Contributed by Arts on the Horizon
(Alexandria, VA – October 3, 2013) Arts on the Horizon, the first dedicated theater for very young children in the United States, presents its production of Drumming with Dishes: The Holiday Edition, which runs December 3-8, 2013 at the W-3 Theatre at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA. Back by popular demand, this nonverbal play with music, written by David Kilpatrick, is a special holiday version of the popular show which premiered back in May 2011 and was originally directed by Jennifer Furlong. Drumming with Dishes: The Holiday Edition is intended for audiences aged 2-6 and their families.
Inspired by theater for ages 0-6 that she had seen internationally, founder and producing artistic director Michelle Kozlak started Arts on the Horizon to serve Northern Virginia families with high- quality participatory theater created specifically for this young age group. Kozlak says of Drumming with Dishes: The Holiday Edition, “My hope is that this performance will inspire children to find music all around them in everyday objects. Creative play and exploration are so essential to a child’s development at this age; we hope their imaginative adventures will continue long after the performance has ended.”
This Arts on the Horizon holiday production is a gentle, playful adventure that takes place in a special kitchen, where two friends cook up joyful music together. From a pasta-box Christmas tree to dreidels spinning on pots and pans, these friends (and their live guitar accompanist) bring many of your favorite holiday songs to life like you’ve never seen before! And as our heroine empowers her timid friend to create music, we discover just what wonders can be accomplished when we all work together. Celebrate in this child’s kitchen as she introduces her imaginary friend to what makes the holiday season the most wonderful time of year.
The cast features local professional, adult performers Shea-Mikal Green and Danielle Leneé, and guitarist, Matt Bassett, underscoring the 30-minute nonverbal piece.
Playwright David Kilpatrick has worked in theater for young audiences for the past fourteen years. He is currently the manager of Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences. Prior to the Kennedy Center, David worked in the education departments of Philadelphia’s Walnut Street Theatre and New York’s The New Victory Theater. He has directed shows for numerous theaters and this past February, he developed a show for Arts on the Horizon, The Young Spectaculars and the Front Yard Adventure.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Arts on the Horizon will be collecting canned goods and non-perishable food that will be donated to Community Lodgings to help disadvantaged local families during this holiday season. Community Lodgings’ mission is to lift families from homelessness and instability to independence and self-sufficiency through Transition-in-Place Housing, Affordable Housing and Youth Education Programs.
Patrons can bring in canned goods and non-perishable food to all of the performances of Drumming with Dishes: The Holiday Edition, December 3-8, 2013 and place their donation in the bins in the lobby.
ABOUT ARTS ON THE HORIZON
Arts on the Horizon, founded in 2010, is a non-profit theatre with a specific focus of providing performances and education programs for the very young. Our performances are designed to take place in an intimate setting where children not only feel comfortable to learn and explore, but are also an integral part of the performance. We have the utmost respect for children and want what may be their first theatrical performance to entertain them, challenge them, spark creativity and enhance the imaginative play in which many children this age engage. Since 2011, our non-verbal productions have been performed on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, Atlas Performing Arts Center, Workhouse Arts Center and other venues and schools in the Northern Virginia area. In May 2013, the company performed at Cleveland’s PlayhouseSquare as part of the national One Theatre World Festival. In addition to our performances, we also offer education programs, which provide targeted exploration of themes and ideas in order to help children enhance their language development, socialization, and fine and gross motor skills; all within a meaningful, nurturing environment where children can develop their sense of self and increase their knowledge and understanding of the world around them.
TICKET INFORMATION
Performances are December 3, 5 and 7 at 10:30 AM; December 4 and 6 at 10 AM and 11:30 AM; and December 8 at 11:00 AM.
Tickets are $8 for children and adults and can be purchased online at www.artsonthehorizon.org or at the door on the day of the performance. Children under 12 months old are admitted free of charge.
Arts on the Horizon is offering a military family rate of $5 per ticket for all performances in Virginia. Active duty military personnel and their family can purchase these discounted tickets directly on the website and will need to show a current military ID when picking up their tickets on the day of the performance.
For more information about Arts on the Horizon, visit www.ArtsOnTheHorizon.org.
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