Cover image credit: Derrick J. Waller Photography
2024-25 Arts Education Season
We are thrilled to offer our 2024-25 season of Arts Education programming (see listing below) and hope that you will take advantage of these high-quality educational and enriching programs! We know that when students enter this historic Theater, for many it is their first exposure to live theater; a powerful human experience that can be life-changing and it is one they all deserve to know. We look forward to welcoming back school communities to experience TOGETHER the transformative power of the arts!
Please note that Virginia Standards of Learning & Curriculum Connections as well as links to More Information and Study Guides are listed beneath performance titles. Grade level designations are meant as guidelines.
Performance Running Times: All Arts Education performances are 60 minutes unless otherwise indicated.
Performance Dates & Times: As there are multiple times for most performances, please pay careful attention when completing registration.
Arts Education Program brochures will be sent to all schools and home school groups beginning August 5, 2024. CLICK HERE FOR A DIGITAL BROCHURE.
REGISTRATION Information: Registration for the season will open on Monday, August 19, 2024 at 7:00AM. Orders for all performances may be submitted at any time throughout the season. Because many performances sell out quickly, early registration is strongly recommended.
Tickets are $8.50 for students and teachers/adult chaperones.
Financial Assistance: To apply for Financial Assistance, please fill out and submit a FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FORM (available on August 19).
If you have any questions or would like more information about the Arts Education Program, please contact Cathy von Storch, Education & Outreach Manager at 434-293-1000 or cathyvonstorch@theparamount.net.
PRESENTING SPONSOR OF THE 2024-25 ARTS EDUCATION SEASON
2024-25 ARTS EDUCATION SEASON SPONSOR
MERMAID THEATRE OF NOVA SCOTIA
GOODNIGHT MOON & THE RUNAWAY BUNNY
MONDAY, OCTOBER 7
10:15AM and 12:15PM
GRADES PRE-K — 2
Sponsored by:
Sheila H. McCarthy
Adapted from Margaret Wise Brown’s seventy-five year old classic, Goodnight Moon is a celebration of familiar nighttime rituals, while The Runaway Bunny’s pretend tale of leaving home evokes reassuring responses from his loving mum. Both feature the endearing animal puppets, stunning scenic effects, and evocative music that have earned international recognition for Mermaid Theatre. This sweet double-bill brings a fresh appreciation of the stories and images that have delighted several generations.
Early Learning and Development Connections to APL 2, APL 3, SED 2, SED 3, CLLD 1, CD 2, CD 4; SOL Connections to English (Strand: Oral Language): K.1 a, b, c, d, K.3, K.4 b, K.8, K.9, 1.1, 1.2 a, 1.3 a, b, c, 1.4 a, 2.2 a, 2.3 d; SOL Connections to Science: K.6, K.7, 1.5, 2.4 a; SOL Connections to Fine Arts (Music): K.1 b, 1.1 c, 2.1 c; (Theater Arts): L2.1, L3.1, L4.1, SED2, CLLD1.1, CLLD 1.2, K.1, K.2, K.3, K.4, K.11, 1.3, 1.4, 1.7, 1.11, 2.3, 2.5; (Visual Arts): K.1, 1,1, 2.1; Curriculum Connections to the concepts of a realistic bedtime story and ritual; poetry and nursery rhymes; passage of time; creating an atmosphere of peace and calm; call and response; emerging independence; unconditional love.
PERFORMANCE GUIDE COMING SOON
MALEVO: THE ARGENTINIAN MALAMBO SENSATIONS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16
10:30AM
GRADES 6 & UP
Sponsored by:
Mary Jae Abbitt
MALEVO – the “South American Sensation” – is an all-male group elevating Malambo (the traditional folk dance of Argentine Gauchos) with live urban percussion and dance. Testing strength, dexterity, and agility, elements of flamenco, tango, and Irish step dance meet and the result is a performance that not only pushes the Malambo style beyond its limits but gives audiences an extraordinary visual and sensory theatrical experience unlike any other. Choreography combines the use of boleadoras, a leather and stone hunting tool used by Gauchos, with fast leg movements, energetic zapateados (stomping), and quick cepillados (“brushing”/”scrubbing”). Named an official “Cultural Ambassador to the National Identity of Argentina”, MALEVO has earned international acclaim and were semi-finalists on America’s Got Talent.
SOL Connections to History and Social Science: USII.9 c, d, CE 4 b, WG. 1 e, WG 6 a, d; SOL Connections to Fine Arts (Dance Arts): 6.3 a, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 7.3, 7.6, 7.11, 8.6; (Music): MCI 6 b, MCAD.6, MCB. 7; Curriculum Connections to the concepts of geography – Argentina, West Africa, North America, Ireland, Spain; “malambo”, a traditional Argentine folk dance associated with “gauchos” (cowboys) and accompanied by the “bambo leguro” drum; enslaved West Africans; percussive dance forms; regional differences of “malambo” defined by character of the music; elements of “malambo” dance – footwork, lassos, drums, the squeeze box, and “box” percussion; dance, as universal, requires body, action, space, time, and effort.
