Family Theater
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Unveiled on December 9, 2005, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' new 324-seat Family Theater provides a new home for world-class family theater performances for the nation's youth and continues the Kennedy Center's $125 million commitment to performing arts education for adults and children alike.
"This new venue" said Michael Kaiser, president of the Kennedy Center, "expands the Kennedy Center's ability to produce and present excellent works for young people." The inauguration of the Kennedy Center's state of the art 324-seat Family Theater facility coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Kennedy Center's youth oriented Performances for Young Audiences series.
Designed by the architectural firm Richter Cornbrooks Gribble, Inc. of Baltimore, the new theater is located on the site formerly occupied by the AFI Film Theater. Its construction spanned 11 months, and incorporates the most modern theatrical innovations available, including: premium audio technologies; a computerized rigging system; and a digital video projection system.
Family Theater Seating Chart
![[Family Theater Seating Chart]](/images/about/virtual_tour/family_theater_seating.gif)
Coming to the Family Theater :
The Wings of Ikarus Jackson
- Feb. 4 - 23, 2012
- Family Theater
- Running Time: 1 hour
- Tickets and Schedule
Description:
World Premiere Kennedy Center Commission
Adapted by Jerome Hairston from the book Wings by Christopher Myers
Music by R. MacKenzie Lewis
Directed and Choreographed by Devanand Janki
Featuring Neville Braithwaite, Felicia Curry, S. Lewis Feemster, Mark Hairston, Andreu Honeycutt, and Lynette Rathnam
There is something puzzling about the new boy at school. Instead of a backpack, Ikarus Jackson has a feathery white set of wings and can fly. To get away from the kids who are taunting him for his uniquely feathered look, Ikarus soars through the city, over rooftops and playgrounds, like a slow-motion instant replay. Just when he thinks he's all alone, a brave schoolgirl tells him what someone should have from the start: "your flying is beautiful." Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor winner Christopher Myers's colorful and lovingly assembled collage-illustrated children's book comes to life as an all-new dance-theater piece. For age 8 and up.
