2005-2006 - Saturday Morning at the National

FREE PERFORMANCES!
9:30 & 11:00 a.m., in the Helen Hayes Gallery

Seating is limited!! Tickets are Required, and are Distributed Without charge one Half-Hour Prior to Performance, on a First-Come First-Served basis. Children must be accompanied by an adult who remains present for the entire performance.

For a Program Schedule, Send a Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope to "Saturday Morning," National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004. Recorded program information is also available at 202-783-3372.

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September 17 - THE MAGIC OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN

Born in Denmark 200 years ago this year, Hans Christian Andersen remains one of the world’s greatest story tellers. In this heart-warming show, APPLAUSE UNLIMITED presents three of his best loved tales. Puppetry, masks and storytelling fill the stage as more than twenty hand puppets, rod puppets, and marionettes come to life in "The Ugly Duckling," "Thumbelisa," and "The Emperor's New Clothes."

BARRYMORE EAGLE, the National Theatre mascot, will be present to open our season and pose with the kids before the show, so bring your cameras! This is ARTS ON FOOT DAY, so after the show, you can enjoy free family fun downtown with "open house" at many art galleries and theatres, plus food pavilions and music on outdoor stages, especially along the 7th Street arts corridor.

September 24 - MAGIKAL THEATRE

With a mesmerizing chant, a group of young performers invite the children to a magic land of the imagination. FIREBELLY PRODUCTIONS takes children “backstage” in the actor’s mind to see just how a performance is put together. Stories such as The Tin Soldier, The Boy Who Sat on His Anger, The Land of Yellow and The Enchanted Forest are told with movement, mime, music and audience involvement. The children explore the “thinking and doing” which are involved in the exciting and stimulating world of make-believe. firebellyproductions.net

October 1- ALIAS DON QUIXOTE

The GOZA FAMILY PLAYERS, Mom, Dad and Son, make their home “on the road” 365 days a year, as they travel from coast-to -coast. They present their portrait of the Man of La Mancha, the hapless knight who fights windmills, pays liege to the beautiful Dulcinea, and dreams of impossibly honorable knighthood. The Gozas use vaudeville, dramatization, slapstick, mime, music and acrobatics, sign language and imaginative props in a dynamic performance style uniquely their own. http://www.activated-storytellers.com/

October 15 - SURE AS SUNRISE - THE STORIES OF ALICE McGILL

Tales that tickle the funny-bone and stir the heart are told by ALICE MCGILL, an enchanting, award-winning storyteller. A formidable, loving presence with sparkling eyes and a world-wide smile, Alice is an adept actress, published writer, comedian and singer, whose rapport with audiences of all ages is uncanny and exceptional. A mercurial creature, she transforms herself in an instant into myriad characters -- human, animal and fantastical -- as she weaves her stories.

October 22 - PETER PAN

The Neverland adventures of J. M. Barrie’s boy who never grows up - and the boy’s battle with the evil Captain Hook - are told in striking fashion by the BOX OF LIGHT THEATRE. This version is a mixture of puppets, computer images and audience participation, which provides a rare visual treat for its audiences. Performers control 15 puppets against projections on several layers of fabric. As with Japanese Bunraku puppets, the performers stand in back of the large puppets to manipulate the arms, legs, and heads. Both children and adults with marvel at this brilliant mix of live theatre and digital technology. boxoflight.org

October 29 - GRANDMA'S "CAUTIONARY" TALES

Using traditional folk stories, poetry, acting and song, GRANDMA SALLY MIMS leads her listeners through a highly interactive Halloween adventure, mixing folk wisdom and some plain scary fun. She tells ghost, folk and cautionary tales found in African, African American and Caribbean literature, and explains folk sayings such as “Never trouble trouble, so trouble won’t trouble you.” Her cautionary tales have positive messages about life and triumphing over bad situations. Halloween Prize Drawings! Children of All ages, Wear your Costume and join Barrymore Eagle's Costume Parade!

November 5 - THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW

Washington Irving's popular fable, as presented by THEATRE IV, is a lively affair. This American classic, stars the hapless schoolmaster Ichabod Crane, the burly boisterous Brom Bones, and the lovely Katrina Von Tassel. Not to mention the Headless Horseman! www.theatreiv.org/

November 19 - MISS NELSON IS MISSING

Everyone knows the kids in Room 207 are the worst kids in school, as we learn in THEATRE WEST VIRGINIA'S witty musical. Their well-meaning, frazzled teacher, Miss Nelson, just can't get them to behave. One day, Miss Nelson disappears, and the students meet Miss Viola Swamp, the meanest substitute in the whole wide world! As the kids knuckle under for Miss Swamp, they begin to miss Miss Nelson. Will she ever come back and rid them of the horrible Miss Swamp? The search begins, and the students hope to find Miss Nelson before it's too late! theatrewestvirginia.com/

December 3 - HANSEL AND GRETEL

When two children wander too far into the forest, they meet a wicked witch who lives in a delicious gingerbread house. Although lost, the children are protected as they meet magical friends including the Sandman, the Dew Fairy, the 14 angels and the enchanted Gingerbread Children. A cast of 35 from The Central Pennsylvania Youth Opera present everyone's favorite holiday opera.

