Kennedy Center and US Botanic Garden Collaborate on Two World Premieres
The Kennedy Center and the United States Botanic Garden have launched their first-ever collaboration to present two world premiere productions — The Cerulean Time Capsule and Flowers Stink. The shows, appropriate for patrons ages seven and up, will offer free performances at the U.S. Botanic Garden in September and October. The world premieres will be presented as part of the Kennedy Center’s Theater for Young Audiences 2015-16 season.
"We are excited to collaborate with the Kennedy Center to leverage the magic of theater to communicate the importance and beauty of plants to children and families," says Ari Novy, executive director of the U.S. Botanic Garden. "This will be the first time we have partnered to create and present theater in the Garden, and it is a perfect coupling — both gardens and theater seek to immerse people in unique and exciting worlds. These two productions will both educate and delight the audience through the world of plants."
The Cerulean Time Capsule is described as an "interactive and site-specific theatrical adventure performed inside and throughout the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory in Washington, D.C." Created by Jonathan Shmidt Chapman and Drew Petersen from the Trusty Sidekick Theater Company, with direction by Drew Petersen, the story follows Benjamin Peale, a botanist who claims to be a time traveler from the year 2041. Benjamin needs help from the audience to stop a critical discovery from happening in the U.S. Botanic Garden — one that will bring catastrophe and destruction to the world as we know it. Audiences must help Benjamin find the mythic Cerulean Time Capsule before it’s too late.
The production is performed nine shows per day on weekends from September 12-October 25, as well as on Columbus Day, October 12, with each performance accommodating up to 12 audience members at one time. Show times occur every half hour from 10:30am-12pm and 2pm-4pm. The production stars Russell Sunday and Aaron Bliden, with costume design by Jacy Barber. Gregg Henry directs.
Flowers Stink is a musical production performed outdoors on the Amphitheatre stage at the U.S. Botanic Garden. With words and music by Debra Buonaccorsi and Stephen McWilliams, the musical mixes singing and dancing with folk, bluegrass, blues, and gospel to tell the story of how one middle school girl learns to appreciate nature by opening her eyes, ears, and mind to the beauty around her, unleashing the very best of her imagination and creativity.
The production is performed to the public on select Saturdays from September 26-October 24, and on weekday mornings during this time period for school groups by reservation. The cast includes Maggie Donnelly, Jonathan Feuer, and Sakile Lyles, with set and costume design by Colin Ranney and sound design by Thomas Sowers.
To reserve a spot at The Cerulean Time Capsule, click on the Buy Tickets link here.
For more information about Flowers Stink, click here.
