National theater Free Performances

Saturday Morning at the National has been sponsored exclusively since its inception
 by Marriott International, Inc., and the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation.
The National Theatre is a not-for-profit 501.c.3. organization

The performances are best appreciated by children four years and older.

Feb. 2—Tim Marrone: Clowning Around with Shakespeare

Laughter reigns supreme when a lowly court jester prepares for his first audience with England’s newly crowned monarch, King James I. Kids help calm our clown’s frazzled nerves by assuming characters in his performance and providing backup with songs and sound effects in an entertaining show filled with comic spontaneity.

Feb. 9—The Maestro

In the tradition of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin, an eccentric mute conductor makes musical mayhem with the kids serving as his unwitting orchestra. Young and old will laugh with delight when high art and slapstick comedy intertwine in a musical morning filled with chaos and confusion!

Feb. 23—Theatre IV: Sweet Chariot

Upbeat and inspirational, the talented singers and actors of Sweet Chariot combine dazzling a capella spirituals withoralhistories of former slaves who were interviewed during the 1930s Federal Writers Project. Their first-hand accounts of the joys and agonies of everyday life, and their efforts to escape to freedom

across the Ohio River, provide a unique window on our African-American history.


March 2—Mary Ann Jung: Pee Wee Pirates

Ahoy there, Maties! Set sail with Captain Jean, The Pirate Queen, on a rollicking ‘round-the-world adventure in sailing! In this fast-moving and interactive show, kids are asked to volunteer for duty hoisting the rigging, swabbing the decks and looking for land while learning details of foreign cultures the world over.

March 9—The Bog Band and Shannon Dunne 

Dance Company

Celebrate the Irish in all of us with a fun-filled St. Patrick’s Day show of traditional Irish music and dance! The Bog Band,a group of young musicians totally mad for traditional Irish
music, will be joined by the Shannon Dunne Dance Company which specializes in “Old Style“ dance steps.

March 16—The Adventures of Polly Pedestrian

Polly learns important lessons—in English and Spanish—about traffic, pedestrian and bicycle safety from an unlikely friend: Ricardo, The Cavalier Raccoon! Puppetry, cool characters and a rockin’ finale enhance this wise

play which teaches taking responsibility for one’s actions and having compassion for others.

March 23—Mother Goose: Jazz’n Blues!

Christiana Drapkin’s Jazz Ensemble returns by popular demand! Sing, clap your hands, snap your fingers and swing in this interactive musical morning filled with variations on popular children’s tunes. Everyone is part of the action whether singing about Goldilocks and The Three Bears, Old MacDonald’s band, riding on Route 66 or Swinging on a Star.

April 6—Matthew Pauli: The Sword in the Stone
Fresh from his last appearance as Captain Nobeard, Matthew Pauli

returns as the hapless serf who, with a little help from the kids, attempts to draw the legendary Sword from the Stone to find the one true King. Slapstick, silliness and a little bit of magic brings order to the realm and a guaranteed smile to everyone’s face!




 April 20—Jackie Urbanovic: It’s a duck!

No, a hamster!
Join children’s illustrator and author Jackie Urbanovic as she sings, growls and quacks up a storm while reading from her
best-selling children’s books. Afterwards, Jackie will speak on how a picture book is created and draw a special character
imagined by the kids in the audience!


April 27—Uno, Dos, Tres, con Andrés!


Salguero, and his iguana named “Juana”, leads the kids on an interactive Latin American adventure exploring Spanish culture. Kids are invited to sing, shake, and sound out rhythms with Andrés, all to music filled with a contagious Latin beat!





May 4—Brian Curry: Magic and Mischief 

Saturday Morning at the National has been sponsored exclusively since its inception

 by Marriott International, Inc., and the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation.
The National Theatre is a not-for-profit 501.c.3. organization

The performances are best appreciated by children four years and older.

Saturdays at 9:30 & 11 am • Helen Hayes Gallery • Free admission • Tickets required: first come-first seated.

Tickets distributed 1/2 hour prior to performance. • One ticket per person in line. • Food and drink are not allowed.
The National Theatre • 1321 Pennsylvania Ave., NW • Washington, DC 20004 • Information: (202) 783-3372