PERFORMANCE GUIDE COMING SOON
CIRQUE KALABANTÉ (AFRIQUE EN CIRQUE)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15
10:30AM
GRADES 3 & UP
Afrique en Cirque is a show created by multi-disciplinary artist Yamoussa Bangoura, inspired by daily life in Guinea. This performance shares the beauty, youth, and artistry of African culture through the merging of cirque with West African dance and music. A colorful show beyond its scenery, costumes, and staging, it makes any theatre vibrate with energy and represents the strength, agility, and life’s joys of young Africans. World-class acrobats execute gravity-defying moves and human pyramids, accompanied by the contemporary sounds of live Afro-Jazz, percussion, and kora. Welcome to the universe of Kalabanté Productions and prepare for an unforgettable journey.
SOL Connections to English (Strand: Communication): 3.1 e, 4.1 b, f, 4.4 e, 5.1 a, 6.6 b, 7.6 a, 8.5 l; SOL Connections to History and Social Science: 3.5 a, 3.6 a, 3.7, 3.13, VS. 3, VS. 4, USI. 4 c, WG 6 d; SOL Connections to Fine Arts: 3.3, 3.5, 4.3, 4.4, 5.6, 5.7, 6.4, 6.6 b, 6.7, 7.4, 7.6, 8.6, 8.13, 8.14; Curriculum Connections to the concepts of circus life; daily life and culture in Guinea; artistic traditions and celebrations from diverse cultures using percussion, dance, and/or song; creating, communicating and documenting through the arts; discipline, strength, courage, and resilience; movement through dance, acrobatics; and circus arts. reasoning and reflecting on how artists share their creations and communications through the arts.
PERFORMANCE GUIDE COMING SOON
ENCHANTMENT THEATRE COMPANY
MY FATHER’S DRAGON
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22
10:15AM and 12:15PM
GRADES K — 4
Sponsored by:
A beloved Newbery Honor book comes to life in this charming tale about a resourceful boy named Elmer. Join him as he sets off on a daring adventure to rescue a baby dragon held captive by the ferocious animals of Wild Island. With pluck and ingenuity, Elmer makes his way to the island, outwits the wild animals, and saves Boris, the baby dragon. But can they find their way back home? They travel over the ocean, get lost in a storm, and discover a magical island. Finally, the dauntless duo safely returns home! Enchantment Theatre brings Elmer’s marvelous quest to the stage using puppets, masks, magical scenic effects, and original music. His adventure reminds us that we are never too young to make a difference. His adventure reminds us that we are never too young to make a difference.
SOL Connections to English: K.1 a, b, c, K.2, K.8 a, K.9 e, f, g, K.12, 1.1 b, c, d, 1.8 c, 1.9 d, f, g, h, 2.2 a, 2.3 a, b, c, d, 2.8 a, 3.5 d, e, h, i, j, 4.1 b, c, d, 4.5; SOL Connections to Science: K.1 a, K.7, K.9, 1.1 a, 1.5, 2.1 a, 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 3.1 a, 4.2 b; SOL Connections to Fine Arts (Visual Arts): K.1, K.14, 1.1, 1.14, 2.1, 2.14, 3.1, 3.15, 4.1, 4.15; Curriculum Connections to the concepts of imagination; creativity and problem-solving; courage and bravery; ingenuity; whimsy; tenderness; adventure; adaptation; compare and contrast; music to define characters, setting, and mood; mythical, wild and domestic (tame) animals; good, evil, and justice.
PERFORMANCE GUIDE COMING SOON
TALL STORIES THEATRE COMPANY OF LONDON, ENGLAND
THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD
MONDAY, JANUARY 27
10:15AM and 12:15PM
GRADES PRE-K — 3
Sponsored by:
Sheila H. McCarthy
Join the Gruffalo’s Child on her brave adventure in Tall Stories’ enchanting adaptation of the much-loved picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. One wild and windy night, the Gruffalo’s Child ignores her father’s warnings about the Big Bad Mouse and tiptoes out into the night. She follows snowy tracks and encounters all sorts of woodland creatures, including a debonair snake, eccentric owl, and a cunning fox. Showcasing Tall Stories’ distinctive style of physical storytelling, this lively performance combines humor with catchy original music, puppetry, and a touch of magic.
