For his last Family Concert as NSO Music Director, Leonard Slatkin conducts a thrilling program that spotlights the different families of instruments in the orchestra. The concert features the world premiere of a special NSO commission by popular American composer Michael Daugherty, whose previous creative works include a symphonic tribute to the Superman comics and Time Machine for three conductors. The premiere of Daugherty's TROYJAM sweeps you away to Ancient Greece, using the instruments of the orchestra to re-create the battle between brave warrior Achilles and his arch-nemesis Hektor during the Trojan War. The music brings to life award-winning writer Anne Carlson's new retelling of Homer's epic The Iliad. Ages 5 and up.
 
Come early for the musical instrument "Petting Zoo." Starting one hour before each Family concert, this hands-on activity in the Kennedy Center Atrium gives kids a chance to get up close with the instruments they'll see played on the stage--from violins and harp to oboes and flutes. A project of the Women's Committee for the NSO.
 
Stay after the 3 p.m. concert for a "Kids' Chat." Following the 3 p.m. Family Concert, kids can ask questions and hear engaging stories in an up-close-and-personal talk with the artists.

A joint world premiere by the Kennedy Center and VSA arts
Based on the book by MARLEE MATLIN and DOUG COONEY  
Script and lyrics by DOUG COONEY  
Music by DEBORAH WICKS LA PUMA  
Directed by COY MIDDLEBROOK  


"A NEARLY PERFECT MUSICAL!
Youthful gusto and a generous heart. Outstanding production values and top-notch cast.
An infectious score... three-and-a-half stars!"
- The Washington Times    Read the full review
 
"PRE-ADOLESCENT ANGST, WITH HARMONY...
Nobody's Perfect delights with comic numbers and an excellent young cast. 
The songs are not only catchy but also infectiously performed. Bright 'n' lively!"
- The Washington Post    Read the full review


Fourth grade is not easy and after spending a year planning her "positively purple" birthday party, Megan finds herself at odds with new student Alexis. To Megan, Alexis has it all: beauty, brains, and athletics--she's practically perfect in every way. Though Megan tries to be nice to her, Alexis is anything but friendly, making Megan wonder, "Does she not like me because I'm deaf?" When they're forced to collaborate on a science project, Megan discovers Alexis's secret. Based on the children's book by Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin (Best Actress, Children of a Lesser God) and Doug Cooney, this touching new musical--simultaneously performed in spoken English and American Sign Language--with Open Captions, is a poignant reminder that despite first impressions, nobody's perfect. For ages 9 and up.

Get a head start on Halloween and come dressed in your spookiest costume for this "spirited" concert event. NSO Associate Conductor Emil de Cou and the NSO will be wearing their own trick-or-treat outfits as they perform Saint-Saëns's Danse Macabre, Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain, Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, Stravinsky's Firebird Suite, Mozart's "Queen of the Night" aria from The Magic Flute, and selections from such movies as The Wizard of Oz and E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial. It's guaranteed to be a ghoulish good time! This concert will feature I-MAG video magnification, which projects the music-making onstage onto a giant screen above the orchestra. It's a great way to watch the musicians play their instruments throughout the performance! Ages 5 and up.
 
Come early for the musical instrument "Petting Zoo." Starting one hour before each Family concert, this hands-on activity in the Kennedy Center Atrium gives kids a chance to get up close with the instruments they'll see played on the stage--from violins and harp to oboes and flutes. A project of the Women's Committee for the NSO.
 
Stay after the 3 p.m. concert for a "Kids' Chat." Following the 3 p.m. Family Concert, kids can ask questions and hear engaging stories in an up-close-and-personal talk with the artists.

NSO Principal Guest Conductor Iván Fischer's engaging concerts for children have been a major success in Europe, and now he's brought them to Washington! Last season's program quickly sold out, so buy your tickets now for this special 50-minute performance--in which Iván Fischer introduces kids to the world of classical music through short, carefully selected works performed by NSO musicians. For ages 5 and up.

