Imagination Stage, The Puppet Co. Receive Theater Award Nominations
The Puppet Co. in Glen Echo and Bethesda’s Imagination Stage were both recently nominated for prestigious awards.
Imagination Stage, the largest professional theater for young audiences in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. region, received eight nominations for Helen Hayes awards including Outstanding Production: Musical and Outstanding Production: Theatre for Young Audiences for its “Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood,” which ran from mid-December to the beginning of March.
Notably, the Helen Hayes awards were named for a D.C. native and actress known as “the First Lady of the American Theatre” and established by the Washington Theatre Awards Society as a way to recognize local professional theater and spur the growth of emerging theater companies.
Imagination Stage won Outstanding Production: Theatre for Young Audiences in 2024 and 2023 in addition to this year’s nomination.
Another local awards program by Theatre Washington named the Puppet Co.’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” as one of the five finalists for Outstanding Performance in the category of Theatre for Young Audiences. Judges decided between 165 eligible 2024 D.C.-area productions for the upcoming awards ceremony in May.
“It has been over [10] years since the Puppet Co. received a nomination, making this a very special honor,” says Executive Director Isabel Dawson, in a news release. “It is important for puppetry and puppetry-based performances to receive recognition within the larger theatre community.”
Directed by Mollie Greenberg, “The Wizard of Oz” ran from July to August and used various forms of puppetry to recreate L. Frank Baum’s classic tale. The production was originally written by three Puppet Co. co-founders—and that production won a Citation of Excellence in the Art of Puppetry by the American Center of the Union Internationale de la Marionette, one of the highest honors in puppetry, in 2008.
Prince George’s Stadium Begins $50-Million ‘State-of-the-Art Upgrades’
Baseball fans can look forward to two new video boards offering a high-definition view of games, increased audience engagement and a more interactive atmosphere at Prince George’s Stadium in Bowie, Maryland.
These are among the “significant renovations” the stadium is expected to undergo early this year into 2026, according to a news release.
The stadium received the Maryland Stadium Authority’s approval for about $50 million in “targeted renovations” at the facility. Although estimated to take at least one year, the construction won’t affect the Chesapeake Baysox’s playing season, “ensuring that fans can continue to enjoy baseball and family-friendly entertainment” at the stadium throughout this year, according to a news release.
Prince George’s Stadium opened in 1994 and has united fans of professional baseball and family entertainment in Prince George’s County for more than three decades.
“These renovations mark an exciting new chapter in its history,” says Peter A. Shapiro, the chair of the Prince George’s County Planning Board and the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. “This project reflects our commitment to enhancing the quality of life for our residents by delivering state-of-the-art amenities and preserving this beloved venue as a hub for sports, entertainment and community pride.”
Kenmoor Middle School Teacher Earns Nation’s Highest Honor in STEM Education
A Kenmoor Middle School science teacher recently received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, the nation’s highest honor for teachers of science and math.
Modupe Olafunmiloye is one of only four teachers in Maryland and 110 across the United States to earn this award.
“We couldn’t be prouder of Ms. Olafunmiloye for earning this prestigious recognition in STEM education,” says Prince George’s County Superintendent Millard House II, in a news release. “Her dedication to inspiring and empowering students exemplifies the excellence and passion our educators bring to the classroom every day.”
Olafunmiloye taught science and high school biology to gifted students at Landover’s Kenmoor Middle School for eight years. She created extracurricular clubs for robotics, environmental science and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) competitions. Her students have won numerous Maryland State awards, including awards in eCYBERMISSION, a virtual STEM competition for sixth to ninth graders.
Before returning to Kenmoor last October, Olafunmiloye had left the school to found STEMWonders Education and Enrichment, a program providing students with hands-on STEM opportunities.
“Ms. Olafunmiloye’s innovative approach to teaching and dedication to creating inclusive, engaging learning experiences is a model of excellence,” adds Kenmoor Principal Rebecca Turner. “We are thrilled to have her return to our Kenmoor Middle School family.”
