero for toddlers who presents a crowd pleasing, foot-stomping show full of enthusiastic audience participation.
Tickets: $3/person

Weekend Performance
Saturday, September 17, 1-4 pm
Open House

Help us welcome the new season with live entertainment, theatre tours, and fun for the whole family. We will have African drummers, storytelling, bellydance, Zumba, skatemobile, face painting, and more! Come out for an afternoon of excitement!
FREE

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, September 13, 2011, 11 am
Platinum Movie: Carmen Jones

Platinum Movie: Carmen Jones

As magical now as it was when it was filmed in 1954, the screen classic starring Harry Belafonte, Dorothy Dandridge and Pearl Bailey is an Americanized version of Bizet’s colorful urban opera with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein. (105 minutes)
Tickets: $2/person

Thursday, July 28, 10 am & 12 noon; Friday, July 29, 10 am & 12 noon; and Saturday, July 30, 11 am
African Acrobats

Originating from Kenya, the talented African acrobats have thrilled audiences of all ages with their unique display of athleticism, art, movement and acrobatic majesty. This breath-taking performance will include acrobatics, contortions, tumbling, human pyramids, and a chair balancing act. Comedy, electrifying music, and audience participation make this a performance that's great for the entire family.

Tickets: By June 24: $7/person; $6/person in groups of 15 or more

After June 24: $10/person

Thursday, July 21, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Soul in Motion Players present "Back to the Root"

A troupe of African drummers and dancers is performing following their appearances in Senegal. Come out and enjoy an exciting performance that will leave you cheering for more.

Recommended for all ages
Tickets: $6/person; $5/person groups of 15 or more

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, June 16, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Tiny Tots Thursday - Berenstain Bears in Family Matters

There's trouble in the treehouse... Papa Bear can't stop eating junk food, Brother Bear's grades are slipping, and Sister Bear still has a lot to learn about talking to strangers. Thankfully, we can always depend on Mama Bear and her loving patience to help set things right. Theatreworks USA presents a fun-filled new musical that weaves together three of Stan and Jan Berenstain's most popular books: The Berenstain Bears Learn about Strangers, The Berenstain Bears and Too Much Junk Food and The Berenstain Bears' Trouble at School.

Recommended for grades Pre-K-2
Tickets: $3/person

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Tuesday, June 14, 2011, 11 am
Platinum Movie - Imitation of Life

See this full-color version of the 1959 classic about bigotry and personal pride.

Run Time: 124 minutes
FREE; Advanced registration required.

Midweek Matinee
Thursday, June 2, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Tiny Tots Thursday - The Great Zucchini

One of the area’s funniest and most magical entertainers performs a colorful magic show where every child is a star and guaranteed to laugh. This “Kid Whisperer” keeps tots laughing with his magical antics.
Recommended for grades Pre-K-2

Tickets: $3/person

Midweek Matinee
Wednesday, May 25, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Hot Peas ‘N Butter

The Nickelodeon/Noggin TV stars sing their wonderfully silly songs with mambo and salsa beats. Winners of the 2006, 2008 and the 2009,"Parent's Choice Awards," Hot Peas 'N Butter is a unique children's musical group that incorporates elements of traditional Latin music, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, jazz, folk, and rock.

Recommended for grades K-3
Tickets: $6/person; $5/person in groups of 15 or more

Midweek Matinee
Tuesday, May 10, 10:15 am & 12 noon; and Wednesday, May 11, 10:15 am & 12 noon
The Life and Times of Fannie Lou Hamer

The North Carolina Touring Ensemble presents this powerful musical play about a sharecropper who became a famous civil rights leader fighting for the right to vote.

Recommended for grades 3 & up
Tickets: $6/person; $5/person in groups of 15 or more

Midweek Matinee
Monday, May 2, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Ballet Folklorico Mexico

Dancers and musicians in authentic costumes present a colorful tour of the history and cultures of Mexico.

Recommended for all ages
Tickets: $6/person; $5/person in groups of 15 or more

Weekend Performance
Sunday, May 1, 2011, 4 pm
Ballet Folklorico Mexico

Decked out in lavish, flamboyant costumes - some that feature spectacular headdresses that reach a jaw-dropping six feet in length, Ballet Folkorico presents a spellbinding performance that spans the history and cultures of Mexico.

Tickets: $10/person; $8/seniors, students, groups of 15 or more & DancePass holders
NOTE: For more information about DancePass, visit www.dancemetrodc.org.

Weekend Performance
Friday, April 29, 8 pm; and Saturday, April 30, 2 pm
Dallas Black Dance Theatre

The incomparable Dallas Black Dance Theatre returns with a new program of modern, jazz, and spiritual works that keep audiences cheering for more. A sellout every year, this performance will have you standing on your feet.

Tickets: $20; $15/seniors, students, groups of 15 or more & DancePass holders
NOTE: For more information about DancePass, visit www.dancemetrodc.org.

Platinum Series for Seniors 60 & Better
Thursday, April 28, 11 am Friday, April 29, 11 am
Platinum Live Event – Dallas Black Dance Theatre

A new and exciting hour-long performance by Dallas Black Dance Theatre just for seniors.

Tickets: $7/person; $5/groups of 15 or more

Workshop
Wednesday, April 27, 7:30-9 pm; and Thursay, April 28, 7:30-9 pm
Dallas Black Dance Theatre Workshops

Areas dancers can train with members of Dallas Black Dance Theatre.
Wednesday: advanced modern dance
Thursday: intermediate and advanced liturgical dance

Fee: $15/participant or observer

Midweek Matinee
Wednesday, April 27, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Dallas Black Dance Theatre Lecture/Demo

Fabulous Dallas Black Dance Theatre is back with a stunning new show, full of creative wonder, that features audience participation.

Recommended for all ages.
Tickets: $7/person; $6/person in groups of 15 or more

Midweek Matinee
Wednesday, April 13, 10:15 am & 12 noon; and Thursday, April 14, 10:15 am & 12 noon
Winnie the Pooh

Join Christopher, his best friend Pooh, and the whole animal crew for a delightful, eye-opening adventure told with the hands and voices of deaf and hearing actors. Featuring the brilliant talent of Sign Stage On Tour, this production is signed and spoken simultaneously. You’ll see things you never heard!

Recommended for grades Pre-K-5
Tickets: $6/person; $5/person in groups of 15 or more