January 28 - THE MAGIC OF JOE ROMANO

Don't miss this whirlwind of mystery, comedy and mind-teasing illusions, set to the beat of dynamic music and abracadabramystification. Joe Romano's wizardry will astonish young Harry Potter fans and junior magicians, while parents and grand-parents will also be scratching their heads and wondering, "Now just how did he do that?"

Barrymore Eagle's KIDS' ART & KOLORING KONTEST begins today, so pick up your entry blanks!

To see selected entries from last year, Click here. From last year, Cambria Revsine's picture of Danzamarina:

February 4 - KINDERCISE

“When I say RED, put your hands on your HEAD,” shouts song-and-dance super-hero KINDERMAN, and even the littlest children get into the act. Mixing a 5,000 year-old African call-and-response technique with his “Disco King” background, Kinderman is a vortex of energy, excitement and laughing fun. He'll have the kids happily jumping up and down with joy before the morning is over.

February 11 - UNDER THE SEA

Marine biologist ANDREW WILSON leads a nautical adventure which introduces children to the wondrous variety of life in our deep blue waters. Children “meet” living, breathing ocean vertebrates and invertebrates including a horseshoe crab, giant snail, clam, mussel, sea urchin, sea star, sea horse, puffer . . . and a baby shark! Video adds depth to the experience. touchthesea.org

February 25 - PROFESSOR HORN 'S PUNCH AND JUDY SHOW

This traditional classic features an ornate Victorian stage and a script performed in Baltimore since 1897. Ten wooden puppets, painstakingly carved and hand painted in England, are the stars, guided by PROFESSOR HORN who also performs some amazing feats of legerdemain. To top it all off, the performance includes the playing of a genuine vintage hand-cranked hurdy-gurdy.

March 4 - THE BIG ADVENTURES OF STUART LITTLE

From the loving heart of E.B. White, the author of Charlotte's Web, comes this merry musical about a mouse who jumps headlong into adventures big enough to match any imagination. by turns funny, tender, and exciting, THEATRE IV's delightful production uses gorgeous life-size puppets and live actors to create charming theatrical magic! http://www.theatreiv.org/

March 11 - RADIO WOOF

This rousing celebration of folklore features BILL WELLINGTON’S lively banjo music, funny folk songs, fancy fiddling, and fantastic storytelling. Bill enthusiastically shares his message that folklore, whether in the form of a familiar jump-rope-rhyme or a spellbinding story from another land, is a marvelous treasure we have inherited.

March 18 - STORIES IN MOTION

Weaving a web of a storytelling and pantomime, ELAINE MURAY brings us engaging tales from around the world, enchanting audiences of all ages. Using narrative, physical eloquence and imaginative and magical props, she brings real and fanciful characters to life. Among them might be a mandarin, a carpet peddler, an elephant or a talking stone. The result is spell binding astonishment!

March 25 - AMAZING MAUNY & HIS WORLD OF MAGIC

Children are invited right up close to "help" MAUNY as he performs some of his astonishing feats - but even then they aren't able to figure out how he manages his mysterious tricks, right under their noses. His amazing sleight of hand with cards and coins, rings and rubber bands, ropes and scarves and paper will astound and amuse parents as well! When you see Mauny interact with children, you understand why they love him and his magic. http://homepage.mac.com/mauny/Menu1.html

April 1 - GENERAL FOOLISHNESS

In an attempt to present "the latest in military technology," the General meets with one comic disaster after another. Whether blowing reveille while balancing atop an unsupported ladder, jumping rope on an "all terrain vehicle," or bringing out "the Big One," PAUL HADFIELD captures the day with good old-fashioned comedy. Audience participation is central in this madcap adventure that is as funny to adults as to children. http://www.thefunnyguy.com/gfpage.html
LAST DAY to turn in entries for BARRYMORE EAGLE'S KIDS' ART & KOLORING KONTEST!.

April 8 - THE SONG OF MULAN

With dazzling and authentic costumes and props, and lovely songs, THEATRE IV presents the noble Chinese folk tale of the extraordinary heroine Mulan. A brave young girl, she takes the place of her ailing father to serve in the Army of Khan. Disguised as a man, she bravely risks everything to maintain family honor. Enjoy this colorful journey to the heart and soul of an ancient civilization. http://www.theatreiv.org/

BARRYMORE EAGLE will present the prizes today in his KIDS' ART & KOLORING KONTEST. Don't miss the special fun at our last show of the season!!

HAVE A HAPPY SUMMER AND WE WILL SEE YOU IN THE FALL!!

CAMERAS

You are encouraged to bring a camera to shows marked with our camera icon. You make take (non-flash) photos of the performances, and of your children enjoying, and often participating in, our shows!  Kids also sometimes enjoy bringing an autograph book and getting autographs from the performers after the show.