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2002-2003 - Saturday Morning at the National
FREE
PERFORMANCES!
9:30 & 11:00 a.m. , in the Helen Hayes Gallery
Seating is limited!! Tickets are Required, and are Distributed Without
charge one Half-Hour Prior to Performance, on a First-Come First-Served
policy.
Sponsored by Marriott
For a Program Schedule, Send a Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope
to "Saturday Morning," National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20004. Recorded program information
is also available at 202-783-3372. |
September 21 - THE GOLDEN THEATRE
This
wordless Pantomime for Youth production tells several stories completely
in mime, movement and music. Boat Ride is a Chaplinesque
view of an outing on a lake. Rough road workers are distracted by
nature in Butterfly. In The Mask a janitor's dream
life is revealed, and other fascinating characters emerge in Cowboys
and Baby in the Park.
BARRYMORE
EAGLE, the National Theatre mascot, will be present for this opening
show of our season to pose with the kids, so bring your cameras!!!
Also, this is ARTS ON FOOT DAY, with special events for family fun.
After the show, you can enjoy a day downtown at the festival enjoying
"open house" at many galleries and theatres, plus food
pavilions and music on outdoor stages in Washington, especially
along the 7th Street, NW, entertainment corridor. |
September 28 - TANKA TALES - Cancelled
REGRETTABLY,
due to demonstrations and traffic disruptions predicted in the downtown
area on this date, we have CANCELLED
this performance. These Native American Stories are dramatized with
puppets and masks. How Summer Defeats Winter tells how the legendary
hero Glooscap overcomes the powerful chief, Winter, with a magic
story. Loo Wit, the Fire Keeper concerns two brothers who cannot
learn to share the abundance of creation, and as a result loose
the gift of fire. This is a mythic rendering of the origin of the
volcanic Mt. St. Helens in Washington State. GOOD LIFE THEATER uses
masks, puppets, music and shadow puppetry to bring these Tales to
life.
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October 5 - SUPER SNAKES - SSSssssss.....
What
makes a snake super? Find out the answer and more about nature's
most misunderstood creatures. REPTILES ALIVE will reveal snake secrets
while you meet a variety of snakes that might include a giant python,
huge boa constrictor, secretive sand boa, albino and regular king
snakes, beautiful milk snake, funny hognose snake, weird legless
lizard, and more! You won't see these critters every day, so don't
miss this special opportunity! |
October 19 - THEATRE IV presents THE WRIGHT STUFF
Barely
out of their teens, two determined bicycle mechanics team up with
their studious sister to out-invent the world's top scientists and
achieve the timeless dream of flight. From their tiny workshop in
Ohio, Orville and Wilbur Wright travel to North Carolina and launch
the first powered, sustained and controlled flight of an airplane,
changing the world forever.
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October 26 - FIREFLY SHADOW THEATER
Enjoy
this contemporary take on the ancient art of shadow theater. On
a large screen, original stories as well as enchanting adaptations
of little-known folk tales materialize through a combination of
visually stunning silhouette puppets, imaginative scenery, music
and light. Two story plays will be followed by an interactive demonstration
of how shadow puppets are made. Lucky volunteers are chosen to "get
behind the screen" for an often hilarious improvisation.
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November 2 - CASEY JONES AND THE GREAT AMERICAN RAILROAD
Hop
on the Wabash Cannonball and hobo down the line with Old Casey Jones.
Inimitable RAY OWEN revives the glory days of the Great American
Railroad! Shovel on the coal and let her rattle 'n roll as the whistle
blows to boxcar ballads, high-spirited hobo tunes, rail-splitter
songs. This is a nostalgic train trip not to be missed! Something
for the kids, and something for the adults as well. |
November 16 - DANCES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Take
a whirlwind cultural tour with Crossroads Dance Project. You'll
enjoy
a fresh new look at traditional folk dances from the fiery percussion
of Flamenco dance to the foot stomping rhythms of Appalachian clogging.
Crossroads also fuses modern dance with traditional styles from
Africa, Israel and China to give the audience an innovative look
at our diverse world today. Children may even learn a few steps
themselves, and everyone is sure to have a rousing good time!
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November 23 - THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW
You'll
enjoy the way THEATRE IV spins Washington Irving's harvest classic
-- the tale of the new schoolmaster, Ichabod Crane, his sweetheart,
Katrina, strong-willed Brom Bones .... and the Headless
Horseman! This clever adaptation is more funny than scary and is
loaded with lively audience participation. |
December 7 - HORN'S PUNCH & JUDY SHOW
This
legendary classic features an ornate Victorian stage and a script
which has been performed in Baltimore since 1897 and handed down
lovingly from one generation of puppeteers to the next. Ten wooden
puppets, painstakingly carved and hand painted in England, are the
stars, guided by "Professor Horn," who also performs some
amazing feats of legerdemain. To top it all off, every performance
includes the playing of long neglected melodies on a vintage hand-cranked
hurdy-gurdy. Paper rolls and 12 wooden pipes create merry carousel
music. |
December 14 - HOLLY JOLLY HOLIDAYS
Celebrate
the season with GLASS HEART PUPPET THEATRE'S merry marionette show!