"Witty and buoyant…a richly textured score…exuberant choreography. 
A coup, a feat, a canny exploit and one neat trick!"
 -- The Washington Post      Read the full review

"An inventive fantasy! 
Deftly captures the delightful wordplay and Marx Brothersesque puns from Mr. Juster's book"
--The Washington Times    Read the full review

This version for family audiences commissioned by the Kennedy Center
Based on the book by NORTON JUSTER
Music by ARNOLD BLACK
Lyrics by SHELDON HARNICK
Adapted for the stage by NORTON JUSTER and SHELDON HARNICK
Directed by TIM MCDONALD

Nothing seems to interest young Milo--not his toys, not his friends, and especially not school. But when a mysterious tollbooth materializes in his room, he "drives on through" to discover a world of inspiration! With the help of a time-keeping watchdog named Tock, Milo gets unstuck from the Doldrums and embarks on a quest to rescue the princesses of Rhyme and Reason. Along the way, he reunites the dueling kingdoms of words and numbers and realizes that life is more exciting than his wildest dreams. Adapted from Norton Juster's beloved children's book, this inventive musical features a melodious score by Arnold Black and witty lyrics full of wordplay by Pulitzer Prize and three-time Tony winner Sheldon Harnick (Fiddler on the Roof, She Loves Me). For ages 9 and up.

A tiny fish uses ingenuity to fend off danger. A poetic mouse makes everyday life an artful experience. A proud inchworm measures everything he sees. The whimsical characters of Leo Lionni have made him one of the most beloved children's authors of our time, and now Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia stages three of his Caldecott Honor books: Swimmy, Frederick, and Inch by Inch. Hailed for its exquisite adaptations of classic stories using innovative puppetry styles, imaginative lighting, and original music, the company returns to the Kennedy Center following its hugely popular production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favourites. For ages 4 and up.

Treat your children to this wonderful concert just like they do in Europe! Kids can bring their favorite stuffed animal to this interactive program and have their teddy bear friend join in all the fun. Lasting approximately 45 minutes, it's perfect for even the youngest music lovers in your family.

Ever hear a violin gallop? Wonder why a lullaby sighs? Curious how a bumblebee takes flight on wings of song? Then join husband-and-wife violin team The Imagination Duo--Glenn Donnellan of the NSO and Jan Chong--as they use stories, sound effects, children's songs, and gems from the classical repertoire to make your imagination come alive! For ages 3 and up.

Come early for "Musical Playtime." Starting a half hour before each Teddy Bear Concert, enjoy music and movement activities in the Kennedy Center Atrium especially designed for small children. A project of the Women's Committee for the NSO.

Don't forget to bring your Teddy Bear!

Counting… number lines… ratios. Must be math class, right? Guess again--it's music! For the next installment of this popular multimedia program created by NSO cellist Yvonne Caruthers, you'll learn even more ways that math and music are alike as you listen to many classic and contemporary works for cello, flute, and percussion. From symbols to proportions, get ready for music as you've never heard it before… you just may come away singing about math! For ages 9 and up.

If you love animals and silly slapstick (and who doesn't!), then don't miss four NSO musicians in this zany program! The Kennedy String Quartet (Holly Hamilton and Jane Bowyer Stewart, violins; James Deighan, viola; and David Teie, cello) inspires everyone to listen, laugh, and learn through vivid music from the classic repertoire. Then they jump right into antic storytelling with The Donkey, the Goat, and the Little Dog by acclaimed composer and playwright Susan Kander. The Washington Post called last season's concert "a friendly and often hilarious introduction to the string quartet… as big on theatrics as it was on playing. Hugely enjoyable!" Ages 4 and up.
 
Come early for the musical instrument "Petting Zoo." Starting one hour before each Kinderkonzert, this hands-on activity in the Kennedy Center Atrium gives kids a chance to get up close with the instruments they'll see played on the stage--from violins and harp to oboes and flutes. A project of the Women's Committee for the NSO.

Colorful spinning skirts… breathtaking dances… exhilarating music! Take a trip to historic Mexico with Pacífico Dance Company, California's premier Mexican folk dance ensemble. Comprised of 40 "elegant, beautifully costumed dancers" (Los Angeles Times), the company preserves time-honored works and develops original choreography to break the boundaries of tradition. With its goal to educate diverse communities and instill cultural pride and understanding, the company has been thrilling audiences for more than 15 years. For ages 7 and up.

Break out the beat and discover the amazing world of stepping! Like a tap dance without shoes, or a band without instruments, stepping is percussive, highly syncopated dance that uses kicks, stomps, slaps, jumps, chants, and hollers--all linked to African and modern dance traditions. As the first professional dance company devoted to stepping, D.C.'s world-renowned Step Afrika! returns with its "electrifying talents" (The Washington Post) and high-energy performances--a feast for both the eyes and ears. For ages 7 and up.

WORLD PREMIERE KENNEDY CENTER COMMISSION

Recognized as Japan's foremost director of musicals, Amon Miyamoto helmed the 2005 Tony–nominated revival of Stephen Sondheim's Pacific Overtures as Broadway's first-ever Japanese director. Now he conceives and directs this world-premiere musical for young adults and their families, about a frog named Boonah who can scale the tallest tree near his pond. 

