Mar. 26 - Apr. 4, 2025
Genre
Performances for Young Audiences
Don’t be afraid to make a new friend.
Leonardo is a terrible monster. He tries so hard to be scary, but he just… isn’t. Then Leonardo finds Sam, the most scaredy-cat kid in the world. Will Leonardo finally get to scare the tuna salad out of someone? Or will it be the start of an unlikely friendship? Originally commissioned as a virtual broadcast by the Kennedy Center, Leonardo! uses hundreds of illustrated paper puppets, book pages, two-dimensional props, furry monster puppets, and songs to bring Mo Willems’ books to life. Recreating the experience of holding one of Mo’s books, Manual Cinema brings a show that’s big, bold, colorful, and full of visual rhythm with a playful use of scale.
March 26-April 4, 2025
Family Theater, recommended for grades K-6
Estimated duration is approximately 45 minutes.
Please see the registration form for the availability of sensory-friendly performance options.
Are you a parent, caregiver, or adult looking for a listing of available public performances and times (March 28-April 6)? Find out more on the public show page!
We’re thrilled that you’ve joined us for a performance this season! We would like to hear from your students and you about the experience. After the performance, follow these steps to share feedback:
Each survey will take approximately five minutes to complete. The results will be used to inform future Kennedy Center Education program planning. Thank you in advance for sharing your valuable perspective!
In this K-2 lesson, students will create their own adjective monsters using paper sculpture techniques. They will explore the connections between visual art and language arts, and how both are used to creatively tell stories and express emotions.
Anything can be a puppet—and teaching artist Sam Jay Gold is here to show you how! Journey with Sam as he demonstrates how to create a rod puppet from any object in your home—all you need to do is “Put some arms on it!” Sam also demonstrates professional puppeteering techniques that transform simple movements into lively gestures and actions!
From traditional shadow puppets and lion dance celebrations from China, to bringing the beloved characters of children's book authors Leo Lionni and Mo Willems to the stage, to very different interpretations of the legend of The Lion King from both Disney and Sogolon Puppet Theatre from Mali, discover the vast world of puppetry, including activities on how you can make your own puppets at home.
Take a peek behind the red curtain and discover the artistry and history behind the world of theater. Explore the playwriting process first-hand, learn about the cultural impact of performance, and read and perform some of the most influential works of the 20th century.
Professional development for educators. Summer intensives for young artists. Teaching artist guided activities. Performances for young audiences. Classroom lesson plans. Arts-focused digital media.
Kennedy Center Education offers a wide array of resources and experiences that inspire, excite, and empower students and young artists, plus the tools and connections to help educators incorporate the arts into classrooms of all types.
Our current teaching and learning priorities include:
A robust collection of articles, videos, and podcasts that allow students of all ages to explore and learn about the arts online.
In-person and virtual performances, along with supporting educational content to help guide learning.
Current approaches to arts integration in the classroom, inclusion, rigor, and adopting an arts integration approach at the school and district level.
An asynchronous online course that invites educators and administrators to think about our students’ disabilities as social and cultural identities that enrich our classrooms and communities.
Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Bank of America; Capital One; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Carnegie Corporation of New York; The Ednah Root Foundation; Harman Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The Kiplinger Foundation; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; The Markow Totevy Foundation; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives;
Prince Charitable Trusts; Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Jackie Washington; GRoW @ Annenberg and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Family; Wells Fargo; and generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts..
The content of these programs may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal government.
