Blog - Imagination Stage

Dream Bigger: One Teacher’s Experience with Learning through Theatre

March 15, 2019

Dream Bigger: One Teacher’s Experience with Learning through Theatre Connie Kang is a third grade teacher at Highland Elementary School. She’s a child of a first generation immigrant and a fan of arts integrated education. “Many parents are working to provide basic necessities for their families and don’t have the time or finances to look for outside programs or experiences,” said Connie. “Or being new to the country, they don’t have the know-how or the resources to find them. A child of first-generation immigrants myself, my model for the world was my school.” Imagination Stage’s Learning through Theatre program provides […]

Óyeme, the beautiful – 2019 tour

March 4, 2019

MEDIA CONTACT: Jessica Pettit Imagination Stage [email protected] 301-280-1641 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Play Óyeme, the Beautiful Highlights the plight of unaccompanied minors, refugees, and immigrants Three Special Performances Around Washington, D.C. Seek to Build Empathy, Advocacy, and Policy Solutions BETHESDA, MD (March 4, 2019) This March, Imagination Stage hosts three special performances of Óyeme, the beautiful – a powerful and timely play about the spiritual, emotional, and physical journey of unaccompanied minors, refugees, and other immigrants. Óyeme, the beautiful was inspired by the stories of students from around the D.C. area who fled violence in Central America. The professional production tours annually – […]

Pegasus Ensemble presents: O, Wonder! A Tempest Tale

March 2, 2019

Imagination Stage’s Pegasus Ensemble presents O, Wonder! A Tempest Tale The culmination of a two-year actor training program designed for students with cognitive or developmental disabilities Article by Giovanna Yarn On a Wednesday evening at Imagination Stage, the eleven members of the Pegasus Ensemble arrive with bright smiles as they greet one another with open arms, cheers, and laughter. Their evident comradery is electric, especially for director Kirsten Grorud. “This is one of the kindest group of actors I’ve ever worked with—they really root for one another and help each other backstage. I think the characters in this piece speak […]

Imagination Stage Nominated for 11 Helen Hayes Awards

February 5, 2019

Imagination Stage Nominated for 11 Helen Hayes Awards Three Imagination Stage productions have been nominated for Helen Hayes Awards, for a total of 11 nominations. “We are delighted to be recognized in so many of the Hayes categories from design, to acting and direction,” said Imagination Stage Founding Artistic Director Janet Stanford. “It’s a tribute to the Washington theatre community which shares its talents with young people as well as adults.” See the full list of nominations below! The Princess & The Pauper- A Bollywood Tale Outstanding Set Design, Emily […]

Anatole: Mouse Magnifique Director’s Note

January 31, 2019

Anatole: Mouse Magnifique Director’s Note I was first introduced to the Anatole stories when I was a child and my best friend’s mother read them to us. I know I loved them then but they had faded from my memory until Janet gave me a copy of an Anatole book she used to read to her children. It was like seeing an old friend. I remembered how much I enjoyed the character of Anatole, how much his heroic efforts thrilled me, and how his adventures through Paris ignited my imagination. I was reminded of the spirit of these stories and their simple and […]

Davy Copperfield- A Hero from the Past for Today

January 28, 2019

Davy Copperfield—a Hero from the Past for Today Monthly installments of Charles Dickens’s books were the closest thing to Netflix in the nineteenth century. Families across the English-speaking world sat up after supper beside their fireplaces to read aloud the latest chapter of David Copperfield (or any of the superstar author’s 14 other novels). Charles Dickens’s stories made them laugh, cry, and get mad at the injustices of their world. And his characters felt so real that everyone believed they knew a cranky aunt like Betsey Trotwood or a villain like Mr. Murdstone. Some readers even worried about Dickens’s child […]

Students on Students: Little Mermaid review by Kaylen Chang

January 12, 2019

Students on Students: A Review of The Little Mermaid JR by Kaylen Chang Imagination Stage’s ISPE (IStage Performance Ensemble, made up of students in grades 6-12) brought the classic Disney tale, The Little Mermaid Jr., to the stage using everything from colorful hip-hop numbers to romantic duets to powerful villain ballads. Ariel (Caitlyn Forté) longs to be on land in search of true love. But before she can live happily ever after, she must sacrifice her voice to Ursula the Sea Witch (Molly Howard), and leave her beloved ocean home where her father, King Triton (Spencer Hoffman), reigns mighty. The show […]

Students on Students: Little Mermaid review by Clara Baisinger-Rosen

January 11, 2019

Students on Students: A Review of The Little Mermaid, by Clara Baisinger-Rosen The young actors at Imagination Stage truly shine in this weekend’s production of The Little Mermaid. Directed by John Eby, music directed by Piero Bonamico, and choreographed by Amelia Nickles, the show is a hit for audiences of all ages. Whether or not you are one for modern dance moves or even a doo-wop style song, The IStage Performance Ensemble’s The Little Mermaid is a show for anyone who is looking for a fun time. For starters, this group made great use of the Lerner Family Theatre at […]

IStage Star: Vivian Poe

December 18, 2018

IStage Star: Vivian Poe When Vivian Poe saw her first show at Imagination Stage in 2014, she knew immediately that she wanted to be a musical theatre actress. Four years later, Poe is still an avid student at Imagination Stage, and is currently stunning onstage as Debbie Wilkinson in Signature Theatre’s production of Billy Elliot the Musical. Poe was nine years old when she relocated to Bethesda from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She had a talent for the performing arts, dancing with Ballet Concierto de San Juan since the age of four and singing with Coro de Niños de San […]

Imagination Stage Founding Artistic Director Invited to Speak in Beijing

September 7, 2018

Imagination Stage Founding Artistic Director Invited to Speak in Beijing In late August, Founding Artistic Director Janet Stanford and Associate Artistic Director Kathryn Chase Bryer traveled to Beijing, China to attend ASSITEJ’s Artistic Gathering 2018, where Janet was asked to speak on the importance of international collaboration in the arts. As “The Olympics of Children’s Theatre,” the International Association of Theatre for Children and Young People (ASSITEJ) is engaged with 92 countries and 75 national centers to promote, research, and develop theatrical arts for children and young people worldwide. The Artistic Gathering provides a platform for teaching artists to exchange […]