May 19th, 2025
World Premiere Kennedy Center Commissions
The Sea Beyond the Ocean
Fishing for Stars—Inaugural Kennedy Center commission work for the Theater for the Very Young
National Symphony Orchestra Family Concerts
Halloween Spooktacular! and Philharmonia Fantastique
Summer Of Fraggle Rock
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE, presented by the Jim Henson Company, makes its D.C. Premiere with its first-ever live show in Summer 2026
(Washington)—The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces its 2025–2026 Performances for Young Audiences season, filled with exciting adventures in theater, dance, and music that will engage audiences of all ages. Subscriptions will be available beginning at 10 a.m. today via the Kennedy Center website or by calling (202) 416-8500.
Audiences will have the chance to see two world premiere Kennedy Center commissioned productions as part of the season—The Sea Beyond the Ocean written by Doug Robinson and directed by KenYatta Rogers; and marking the Center’s first Theater for the Very Young commission, Fishing for Stars, an immersive non-verbal work for ages 2–6 created by Megan Alrutz, Claire Derriennic, S. Elliot, Renita James, and Xinyue Zhang.
“This season brings students of all ages on inspiring journeys,” remarked Jordan LaSalle, Vice President of Education. “Featuring some of the most exciting companies from across the nation and world, each performance encourages the young and young-at-heart to unleash their imaginations. We are thrilled to continue our decades-long commitment to commissioning new works, including our first for our youngest of audiences and their families.”
Musical exploration abounds from small ensembles to full orchestral family concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra including the return of Grammy Award®-winning composer Mason Bates’ dynamic multimedia concerto Philharmonia Fantastique, which won the 2023 Grammy Award® for Best Engineered Album, Classical. Super Cello! returns with cellist turned superhero and continues an over five-year collaborative partnership with Teller Productions of Atlanta, combining whimsical puppetry with music and storytelling.
The season also includes a new play, Young Dragon, an action-packed origin story about the journey of martial arts icon Bruce Lee. Co-commissioned with Seattle Children’s Theatre, the play is written by Keiko Green. Plus, five presentations and three concerts from innovative companies and artists across the country and the world inspire audiences to unlock their creativity. Concluding the season, the iconic TV series Fraggle Rock embarks on a brand-new musical adventure in Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE during the summer of 2026, presented by the Jim Henson Company.
Throughout the season, families are also invited to explore the artistic process more deeply through creative conversations with the artists following select performances and hands-on education activities at the Moonshot Studio on most Saturdays and Sundays at the REACH.
The 2025–2026 Performances for Young Audiences Season
Concerts for Young Audiences
Joanie Leeds
October 4, 2025 | Family Theater
Experience the joyful adventure of life through song.
Join Joanie Leeds for a fun and engaging performance filled with music, stories, and hilarious anecdotes. The Grammy Award®–winning singer-songwriter is also a national touring artist and early childhood educator. Joanie’s songs traverse an eclectic spectrum of genres—folk, rock, pop, and hip hop. Since 2008, Joanie has performed nationwide and released 11 full-length children’s music albums. Most enjoyed by ages 5+. back...
The Sea Beyond the Ocean
Fishing for Stars—Inaugural Kennedy Center commission work for the Theater for the Very Young
National Symphony Orchestra Family Concerts
Halloween Spooktacular! and Philharmonia Fantastique
Summer Of Fraggle Rock
Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE, presented by the Jim Henson Company, makes its D.C. Premiere with its first-ever live show in Summer 2026
(Washington)—The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces its 2025–2026 Performances for Young Audiences season, filled with exciting adventures in theater, dance, and music that will engage audiences of all ages. Subscriptions will be available beginning at 10 a.m. today via the Kennedy Center website or by calling (202) 416-8500.
Audiences will have the chance to see two world premiere Kennedy Center commissioned productions as part of the season—The Sea Beyond the Ocean written by Doug Robinson and directed by KenYatta Rogers; and marking the Center’s first Theater for the Very Young commission, Fishing for Stars, an immersive non-verbal work for ages 2–6 created by Megan Alrutz, Claire Derriennic, S. Elliot, Renita James, and Xinyue Zhang.
“This season brings students of all ages on inspiring journeys,” remarked Jordan LaSalle, Vice President of Education. “Featuring some of the most exciting companies from across the nation and world, each performance encourages the young and young-at-heart to unleash their imaginations. We are thrilled to continue our decades-long commitment to commissioning new works, including our first for our youngest of audiences and their families.”
Musical exploration abounds from small ensembles to full orchestral family concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra including the return of Grammy Award®-winning composer Mason Bates’ dynamic multimedia concerto Philharmonia Fantastique, which won the 2023 Grammy Award® for Best Engineered Album, Classical. Super Cello! returns with cellist turned superhero and continues an over five-year collaborative partnership with Teller Productions of Atlanta, combining whimsical puppetry with music and storytelling.
The season also includes a new play, Young Dragon, an action-packed origin story about the journey of martial arts icon Bruce Lee. Co-commissioned with Seattle Children’s Theatre, the play is written by Keiko Green. Plus, five presentations and three concerts from innovative companies and artists across the country and the world inspire audiences to unlock their creativity. Concluding the season, the iconic TV series Fraggle Rock embarks on a brand-new musical adventure in Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock LIVE during the summer of 2026, presented by the Jim Henson Company.
Throughout the season, families are also invited to explore the artistic process more deeply through creative conversations with the artists following select performances and hands-on education activities at the Moonshot Studio on most Saturdays and Sundays at the REACH.
The 2025–2026 Performances for Young Audiences Season
Concerts for Young Audiences
Joanie Leeds
October 4, 2025 | Family Theater
Experience the joyful adventure of life through song.
Join Joanie Leeds for a fun and engaging performance filled with music, stories, and hilarious anecdotes. The Grammy Award®–winning singer-songwriter is also a national touring artist and early childhood educator. Joanie’s songs traverse an eclectic spectrum of genres—folk, rock, pop, and hip hop. Since 2008, Joanie has performed nationwide and released 11 full-length children’s music albums. Most enjoyed by ages 5+. back...
