Saturday Morning Live!

We are thrilled to announce the latest season of Saturday Morning Live! This year’s theme, In Harmony: Let’s Play Together!, celebrates all the things that unite us. Join us at The National Theatre on select Saturday mornings at 9:30 and 11:00 AM for wow-inspiring children’s entertainment of all sorts, from interactive performances, puppets, dance, and music – all designed to light up imaginations and celebrate a world of wonder. It’s free. It’s fun. It’s a great way to Saturday.

UP NEXT: Off the Page (April 27)

The poster for Off the Page, featuring a yellow background, a title photo of a mountain emerging out of a book, and information about the show.

The magic of books can transport us to new worlds; illustrations and entire adventures can lift right off the page. When an imaginative young child dives into a book, the stories come to life around them. Through dance, music, puppetry, and vibrant imagery, this world premiere production will literally unfold before your eyes! Performances take place in the Helen Hayes Gallery on Saturday, April 27th at 9:30am and 11am. You can register on our AllEvents page soon and learn more about Arts On the Horizon by visiting their website.

HOW TO JOIN IN THE FUN

Shows typically take place on the second Saturday of every month in The National Theatre’s Helen Hayes Gallery, located at 1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW. Select programs such as Havana Hop and Virginia Ballet’s Selections from The Nutcracker, will take place on the mainstage. Shows are best enjoyed by children ages 3-6, but anyone is welcome to join in on the fun! Tickets are FREE but a small donation is always welcome. We kindly request that you register in advance via our AllEvents page. Walk up tickets are subject to availability. Masks are optional, but highly recommended.

PROGRAM CORE VALUES:

Saturdays are for great, big sparks

It’s been proven that early exposure to the arts can improve the lives of children. Live performance —which is what Saturday Morning Live! is all about—teaches self-expression and communication skills, fosters empathy, and allows kids to unplug and see the larger, real-life community that welcomes them. Good stuff, right? So come join us Saturdays and let’s spark kids’ imaginations.

Our artists encourage children to play along with them; whether that’s through singing, dancing, clapping, or call and response throughout the shows. Children’s theatre is inherently educational, but primarily fun!

Studies have shown that watching live performance can help students practice empathy by engaging in perspective taking with the characters onstage. Our programming is designed to promote student’s self awareness, self-regulation, and interpersonal skills.

We strive to offer programming that reflects the racial, ethnic, cultural, and social diversity of the DMV area and allows children to relate the narratives presented to their own lived experiences.

New This Season: The National Theatre Live! at The Library

This season, The National Theatre Foundation has joined forces with the DC Public Library to bring our Saturday Morning Live! artists to select library branches around the District. This new initiative, titled The National Theatre Live! at the Library, extends the reach of our longest-running program by supporting free performances and workshops for young audiences all across our community. We’ve had a pirate in Shepherd Park and a story of self-love at Northeast, and we’ll soon be exploring creativity at Shaw and Cleveland Park! Click here to read more about this exciting project.

Looking for more?

In Harmony: Let’s Play Together! Click the button to read about this Fall’s programs, and keep an eye out for more updates!

Re-watch your favorite episodes or explore the performances that you missed from our two virtual seasons of Saturday Morning Live!


Saturday Morning Live! is made possible by The Jacqueline Badger Mars Next Generation Fund and the generosity of our Friends of The National Theatre.