Kimmel Center Announces 2019/20 Family Series
By: Julie Musbach Jul. 16, 2019
The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus announces the returning Family Discovery Series for the upcoming 2019-20 season, a selection of programming curated to appeal to burgeoning arts lovers. The fifth consecutive season of the Family Discovery Series includes returning favorites, all-new productions, and reimagined classics featuring live performances from beloved characters, innovative puppetry, powerful music, and beautiful dance. This year's series is generously sponsored by Santander. Packages for 2019-20 Family Series performances go on sale July 16.
"The Kimmel Center's ongoing Family Discovery Series provides an indispensable opportunity to cultivate a passion for the arts in our region's youth," said Ed Cambron, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. "It is incredibly rewarding to witness joy & excitement on the faces of these young guests as they enjoy programs across our Cultural Campus, from this series to free education opportunities & weekend fun. As we continue to promote our vision to transform lives daily through the arts, this year's lineup will entertain audiences of all ages with a myriad of shows that are educational and inspiring."
The 2019/20 Family Discovery Series lineup includes: Baby Shark Live! (November 10, 2019); The Rainbow Fish (November 23, 2019), including sensory-friendly performance at 12PM; A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage (December 20 - 21, 2019); Cirque Dreams: Holidaze (December 26 - 29, 2019); Drumline Live (January 10 - 11, 2020); Riverdance - New 25th Anniversary Show (January 21 - 26, 2020); Nick Jr. Live! Move to the Music(February 7 - 9, 2020); Ballet Folclòrico Nacional de México de Silvia Lozano (March 12, 2020); Simple Gifts with Organ with The Cashore Marionettes & Organist Marvin Mills (March 21, 2020); Wild Kratts Live 2.0 - Activate Creature Power (April 18, 2020); and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood LIVE! (May 9, 2020). Additional details for the individual shows are available below.
Family Discovery Series
BABY SHARK LIVE!
Academy of Music
November 10, 2019
Take an adventure into the sea with Baby Shark, Ollie, as he joins up with his friend Pinkfong to sing and dance through some of your favorite new and classic songs! Baby Shark Live! is a state-of-the-art kids spectacular using interactive LED screens, large scale special effects, audience participation, and amazing meet-and-greet opportunities to engage friends and fans of all ages. In this one-of-a-kind concert experience, young fans will be dancing in the aisles as Baby Shark and his friends go on fun adventures to learn about shapes, colors, numbers, and so much more! Some of the hit songs include "Baby Shark," "Five Little Monkeys," "Wheels on the Bus," "Jungle Boogie," and "Monkey Banana Dance!".
THE RAINBOW FISH
Merriam Theater
November 23, 2019
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia's elegant new show, The Rainbow Fish, includes an original stage adaptation of Marcus Pfister's colorful story, as well as two of the author's companion tales, Rainbow Fish Discovers the Deep Sea and Opposites. Mermaid Theatre has earned international acclaim for its unique interpretations of the works of Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar), Leo Lionni (Swimmy, Frederick & Inch by Inch) and Sam McBratney (Guess How Much I Love You). These widely-travelled productions incorporate innovative puppetry, striking scenic effects, and evocative original music to provide very young audiences with an effortless introduction to the performing arts and the excitement of reading.
*12PM performance of The Rainbow Fish will be sensory-friendly.
A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS LIVE ON STAGE
Merriam Theater
December 20 - December 21, 2019
Everyone's favorite holiday classic comes to life in the all-new touring production A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage! Join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the whole Peanuts gang as they produce their own Christmas play and ultimately learn the true meaning of the season. A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage is a present the whole family can enjoy! Adapted from Charles M. Schulz's timeless story of the spirit of Christmas, A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage features the unforgettable music of Vince Guaraldi, as well as a concert of beloved holiday carols performed by the Peanuts characters. There's no better way to discover the magic of the season!
CIRQUE DREAMS: HOLIDAZE
Merriam Theater
December 26 - December 29, 2019
Cirque Dreams Holidaze lights up the 2019 holiday season with its popular and electrifying stage spectacular The New York Daily News proclaims "a delicious confection of charm, sparkle and talent by the sleigh load and so full of energy it could end our dependence on oil." Cirque Dream Holidaze features the most unique cast of incomparable cirque artists and theatrical talent that leaves audiences spellbound. This critically-acclaimed extravaganza is a BROADWAY MUSICAL AND NEW CIRQUE ADVENTURE WRAPPED INTO THE ULTIMATE HOLIDAY GIFT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. Over 300 imaginative costumes, 20 world-class astonishing acts, the finest singers, original music and seasonal favorites celebrate Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas and New Year's in a 2-hour breathtaking spectacle. Audiences of all ages will marvel at soaring acrobatics, gravity defying feats and extravagant theatrical production numbers. Experience this unique multi-million-dollar live stage show that "Dazzled" at the Kennedy Center, "Sparkled" at the Grand Ole Opry House and Broadway World calls "The Perfect Holiday Gift...a show that everyone will enjoy."
