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Discovery Theater

Foundational Reading Skills, Earth and Space Sciences, Literature, Cultures, Music, Nonfiction Informational Reading, Life Sciences, Performing Arts, Speaking and Listening, Geography, Visual Arts, Writing, US History, World Languages, World History :
Smithsonian Staff

MISSION

Mission of the Smithsonian Institution: “The increase and diffusion of knowledge.” 

Smithsonian Associates advances the Institution’s mission to “increase and diffuse knowledge” through life-enriching educational and cultural experiences inspired by the Smithsonian’s research and collections for DC-region students, families, and adults, and for learning communities nationwide.

Discovery Theater has been presenting DC-area children with live educational performances for more than 30 years. As a program of the Smithsonian Associates, Discovery Theater serves as a child’s gateway to the exhibitions, collections, and cultures contained in the museums on the National Mall and beyond.  There’s so much to explore at the Smithsonian!

HISTORY

Founded in 1964 as The Smithsonian Puppet Theater, performing in a room in the NMAH on the third floor.

*Interesting fact: an electrical fire two weeks before the theatre opened destroyed all of Bob Brown’s Marionette puppets, and delayed the opening by two months while new puppets were constructed.

In 1979, the theater moved into the historic Arts and Industries Building and rechristened as Discovery Theater. The theater continued to feature puppets and began to include other traditional arts such as storytelling, acoustic music from around the globe, mime and commedia clowning; retelling of classical Greek and Roman fables and myths and ensemble performance in the manner of festival or street performers. The theater’s inclusion as part of the Smithsonian Associates defined its mission as serving primarily the Metropolitan area’s children and their teachers and families.

*Interesting fact: Harold Closter, now Director of Smithsonian Affiliations, as a program assistant helped lay the original carpet and stage and remembers the excitement of the theater’s opening well!

By 1995, Discovery Theater had broadened its reach to present the heritage and cultural arts, and accessible science and math; reflecting the larger collections and making it a ‘gateway’ to the Smithsonian for local children. Its affordable ticket price and community of educational artists, teachers, parents, children who had grown up with Discovery Theater and the Smithsonian make this a destination in our nation’s capital, and most area schools children’s first visit to both a theater and a museum.

*Interesting fact: Dinorock, award winning puppet and music artists, premiered every one of their 7 shows right in Discovery Theater before heading out on their National tours—(you see it first at Discovery Theater!)

In 2004, the Arts and Industries (one of the two oldest buildings at the Smithsonian, built in 1882) closed its doors to the public to await a much needed renovation. Discovery Theater, its 300+ annual shows and programs, 50,000 children and adult audience members, (and the puppets!) moved into a beautiful new boutique performing space designed for them by Sachs Morgan Studios, one of the leading designers of theaters in the country.

*Interesting fact: In this same year, Discovery Theater began the first tour of its blockbuster Black History piece, Black Diamond: Satchel Paige and the Negro Leagues; written by Raquis Petree with music by Marion Johnson. The program, part of a series entitled The Greatest Stories Never Told, stills tours today, now with two other pieces from the series Going the Distance: Wilma Rudolph and Jesse Owens; and How Old is a Hero? Young People of the Civil Rights Movement

Discovery Theater's collections

 

The Snowy Day

<p>Discovery Theater is a pan-institutional museum theater dedicated to bringing theatre to young audiences and general visitors on and off the Mall since 1969. Join us for an exclusive screening of the Daytime Emmy Award-winning animated film The Snowy Day, based on Ezra Jack Keats' 1962 classic story. Narrated by Laurence Fishburne and with character voices by Regina King, Angela Bassett, and Jamie-Lynn Sigler, the film follows young Peter’s magical, snowy walk to his Nana's house to bring home their Christmas Eve dinner. One the way, he meets some new (and diverse) friends who come together to celebrate many traditions. A very special day indeed!</p>
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Taiko Drums

