1. Artists on the Rise: Juried Teen Exhibition
March 10-28
Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Rd., Laurel, MD
To celebrate National Youth Art Month, Montpelier Arts Center is presenting their Fourth Annual Artists on the Rise: Juried Teen Exhibition. The center strives to foster a positive, creative environment in which young and emerging artists realize their full potential as creative individuals. In doing so, this exhibit spotlights teens (ages 13-18) in the Washington area and their talents in the visual arts.
2. The Dancing Princesses, A New Musical
March 1-20; check www.creativecauldron.org for specific times
Creative Cauldron at ArtSpace Falls Church, 410 South Maple Ave.
Falls Church, VA
A group of princesses are locked in their room each night, but in the morning, their dancing shoes are completely worn through as if they had been dancing all night! Join the Learning Theater Ensemble as a young knight attempts to find out the princesses’ secret in a musical adaptation of this classic Grimm tale.
3. Junie B. Jones: The Musical
March 5, 11:30 a.m.
Way Off Broadway’s Children’s Theater
5 Willowdale Dr., Frederick, MD
Children are sure to fall in love with Junie B. Jones! It’s Junie B.’s first day of first grade, and a lot of things have changed. Junie’s friend Lucille doesn’t want to be her best pal anymore, and on the bus, Junie B. makes friends with the new kid, Herb. Throw in a friendly cafeteria lady, a kickball tournament and a “Top-Secret Personal Beeswax Journal,” and first grade has never been more exciting!
4. Mary Poppins
Through March 12; check www.restonplayers.org for specific dates
Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Rd., Reston, VA
This classic show involves lovable chimney-sweep, Bert, who introduces the audience to the troubled Banks family in 1910. The Banks have sent many nannies packing before the practically-perfect Mary Poppins shows up and teaches the children how to value each other again with a little common sense and their magical adventures!
5. Saturday Art Workshop for Children
March 12, 10 a.m.
Kreeger Museum, 2401 Foxhall Rd., NW, Washington, D.C.
Attendees are guided in creating both small sketches and large-scale drawings of nature at this Kreeger Museum Art Workshop, exploring studio tools including pencils, graphite powder and watercolor washes. In addition, these young artists get to use magnifying glasses and viewfinders to discover signs of spring on the museum grounds!
6. Children’s Film: Monkey Kingdom
March 19, 10:30 a.m. & March 20, 11:30 a.m.
National Gallery of Art, 401 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, D.C.
Young film lovers will love spending the morning at the National Gallery of Art for their Children’s Film series, featuring “Monkey Kingdom,” narrated by Tina Fey. Set in the lush jungles of Sri Lanka, the film documents the life of Maya, a Toque Macaque as she navigates the social hierarchy of her extended family and strives to keep her newborn, Kip, healthy and safe. When the troop of monkeys is forced from their home, Maya unexpectedly takes the lead.
7. NSO Teddy Bear Concert: The String Thing
March 12-13; check www.kennedy-center.org for specific times
The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St., NW, Washington, D.C.
Bassist Paul DeNola and violinist Heather LeDoux Green introduce young audiences to some of the greatest music ever written! With instruments in hand and several props by their side, this “silent” comedic tag-team present bite-sized excerpts from Mozart, Rossini, Tchaikovsky and more. Toddlers can bring their favorite stuffed animal to this playful, interactive program and have their teddy bear friend join in all the fun!
8. Arts on the Horizon – Space Bop
March 5-12; check www.atlasarts.org for specific times
Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE, Washington, D.C.
Journey to the musical cosmos in Arts on the Horizon’s world-premiere piece for babies and toddlers, Space-Bop! Drawing on a little one’s early love of light and vocal play, Space-Bop features GRAMMY® nominated hip-hop artist, Christylez Bacon, who plays the Chaplinesque hero, and along with the endearing denizens of outer space, takes little viewers through time and space.
9. Peter & The Wolf
March 12, 11 a.m.
Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Ln., North Bethesda, MD
It’s Peter & The Wolf like you’ve never seen before. Find out if Peter and his animal friends make it away from the wolf safely as you experience the world’s most famous musical fairytale brought to life by the Bob Brown Puppets. Prior to each family concert, the Music Center at Strathmore asks attendees to join them in the inspiration zone before the show for some fun, interactive pre-concert activities!
10. Children’s Theatre: Brave
Saturdays through March 19, 1-2:15 p.m.
Workhouse Arts Center, 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton, VA
Mestey Films Productions presents an original adaptation of Brave! In this tale, Merida wants to be free, but her mother wants her to choose a husband. When a wish by Merida comes true, her mother is turned into a 9-year-old girl while still in an adult’s body. Will her mother now understand how Merida feels or has Merida only made a bigger mess of things? You’ll have to come see it to find out!