Early Learning and Development Connections: APL2, APL3, APL4, SED1, 1.2, 1.3, SED 2.2, 2.3. 2.4, SED 3.4, CLLD; SOL Connections to English: K.1 a, K.2 a, K.8, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 a, b, c. 1.4 a, 1.7, 1.9 d, e, f, g, h, 2.1 a, b, 2.2 a, 2.7, 2.8 a, b, c, f, g, h, 2.10, 3.1 a, c, 3.5; SOL Connections to Fine Arts (Visual Arts): K.1, 1.1, 2.1, 3.1; Curriculum Connections to the concepts of adaptation; imagination; rhyme, meter, and repetition; personification; predators and prey; fables and morale; patience and understanding.
PERFORMANCE GUIDE COMING SOON
WRITTEN BY NAMBI E. KELLY
PRODUCED BY FIRST WOMAN, FROM NEW YORK, NEW YORK
HERO: THE BOY FROM TROY
A NEW MUSICAL ABOUT JOHN LEWIS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10
10:15AM and 12:15PM
GRADES 3 & UP
Jayden is stuck in detention with a book about Congressman John Lewis, but he thinks that history has nothing to teach him. Together, we go on a musical journey through the decades that shows how the heroes in the Civil Rights Movement inspired young John Lewis to protest injustice and get into ‘good trouble.’ As a boy, John dreams of being a preacher who can help others. While he doesn’t have a congregation yet, he does have a loyal group of singing chickens that listen to him as he finds his voice. On a harrowing road trip through the South, John’s eyes and mind are opened to injustices of segregation and racism that inspire him to take action. As John meets Rosa Parks and Dr. King and ultimately becomes a leader and American hero himself, Jayden learns how he too can take a stand.
SOL Connections to English: 3.1, 3.4 f, 4.1, 4.5 a, 5.1, 5.9, 6.1, 6.6, 7.1, 7.6; SOL Connections to History and Social Science: 3.1, 3.11, 3.12, 3.13, VS.1 d, e, f, g, h, i, USI.1 c, d, e f, g, USII.1 b, c, d, e, f, g, USII 3. a, b, CE.1 d, e, f, CE.2 a, CE.3, CE.4; SOL Connections to Fine Arts (Music): 6.4, 7.4, 8.4, HM.4; Curriculum Connections to the concepts of the Civil Rights Movement; segregation, racism, injustice, and discrimination; leader and hero; activism and activist; protest through sit-ins, Freedom Rides, and Marches; preservation through the National Museum of African American History and Culture; Social Emotional Learning.
PERFORMANCE GUIDE COMING SOON
TUTTI FRUTTI PRODUCTIONS FROM LEEDS, ENGLAND
UNDERNEATH A MAGICAL MOON
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19
10:15AM and 12:15PM
GRADES K — 4
A reimagining of Peter Pan as told by Wendy Darling… Wendy gazes out at the night sky dreaming of blue lagoons, magical moons, and most of all, stories. And tonight, there’s magic in the air. Fly with Wendy and her brothers as they create the world of Neverland, where time stands still and the impossible seems possible. Even everyday objects become extraordinary under the magical moon. A sparkling new production written by international award winning writer Mike Kenny, scored with exquisite live music and songs, enthralling movement, and a sprinkle of fairy dust.
SOL Connections to English: K.1, K.2, K.7 a, b, c, d 1.1 a, b, c, d, 1.2, 1.9 f, g, 2.1, 2.2, 2.7, 3.1, 3.5, 4.1, 4.5 a, b, c, d, e, f; SOL Connections to Science: K.8, K.9, 1.6, 4.6; SOL Connections to Fine Arts (Music): K.4, 1.4, 2.4, 3.4; (Theatre Arts): K.1, K.3, 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.3, 3.1, 3.3, 4.1, 4.3; Curriculum Connections to the concepts of imagination and adventure through imaginative play; friendships and relationships; growing-up, self-esteem, aspirations; what it means to become a grownup; the moon and its eight phases; creative adaptations of stories with a modern twist; compare and contrast, past and present, a well-known story and its modern adaptation.
PERFORMANCE GUIDE COMING SOON
WISHING STAR PRODUCTIONS, LLC
A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD
THURSDAY, MARCH 27
10:15AM and 12:15PM
GRADES PRE-K — 3
Sponsored by:
Sheila H. McCarthy
Based on Arnold Lobel’s beloved children’s books and featuring a hummable score by Robert and Willie Reale that bubbles with melody and wit, this whimsical musical follows two great friends — the cheerful, popular Frog and the curmudgeonly Toad — through four, fun-filled seasons, meeting new friends and learning life lessons along the way. The two best friends celebrate and rejoice in their differences that make them unique and special. Part vaudeville, part make believe, all charm, A Year With Frog And Toad tells the story of a friendship that endures, weathering all seasons.