<p>Discovery Theater is a pan-institutional museum theater dedicated to bringing theatre to young audiences and general visitors on and off the Mall since 1969.  The world’s most dangerous half-Japanese/half-Scottish solo improvisational taiko drum artist combines this traditional form of powerful playing on huge “Taiko” (drum) with a modern vibe, creating  participatory performances that rock the house and educate all the senses. Taiko players are their own instruments—the body dances as the music pours forth with massive sound and energy.  Experience Mark and his music in a dynamic show that celebrates this fierce Japanese artform.  </p>
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St. Paddy’s Day w/Pete Moss & The Bog Band

<p>Discovery Theater is a pan-institutional museum theater dedicated to bringing theatre to young audiences and general visitors on and off the Mall since 1969. The Bog Band is a group of young musicians who are “mad” for traditional Irish music and dance. Led by Pete Moss (a/k/a Mitch Fanning), they raise the roof to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with live Irish music and throw ion some lively step dancing. Add in a little cultural background and “Sure and it’ll be a rattlin’ good time!”  A Music in our schools Month program.</p>
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Retratos: My people, Myself

<p>Discovery Theater is a pan-institutional museum theater dedicated to bringing theatre to young audiences and general visitors on and off the Mall since 1969. Originally created for with the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and Young Playwright’s Theater, this joyous theatrical portrait of the many faces of Latin America was written by children from D.C. schools who responded to paintings from the exhibition, Retratos: 2,000 Years of Latin American Portraits.  Student’s monologues create this warm and interactive play about how our lives are magnificent reflections of our ancestry and America’s future.  This joyous theatrical portrait of the many faces of Latin America asks students the question, "How can we ‘portray’ the richness of our heritage and still be an American child... and how are we, in our lives, a portrait of today’s world?"</p>
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Once Upon a Moon

<p>Discovery Theater is a pan-institutional museum theater dedicated to bringing theatre to young audiences and general visitors on and off the Mall since 1969. Let’s go to the moon! In this exciting, interactive show for our youngest audiences, performers and puppets spin new and old stories about the moon’s magic, introducing the magical science that brought rockets to its surface. What new worlds can we dream about next? </p>
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Kinobe’s Dance of Hope from Uganda

<p>Discovery Theater is a pan-institutional museum theater dedicated to bringing theatre to young audiences and general visitors on and off the Mall since 1969. Cultural ambassador Kinobe and his troupe of teen Ugandan performers share the stories of their lives and their homeland with the world through a dance performance in partnership with the National Museum of African Art! Music, costumes, and dance showcase a generation of young Africans who are meeting--and shaping--their futures with resilience and creativity. </p>
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Here We Go Team!

<p>This Discovery Theatre original scores big in a musical play about sharing and taking turns, the importance of personal space, and the awesome power of teamwork.  Five-year-olds Mika and Casey are aspiring soccer stars and best friends—but they’ve ended up on separate teams! Through a mishap on the field, they discover that helping people is cool, thanks to another kind of 'team'-- of medical stars who make everyone feel great.  </p>
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Grandma's Thanksgiving Visit

<p>This interactive play created by Creative Tools for Teaching team is infused with pre-literacy, pre-numeracy, and inquiry-based activities. It celebrates family and the many things we are thankful for! Grandma has arrived for the holiday—and that can only mean making puppets, cooking together, washing the car, and learning lots of fun new things. This musical play with a great big heart brings the whole audience into the family with singing, finger play, and call-and response as we all give thanks for being together. Presented by Discovery Theater--a pan-institutional museum theater dedicated to bringing theatre to young audiences and general visitors on and off the Mall since 1969. </p>
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Going the Distance

<p>Discovery Theater is a pan-institutional museum theater dedicated to bringing theatre to young audiences and general visitors on and off the Mall since 1969.Race to the finish line with two black Olympians who changed history! Soaring music and the exhilaration of world-class sorts inspire us all to greatness in this vivid portrayal of the lives of Jesse Owens and Wilma Rudolph. Watch them overcome childhood illness, infirmity, and poverty to become the world’s fastest man and fastest woman, winning the greatest honor in athletics: the Olympic Gold medal. The John Cornelius II score speaks to the heart and soul of the winner in all of us.<br /></p> <p></p>
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