Call It Social Music or All-Ages Music (or Both), the Grammy-wining Performer Shares His Recipe for Collaboration, Friendship, and the Democratization of Music Grammy Award Winner and Smithsonian Folkways recording artist Dan Zanes proves that it’s much easier (and a lot more fun!) to get by with a little help from his friends. Zanes boasts a career full of collaborations with all kinds of music...
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Whether they’re composing family-friendly jams or orchestrating the whimsical world of their popular family music podcast, Ear Snacks, children’s performers Andrew & Polly are a truly harmonious duo. The pair has spent nearly 15 years crafting clever, toe-tapping tunes and heartfelt musical conversations that strike a chord with both kids and grown-ups. Ahead of their upcoming performance at Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, Andrew & Polly discuss their...
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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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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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“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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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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The Amazing Max Makes His Return to Wolf Trap─This Time as a Performer At Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, it’s not unusual to see multiple generations of families return year after year for performances, but it’s not often that one of Wolf Trap’s audience members makes his grand return to Theatre-in-the-Woods as a performer on stage. This summer, Washington, DC native, Max Darwin, AKA “The Amazing...
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Diverse Dance Performances Provide a Window Into Other Cultures This season, Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods will transport audiences around the world with an exciting lineup of dance performances that feature European, Asian, and Native American cultures. Whether it’s delighting in the colorful, playful Chinese lions of “Choy Wun” or marveling at the beautiful costumes and intricate hand movements showcased in “Mayur Dance,” families won’t have to travel...
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Grammy-Winning Children’s Artist Returns to Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods Sun. July 7 Beloved children’s music artist Joanie Leeds loves using music as a platform to address contemporary issues in a way that is accessible for children. Her last album, “All the Ladies,” celebrating female changemakers, won a Grammy for its positive, life-affirming messages for children. Her new album, “FREADOM,” creatively addresses the issue of banned children’s picture...
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Puppetry and music have gone hand-in-hand in storytelling even before “Sesame Street.” Andy Furgeson takes this medium to a whole new level with his bard-like persona, Red Yarn. In his folk-rock music, whimsical online video content, and boot-stomping live performances, Red Yarn strives to create inclusion and unity for future generations. ...
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