One day, he climbs to the top and discovers the nest of a hungry hawk. There, he learns an unforgettable lesson about nature's grand design and the cycle of life. The production, adapted from Mizukami Tsutomo's beloved children's story, features music by composer Henry Krieger, a Tony and Academy Award nominee for Dreamgirls, and lyricist Bill Russell, Krieger's Tony-nominated collaborator on the hit musical Side Show.

Running Time:  90 minutes

The Magic Circle Mime Company brings one of its most cherished and acclaimed productions back to the Kennedy Center! Sergei Prokofiev's classic work for children--a symphonic fairy tale in which each character is represented by a different orchestral instrument--becomes a dazzling theatrical and musical event. Replacing narration with movement, the concert follows conductor's assistant Peter as he tries to capture a menacing wolf that threatens orchestra and audience alike. With conductor Emil de Cou and the musicians' help, good triumphs over evil in a production that one Seattle Times reviewer calls "the most musically excellent, audience-involving show I've ever seen!" Ages 5 and up.
 
Come early for the musical instrument "Petting Zoo." Starting one hour before each Family concert, this hands-on activity in the Kennedy Center Atrium gives kids a chance to get up close with the instruments they'll see played on the stage--from violins and harp to oboes and flutes. A project of the Women's Committee for the NSO.
 
Stay after the 3 p.m. concert for a "Kids' Chat." Following the 3 p.m. Family Concert, kids can ask questions and hear engaging stories in an up-close-and-personal talk with the artists.

A world premiere Kennedy Center co-commission
and co-production with the White House Historical Association  
Book and lyrics by KAREN ZACARÍAS  
Music by DEBORAH WICKS LA PUMA  
Directed by JOHN VREEKE  

Field trips are fun, especially when your destination is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue! In this charming new musical, written in part with D.C. students and Young Playwrights' Theater, Dee Dee, Jose, and Annie accidentally knock George Washington out of his portrait and into real life--turning their tour into an unexpected adventure. As they try to get the nation's first President back into his painting, the threesome encounters other famous White House residents, including Abraham Lincoln and his wife Mary Todd, Dolley Madison, and Jackie Kennedy. Together, they learn that the White House isn't just a historic building... it's also a home. For ages 9 and up.

A Kennedy Center world premiere commission and production
in collaboration with the Pakistan National Council on the Arts
by KIM HINES
Directed by DEIRDRE KELLY LAVRAKAS

Young Shahab is a constant daydreamer in Lahore, Pakistan's bustling "City of Gardens" and home to the springtime Basant celebration. He's even ignoring the upcoming kite-flying contest--since his grandfather was a great champion in the festival, he is reluctant to follow in those giant footsteps. But when Shahab meets some friendly characters from Pakistani folklore in his daydreams, they help him connect with his heritage as he and his father fly a beautiful kite higher than the tallest mosque. Don't miss this unique collaboration with the Pakistani National Council on the Arts, an inspiring depiction of growing up in a metropolis bursting with rich tradition. For ages 9 and up.

Treat your children to this wonderful concert just like they do in Europe! Kids can bring their favorite stuffed animal to this interactive program and have their teddy bear friend join in all the fun. Lasting approximately 45 minutes, it's perfect for even the youngest music lovers in your family.

Enjoy even more stories with music, this time through a very unusual combination of instruments: NSO principals Marissa Regni on violin and Dotian Levalier on harp, with Marissa's father Albert Regni on four different saxophones. The program features musical selections about animals including The Three Pigs, Teddy Bear Rag, The Swan, and Baby Elephant Walk. Along with full-sized instruments, the musicians will perform on their miniature counterparts--a toy piano, sopranino saxophone, and a tiny violin. For ages 3 and up.

Come early for "Musical Playtime." Starting a half hour before each Teddy Bear Concert, enjoy music and movement activities in the Kennedy Center Atrium especially designed for small children. A project of the Women's Committee for the NSO.

Don't forget to bring your Teddy Bear!

A child prodigy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was composing and performing for European royalty when he was only six years old! Showing all the fun he must have had creating and playing his music, the Unlikely Trio (NSO musicians Carole Bean, flute; Dotian Levalier, harp; and William Wielgus, oboe) performs a wonderful array of Mozart's greatest works, including instrumental selections from his opera The Magic Flute. Ages 4 and up.
 
Come early for the musical instrument "Petting Zoo." Starting one hour before each Kinderkonzert, this hands-on activity in the Kennedy Center Atrium gives kids a chance to get up close with the instruments they'll see played on the stage--from violins and harp to oboes and flutes. A project of the Women's Committee for the NSO.