Early Learning and Development Connections to L.1, L.2, L.3, SED 2, SED 3, CLLD1, CD 1.1, CD 2, CD4.2, CD 4.3, CD 4.4; SOL Connections to English: K.1, K.2, 1.1, 1.2 b, c, d, 1.7 a, b, 2.1, 2.7, 3.1, 3.5; SOL Connections to Science: K.1 a, K.7, K.9, K.10, 1.1 a, 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 2.1 a, 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 3.1 a, b, 3.4, 3.5, 3.8 a; SOL Connections to Math: K.9, 1.9, 2.9, 2.10, 3.10; Curriculum Connections to the concepts of similarities and differences in relationships; life-long learning; personification; realism and fantasy, two literary genres; life cycle of a plant; weather and seasons of the year; a hand-written letter that makes a recipient feel very special; being alone to reflect quietly and write one’s thoughts.
PERFORMANCE GUIDE COMING SOON
MOMIX: ALICE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9
10:30AM
GRADES 6 & UP
Sponsored in part by:
Virginia Cenedella
Travel down the rabbit hole MOMIX-style with renowned choreographer Moses Pendleton’s newest creation, ALICE, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Known internationally for presenting works of exceptional inventiveness and physical beauty, MOMIX is a company of dancer-illusionists. Join them on a mind-bending adventure, as Alice encounters time-honored characters including the undulating Caterpillar, a lobster quadrille, frenzied White Rabbits, a mad Queen of Hearts, and a variety of other surprises! Seamlessly blending illusion, acrobatics, magic, and whimsy, ALICE is an invitation to invent, to let imagination run and play outside, revealing that nothing in MOMIX’s world is as it seems!
11.4 f, g, h, 12.1 f, 12.4 e; SOL Connections to Fine Arts (Dance Arts): 6.4, 7.4, 8.4, DI.4, DII.4; (General Music): 6.5, 7.5, 8.5, HM.5; (Theatre Arts): 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 8.1, 8.3 a, b, c, d, TI.3 a, b, TII.3 a, b; Curriculum Connections to the concepts of dance as a performing art; the five elements of dance – body, action, space, time, and energy; dancer-illusionists who create magical images/movements by combining dance, acrobatics, costuming and props, dance theater, and symbolism; MOMIX – a tension between illusion and reality, apprehension and excitement.
PERFORMANCE GUIDE COMING SOON
KENNEDY CENTER THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES ON TOUR
LOOK BOTH WAYS: A TALE TOLD IN TEN BLOCKS
Based on the novel by Jason Reynolds
TUESDAY, APRIL 29
10:15AM & 12:15PM
65 MINUTES
GRADES 5 & UP
This story was going to begin like all the best stories. With a school bus falling from the sky. But no one saw it happen—they were all too busy. New York Times best-selling author Jason Reynolds conjures 10 tales (1 per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings. 10 blocks. 10 unique tales. There’s something for everyone across these 10 vignettes about identity, compassion, fear, and friendship—as told through puppetry, dance, music, projections, audience participation, kamishibai (paper theater), and more. This faithful stage adaptation of Reynolds’ award-winning book encourages audiences to look both ways not only when crossing the street, but also when acknowledging the people walking by.
SOL Connections to English: 5.1, 5.2, 5.5, 6.1, 6.5, 7.1, 7.6 d, e, f, g, h, 8.1, 8.3 a, b, c, d, 8.5 a, b, 9.1 c, g, i, k 10.1 h, i, j, k 11.1 d, e 12.1 f; SOL Connections to Fine Arts (Theatre Arts): 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 a, b, 6.4, 7.3 a, b, c, 7.4, 8.1, 8.3 a, b, c, d, 8.4, TI.3 a, b, c. TII.3 a, Tiii.4, TIV.4, TI.11; (Visual Arts): 6.12, 6.16, 7.12, 7.16, 8.12, 8.16, AI.8, AII.8, AIII.8, AI.11; Curriculum Connections to the concepts of friendship and the meaning of life; stereotypes; change through imagination, creativity, and connection; power of determination and centrality of humor; hope, “shooting for the moon”; unsung heroes; caring and creativity; Social Emotional Learning.
PERFORMANCE GUIDE COMING SOON
QUICK FACTS
Frequently Asked Questions: Click HERE to find a list of FAQs, including details on registration, payments, special accommodations, etc.
Performance Run Times: All performances are 60 minutes unless otherwise noted.
Show Day Essentials:
Study Guides/SOL Connections: Virginia Standards of Learning + Curriculum Connections and synopses are listed beneath performance descriptions. Grade-level designations are meant as guidelines.
Financial Assistance: To apply for Financial Assistance, please complete the Financial Assistance Form and submit at the time of registration (available beginning August 19).
More Information: Please direct all Arts Education related questions to Cathy von Storch, Education & Outreach Manager at 434.293.1000 or cathyvonstorch@theparamount.net.