DRUMLINE LIVE
Merriam Theater
January 10 - January 11, 2020
Drumline Live, the show-stopping attraction created by the musical team behind the hit movies, Drumline and Drumline: A New Beat, embodies the soulful, high-stepping style of the Historically Black College and University (HBCU) marching band experience. With its riveting rhythms, bold beats, and ear-grabbing energy, Drumline Live is a high-octane musical roller coaster ride that is guaranteed to touch every emotion in your body.
RIVERDANCE - NEW 25TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW
Merriam Theater
January 21 - January 26, 2020
Riverdance, as you've never seen or heard it before! A powerful and stirring re-invention of this beloved favourite, celebrated the world-over for its Grammy award-winning score and the excitement, energy and dynamism of its Irish and International Dance. Twenty-five years on, renowned composer Bill Whelan brings this mesmerizing soundtrack back to life, completely revitalized for the first time since those original orchestral recordings. Producer Moya Doherty and Director John McColgan have produced an amazing new 25thAnniversary production with innovative and spectacular lighting, projection, staging and costume design, and an all-new finale number which will blow audiences away. Immerse yourself in the extraordinary power and grace of music and dance -beloved by fans of all ages. Fall in love with the magic of Riverdance all over again.
NICK JR. LIVE! MOVE TO THE MUSIC
Academy of Music
February 7 - February 9, 2020
Sing, dance, clap, cheer, and move to the music with friends from Bubble Guppies, Paw Patrol, Dora The Explorer, Shimmer and Shine, Blue's Clues and You, Blaze and the Monster Machines, and Top Wing in an unforgettable musical spectacular: Nick Jr. Live! "Move to the Music" follows Dora and her PAW co-hosts, Marshall and Rubble, as they team up with their Nick Jr. friends, live on stage together for the first time ever, in a one-of-a-kind adventure sure to excite the whole family!
BALLET FOLCLÒRICO NACIONAL DE MÉXICO DE SILVIA LOZANO
Merriam Theater
March 12, 2020
Ballet Folclórico Nacional de México is an institution tasked with the dissemination, preservation, and promotion of the Culture of Mexico, both at home and abroad. With an artistic career spanning over 56 years, the BFNM reflects the work of Mexico's leading researchers and practitioners of folklore, dance, music and costumes.
SIMPLE GIFTS WITH ORGAN
THE CASHORE MARIONETTES & ORGANIST MARVIN MILLS
Verizon Hall
March 21, 2020
Simple Gifts combines The Cashore Marionettes with music by organist Marvin Mills for a series of touching portrayals and poignant scenes from everyday life, set to stunning music by such composers as Vivaldi, Strauss, Beethoven, and Copland. Through a combination of virtuoso manipulation, beautiful music, theatrical illusion, and artistic insight, the original vignettes presented in Simple Gifts provide an entertaining and compelling vision of what it is to be human. The Marionettes are engineering marvels and the quality of movement is extraordinary! For ages 8 and up.
WILD KRATTS LIVE 2.0 - ACTIVATE CREATURE POWER
Merriam Theater
April 18, 2020
Wild Kratts Live is a theatrical stage show based on the #1 animated television series Wild Kratts. Martin and Chris Kratt, stars of the Emmy-nominatedWild Kratts, step out LIVE ON STAGE to engage the audience in a classic Wild Kratts story. Experience, live-on-stage, the astounding "creature" fundamentals and the infectious excitement and inspiring quest of the Kratt Brothers that make the hit television series Wild Kratts so popular with kids and their families.
DANIEL TIGER'S NEIGHBORHOOD LIVE!
Merriam Theater
May 9, 2020
The grr-ific musical for little tigers and grown-ups alike is back! The hugely popular Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood LIVE!, based on the #1 PBS KIDS TV series, has delighted live audiences on stages across the country. Now in its fourth year of touring, your favorite characters are hopping back on board Trolley and coming to your town. Daniel and all of his friends invite you to an adventure in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe. The beloved characters come alive on stage to captivate audiences with songs to sing along to, magical moments, and SURPRISE guests along the way! It's an event filled with tigertastic fun, teaching the valuable lessons of kindness, helping others, and being a friend.
Packages are on sale now and start at $16.50 per show. Choose three or more shows from our spectacular Family Discovery Series and save 10%. Select tickets for individual shows go on sale August 30.
Packages can be purchased by calling 215-893-1950, online at kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling (215) 790-5883. More information at kimmelcenter.org.
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