May 29, 2025
The Magic of a Wolf Trap Summer
There’s a special kind of magic that only happens on a summer night at Wolf Trap. It starts as you walk into the Filene Center—sunlight filters through the trees, the aroma of enticing food wafts on the breeze, and excited fans buzz like bees to find their spots on the lawn. As the crowd settles and the stage lights rise, the atmosphere shifts. Music fills the air, fireflies flicker, and for a few hours, everything else fades away. ...
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Jun 18, 2025
Bizet’s Carmen: A Pop Culture Prima Donna
Pop quiz! What do Doritos, The Muppets, the Olympics, Looney Tunes, and Pixar’s Up all have in common? If you guessed the iconic “Habanera” from Bizet’s Carmen, you earn a standing ovation! It’s easy to see why Carmen continues to enchant audiences, advertisers, and filmmakers 150 years after its premiere. From its irresistible tunes to its complicated heroine, this opera has everything you could want....
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Jun 16, 2025
Creating “Dandelion Magic,” and Other Adventures in Young People’s Theater
Three Innovative Theater-Based Projects for this Year’s Grants for Performing Arts Teachers’ Program Brings Together Students and Audiences from Different Lived Experiences Like many educators, Bowie High School Performing Arts Teacher Kelsey Meiklejohn Bowen pulls inspiration for her student projects from personal experiences. The Prince George’s County, MD teacher received a Grant for Performing Arts Teachers earlier this year from Wolf Trap Foundation for the...
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Jun 12, 2025
Movie Magic: Behind the Scores
Every summer, Wolf Trap audiences are awestruck by the popular film scores performed by the National Symphony Orchestra. Ever wonder what it takes to conduct a live orchestra in time to a movie? Wolf Trap caught up with esteemed conductor Emil de Cou for a behind-the-scenes scoop on bringing these movies to life!...
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Jun 09, 2025
Coffee Cans, Masks, and Story Boxes: Strategies for Integrating Drama and Storytelling into Early Childhood Learning
How can a coffee can help tell a story? Wolf Trap Master Teaching Artist Melissa Richardson uses an arts strategy experience called “Coffee Can Theater” to help children learn the elements of a story. She uses small props to represent the characters and the scenery. Using these manipulatives, children can retell and sequence the story in a hands-on way, or the class can use them...
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Jun 09, 2025
Let’s Put on a Show: From Japanese Drumming to Puppet Fairytales, Learn How Wolf Trap’s Children’s Performance Season Comes Together
It’s just about show time, and hundreds of young children and their families are gathered together in the Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods (CTITW) amphitheater, under a canopy of leafy oak, poplar, and maple trees. What magical performance will await them today? It all starts with the woman standing to the left of the stage, with the walkie-talkie on her hip. Amy Russell is Wolf Trap’s manager of...
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Jun 09, 2025
Creating “Dandelion Magic”: Adapting Children’s Books for Drama Experiences
“Each year, somewhere in the world, a magical dandelion grows….”¹ Like many educators, Bowie High School Performing Arts Teacher Kelsey Meiklejohn Bowen pulls inspiration for her student projects from personal experiences. The Prince George’s County, MD teacher received a Grant for Performing Arts Teachers earlier this year from Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts to fund the development of a children’s theater project for...
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Jun 04, 2025
Wolf Trap Opera’s Visionary Women
Discover the visionary women who shaped Wolf Trap Opera—from trailblazing founder Catherine Filene Shouse to the rising female leaders carrying her legacy forward today. This season’s powerful heroines onstage mirror the real-life women who built WTO into a thriving home for the next generation of opera artists....
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Jun 03, 2025
Wolf Trap Opera Alumni Shine Brightly
For more than five decades, Wolf Trap Opera (WTO) has nurtured and launched the careers of some of the most promising emerging opera artists. From performing in the world’s best opera houses to winning top awards and competitions, take a look at just a few of the recent accomplishments of these stars as they excel around the globe....
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May 29, 2025
Know Before You Go: Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods
For many families in the greater Washington, DC area, Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods at Wolf Trap is a summer tradition. But even the most seasoned Children’s Theatre-goers can use a few reminders to make their experience the best it can be. Here are some tips to know before you go: Pack the essentials. Although the Children’s Theatre stage is located mostly in the shade, it still gets...
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May 26, 2025
Opera at The Barns: Your Go-To Guide
Opera productions, recitals, and salons, oh my! Get started on your opera journey at The Barns this summer by learning all the tips and tricks, including opera etiquette, directions, dining, and ticketing info....
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May 22, 2025
Lawn Life: Feel the Music at Wolf Trap
There’s nothing quite like lawn life at Wolf Trap. Whether grooving under the stars or unwinding with your favorite snacks, the lawn is where the best memories are made. Take advantage of the extra space and embrace your inner “Dancing Queen,” or kick back and relax with friends. Want to lounge in style? Our extra-comfy cushions are available to rent at the Gift Shop for...
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Recent Posts
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The Magic of a Wolf Trap Summer
May 29, 2025
-
Bizet’s Carmen: A Pop Culture Prima Donna
Jun 18, 2025
-
Creating “Dandelion Magic,” and Other Adventures in Young People’s Theater
Jun 16, 2025
-
Movie Magic: Behind the Scores
Jun 12, 2025
-
Coffee Cans, Masks, and Story Boxes: Strategies for Integrating Drama and Storytelling into Early Childhood Learning
Jun 09, 2025
