Imagination Stage StoryTheatre

Imagination Stage is a premier family arts center located in Bethesda, MD. Long recognized for its high quality theater productions and educational programs, it has formerly focused more on productions for school aged children. This fall, in addition to a full slate of early childhood educational programs, Imagination Stage launched StoryTheatre, an interactive storytelling experience that caters to preschoolers. Here's how.

Venue

StoryTheatre events are held in the Christopher and Dana Reeve Studio Theatre, the smaller of two theater spaces at Imagination Stage. The setting is intimate and not intimidating, plus it’s easy to move around and get to the seats. Performers are close, which helps engage younger audiences.

Time

StoryTheatre events run roughly 35-45 minutes, which is less likely to strain the attention span of preschoolers.

Interaction and Multisensory Presentation

The first StoryTheatre performer was Imani Gonzalez, a jazz vocalist and storyteller who teaches classes at Imagination Stage. Music was the predominant storytelling device, and she played small drums with the songs. After performing a song once, she had the children echo back, line by line. She also encouraged other participation. One of the songs she taught is used in an African naming ceremony, where children are named according to the day of the week they were born. Children called out the day they were born, and she taught them the corresponding name. In another song from South America about papier mache balloons made by children, the children called out their favorite colors and imagined balloons of those colors floating through the sky as they sang the song. After the performance, the children were encouraged to come up and meet Gonzalez.

Content

Not only are the performances for young children, but many of the stories were about young children, as well as things preschoolers like to hear and talk about, like animals.

Upcoming Performers

The StoryTheatre season runs through March 2008. November’s performer is Allison Gee, who performs as Beatrice Pickles, with new twists on fairy tales. The performance will incorporate counting, colors, and movement.

Getting to Imagination Stage

Imagination Stage is in the Woodmont Triangle area of Bethesda, on the edge of downtown. There is a parking garage located next door that can be accessed from Auburn or Del Ray Avenues. Parking is free on weekends. During the week, the parking meters in the garage are cheaper on the higher levels of the garage, so go as far as you can and take the elevator to street level. If you want to take the Metro, the closest stop is Bethesda, on the red line. It’s about a ten minute walk, and somewhat inclined, so plan for travel time. You can also take a free trolley from the Metro station to Auburn and Norfolk Avenues.

Details

Tickets for StoryTheatre are $5-6, and advance purchase is recommended. Arrive early and enjoy a snack at the in house café. Be prepared for your preschooler to ask to hit the tempting gift shop on the way out. StoryTheatre shows are Fridays at 10:00 and 11:30, and Saturdays at 11:30.

General Information

Imagination Stage
4908 Auburn Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: 301-280-1660