Adventure Theatre
Adventure Theatre is the longest-running children's theatre in the Washington, D.C. area. Located in Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, Maryland, it has been performing since 1951 and educating children in creative drama since 1978.[1]
History
Adventure Theatre was founded in 1951 by a group of women from the Community Arts Association’s drama classes.
In 1955 Adventure Theatre began commissioning plays by children’s theater playwrights Flora Atkins and Helen Avery.
The In-School Players, a traveling troupe, was launched in 1969 as a result of a request by the Director of Language Arts for the District of Columbia Public Schools. The In-School Players remains a vital part of AT programming.
Adventure Theatre moved into a new permanent space of its own in 1971 after years of touring, at Glen Echo Park, its current location.
For 1974–79, Adventure Theatre expanded programming by partnering with the Junior League to create The Picture Book Players, a performance troupe for pre-school and early elementary-aged children. Adventure Theatre also began offering its first theater-education classes and created a puppet division, now The Puppet Co., another resident of Glen Echo Park.
In 1986 New Plays Books published Six Adventure Theatre Plays, which were distributed to bookstores and children’s theaters around the country. The County Council of Montgomery County proclaimed June as “Adventure Theatre Month,” in honor of the theater’s 35 years of service.
Renovation of the home space was completed in 2007. The extensive renovation includes a theatre, new rehearsal spaces, and room for an expanded administrative staff.
References
- Horwitz, Jane (2007-11-07). "A New Adventure". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2008-07-28.
- Slattery, Chris (2007-11-07). "World of Whimsy". Gazette.net. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- Slattery, Chris (2008-02-06). "Children's crusade: A look at Ruby Bridges and friends". Gazette.net. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- Slattery, Chris (2008-07-16). "Thinking Outside the Barn". Gazette.net. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- Toscano, Michael J. (2007-11-09). "A New Adventure". Washingtopost.com. Retrieved 2008-07-29.
- Wren, Celia (2008-06-05). "No Whispering Hush In a Delightful 'Moon'". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved 2008-07-24. *
- Got Plans? With Kids, January 21, 2004 - WashingtonPost.com
- Adventure Theatre: “How Old is a Hero?”, February 10, 2008 – DCUrbanMom.com
- What’s Happening, May 29, 2008 – Washington Post.com
- Best Bets, June 12, 2008 – Washington Post.com
- Adventure Theatre’s New Season, June 25, 2008 – WashingtonPost.com
- News Archive for June, 2008 – Potomac Stages
- Cultural Capital.com
- Clara Barton National Historic Site