Imagination Stage was founded as BAPA (Bethesda Academy of Performing Arts) in 1979 in response to the urgent need for arts education for young people. The company was renamed Imagination Stage in 2001 in anticipation of its move to its downtown Bethesda theatre arts center in 2003. Imagination Stage has grown from a handful of children in a single classroom to a full-spectrum theatre arts organization, with theatre productions by professional actors and artists. Unlike most children’s theatre companies, Imagination Stage commissions new works for children every year. These productions have been recognized with awards and productions by other companies around the world.
This musical is a joy-filled celebration of letters, words, and imagination featuring infectious rhythms, dazzling puppets, lively dancing, and playful audience interaction. Written and directed by Nina Meehan with music and lyrics by Austin Zumbro, it is produced by Third Wish...
This spectacular musical adaptation brings Whoville to life with whimsical sets, toe-tapping songs, and the timeless story of a Grinch who discovers the true meaning of Christmas. Directed and choreographed by Helen Hayes Award winner Ashleigh King, who previously directed...
Written and originally directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer and Janet Stanford, this production invites audiences into the world of Brother and Sister Bear as they follow a year through the seasons. Children sit on the floor around the stage and may join in the action as the...
This world-premiere musical, directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer, features book and lyrics by Psalmayene 24 and music by Deborah Wicks La Puma. When 10-year-old Pandora can't resist opening an oversized, mysterious gift from her grandfather Zeus, she accidentally unleashes a rowdy...
Written and originally directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer and Natasha Holmes, with music composed by Tim Guillot, this interactive and highly visual production follows two children who use their imaginations to turn their room inside out at bedtime. While playing dress-up, a glove...
Based on the books by Andrea Beaty, with book by Lauren Gunderson, music by Bree Lowdermilk, and lyrics by Kait Kerrigan, this production follows three inquisitive STEM heroes in Ms. Greer's classroom. Rosie Revere has big dreams, Iggy Peck has a relentless passion for...
This musical centers on real-life hero and baseball legend Roberto Clemente, written by the internationally celebrated musical theatre writing team of Karen Zacarías and Deborah Wicks La Puma. The production highlights a creative partnership for Imagination Stage and serves as...
Imagination Stage, a leading theatre dedicated to youth development through the arts, is set to launch a national Educational Theatre Program in partnership with Kaiser Permanente. Starting October 2025, the program will deliver live theatre and workshops focusing on children's...
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The world premiere production kicking off the 51st season at GALA Hispanic Theatre, “GARBO: The Actor Who Saved the World,” is not, it turns out, about Greta at all. Rather, it’s about somebody else far fewer people have heard of, who was working roughly the same time — World War II to be sp…
Merrily We Roll Along tackles these behemoth existentialisms at a granular level in the lives of three old friends. It’s one of those shows that leaves you with something to ponder for days after the lights come up. In Signature Theatre’s hands, Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s masterpiece …
Freddie: A Girl (now being presented by the Taffety Punk Theatre Company) is a triumph of theatrical form over content. The subject of resistance fighters against the Nazis in World War II is obviously a fraught and very serious business especially in these polarized times-- but Director Lise Brunea…
Diana Gitelman brings her one-person show to the Logan Festival of Solo Performance. See what our critic had to say.…
If you’ve ever wondered what it may be like to party with the Brontё sisters, get ready to sip on a lot of cordials, margaritas, and rosè and experience an evening like no other at Nu Sass Productions’ Brontё Sister House Party.…
It is not often that a singer can enter a stage with a full symphony orchestra playing behind him and hold a sold out crowd of 7,028 people spellbound. This past Saturday evening at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center, Grammy nominated singer/actor Josh Groban did just that while being backed by YOUR Nation…
What did our critic think of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW at Monumental Theatre?…
Theater fans should run and catch Ronald Rand’s fascinating solo show about Harold Clurman's life and career, which is part of the Logan Festival of Solo Performance at 1st Stage in Tysons Corner, Virginia through August 30.…
Baron Vaughn tells tales of complex family relationships, generational trauma, and breaking that cycle through the way that he parents his own children and manages family life, with just the right amount of comedy. …
The Notebook at The National Theatre remarkably utilizes Allie & Noah’s lifelong love as an emotional smokescreen for the underlying calamity, time. Guided by a sweeping score, the beloved story is somehow even more impactful in musical form.…
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Life is a really, really, really big adventure as Pete the Cat and the Biddle family rock out in a fast-paced, globe-trotting musical based on the smash hit book series. When Jimmy Biddle is anxious about finishing second grade, Pete takes him to Paris in his VW bus and Jimmy...
In this brand-new show, very young children will discover the beauty of the world during daytime and nighttime. They will watch–and help–Winnie and August work the “day shift:” waking the birds, putting dew in the grass, and baking fresh clouds; and the “night shift:” releasing...
A beautiful, movement-based show that revisits the classic film The Red Balloon and will delight audiences of all ages and speakers of all languages. Nothing can go right for the old man, whose days are gray and dreary, until he is visited by a friendly red balloon. In the...
Stage Adaptation by Janet Stanford Based on the animated film The Snowman™ and the Snowdog Original score by Ilan Eshkeri and Andy Burrows Additional compositions and orchestrations by Tim Guillot Directed by Janet Stanford The Snowman™ and The Snowdog © Snowdog Enterprises Ltd...
Created by Jonathan Rockefeller Based on Eric Carle's books Directed by Nikki Mirza Experience 75 beautiful , larger-than-life puppets and original music as “Brown Bear, Brown Bear,” “The Very Lonely Firefly,” “10 Little Rubber Ducks,” and, of course, “The Very Hungry...
Dory is a small kid with a BIG imagination.
The Last Martyr is a new touring play for teens, premiering at Imagination Stage and written by Malik Work. Directed by Alina Collins Maldonado, it tells the story of Najad Washington and Nour Youssef, navigating themes of grief, revenge, and community after a cycle of violence...
Written by Janet Stanford Directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer Through innovative puppets, props, and original music, eight classic Mother Goose rhymes come gently and tunefully to life. The magical Mother Goose invites the children in the audience to join in with each rhyme’s story...
Based on the book Petite Rouge by Mike Artell, illustrated by Jim Harris Book, Music, and Lyrics by Joan Cushing Directed by Nathaniel Claridad Petite Rouge, A Cajun Red Riding Hood updates the classic tale, sending the plucky heroine—now a red-robed little duck—and her ‘fraidy...
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Brian Henson's Puppet Up! Lincoln Theatre (9/30-9/30) |
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GARBO: EL ACTOR QUE SAVÓ AL MUNDO (Garbo: The Actor Who Saved The World) GALA Hispanic Theatre (9/03-9/27) |
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A Monument To Comedy DC Improv (9/15-9/15) |
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Coming to America: An Immigrant Cabaret ExPats Theatre (9/30-10/18) |
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Some Like It Hot Bernard Family Theatre, Olney Theatre Center (9/18-11/08) |
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Stonewall's Bust The Writers Center (10/09-10/25) |
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Mamma Mia! National Theatre (10/27-11/15) |
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Million Dollar Quartet Olney Theatre Center (6/30-8/22) |
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Les Misérables Olney Theatre Center (11/05-1/31) |
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Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Glorious Musical Jewels – Beethoven and Schubert Center for the Arts (10/11-10/11) |