This wintertime musical revue features an athletic elf on roller
blades, a pair of zany dancing cowboy candy canes, a snowman who
is going all to pieces, and lively Christmas trees, all set to toe-tapping
tunes. And of course, the star of the season himself appears: Santa
Claus!
After the show the kids get a chance to try the puppets themselves
and learn how they work.
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January 25 - THEATRE IV presents PINOCCHIO
Imagine
Geppetto's surprise when the puppet he carves from a most unusual
piece of wood suddenly springs to life. The wooden boy, named Pinocchio,
becomes like a son to the kindly old wood carver who provides him
with a loving home. But the mischievous and somewhat ungrateful
Pinocchio has other ideas and sets off on a series of fantastical
adventures. Along the way he learns valuable lessons that lead him
back home to Geppetto and earn him the thing he most desires - to
be a real boy. |
February 1 - MOVING WITH THE KREATURES
MAGICAL
PUPPET CREATIONS presents a lively interactive show led by the energetic
Kamp Kreature puppet characters. Snores the Bear explains the benefits
of exercise and moves right along with the kids in a variety of
hilarious and fun dance exercises including The Animal Dance and
The Red Light Green Light Dance. The puppets demonstrate for the
children and a coach works with them as they follow along. |
February 8 - YO-YO FUN AND SCIENCE OF SPIN
This
dazzling and skillful demonstration of yo-yos, tops and other spin
toys demonstrates some principals basic to aviation and space exploration.
DICK STOHR, a full-time yo-yo professional and prize-winning champion,
puts a sizzling and surprising spin on gyroscopic stability. You'll
hardly believe your eyes as you watch his gravity-defying dizzying
dexterity!
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February 22 - THE STORY OF BABAR, THE LITTLE ELEPHANT
Follow
our hero's trip to the Big City, where he meets the Kind Old Lady
and acquires his handsome green suit and derby hat -- before returning
to the forest to become King of the Elephants. ROBERT AUBREY DAVIS
narrates, while at the keyboard, HASKELL SMALL provides rollicking
music to accompany Babar's merry adventures.
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March 1 - AESOP & COMPANY
A fox, a lion, a mouse and a zany bird gather together with gypsy
travelers to share tales and antics . . . and maybe learn a thing
or two. The magical fables of Aesop spring to life in a spirited
play for children of all ages. Using masks and playful theatrical
movement, this romp through the fables, performed by Touchstone
Theatre, also includes lots of audience participation and is fun
for the entire family.
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Mar 8 - GOOD QUEEN BESS
If
playing football is a crime and roasted peacock's for supper, it
can only mean that Elizabeth Tudor is regaling her subjects with
tales of life in Renaissance England. MARY ANN JUNG is Queen elizabeth
I, who constantly astonishes as she vividly describes the food,
clothes and pastimes of her realm. Don't worry about offending Her
Majesty -- she even teaches proper court manners and the most popular
new dance, the galliard! |
March 15 - ADVENTURE THEATRE - THE THREE MUSKETEERS
Alexandre
Dumas' famous adventure story leaps to life in this fast-paced tale
of young D'Artagnan, who, armed with only his wits and sword, leaves
his country home to become a Musketeer in Paris. There he discovers
the powerful Cardinal Richelieu's deadly plot against Queen Anne.
Can the young apprentice save the Queen? Will the famous Three;
Athos, Porthos, and Aramis come to his aide? Come join us to experience
this swashbuckling tale! |
March 22 -THE STORIES OF ALICE McGILL
With melodious voice and mesmerizing inflections, Alice McGill
transports her audiences into worlds of folktales and folklore,
and further, into the fabulouslandscape of her colorful imagination.
Author of several successful books, she is a spellbinder who captivates
and enchants children and adults
alike. |
March 29 - SPENCER "SPINNY" JOHNSON
A
basketball star renowned for high scores and trick-shot artistry,
Spinny is also model who inspiresa vibrant inspiration. He offers
a dynamic display of digital dexterity, and the kids participate!
Behind the fast-action tricks are valuable lessons in respect, goal-setting,
perseverance and positive thinking.
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April 5 - CIRCUS MILLENNIA
This
NARRATIVE STORYTELLING troupe weaves magical narratives told through
theatrical circus routines including acrobatics, tumbling, theatrical
clowning, juggling, colorful costumes, music.
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April 12 - THEATRE IV in SOJOURNER TRUTH
Like
Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth was one of the first black women
to speak out against slavery and became one of the best-known abolitionists
of her day. This inspiring play with music brings its audience to
a deeper understanding of the price of slavery, the struggle of
both blacks and whites in the emancipation movement, and an appreciation
of the courageous achievements of this remarkable African American
woman who, as a preacher, orator, abolitionist and advocate for
women's rights, moved people of both races to work toward a better
world for all.
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Pat Jennings |

Donn B. Murphy |

Allison Canada |
Inaugurated
in 1980, and produced for 14 years by Kathleen M. Barry,
this series is now produced by Donn B. Murphy. Patricia
"PJ" Pat Jennings is M.C., with Host Allison Canada |
Saturday Morning at the National has been sponsored exclusively
since its inception by
Marriott International, Inc., and the J. Willard Marriott and
Alice S. Marriott Foundation.
The shows are best appreciated by children four years and older.
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