Imagination Stage announces seven professional shows, including two newly commissioned world premieres, for its 2025/26 season.
First up in the Lerner Family Theatre is the spectacular The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show (September 17 – October 15). It is followed by the premiere of a magical new adaptation of The Snowman and the Snowdog (November 19- January 21). Next comes Paige Hernandez’s uplifting Havana Hop, (February 12 – March 7), and, for summer, it’s groovy Pete the Cat (June 17 – July 26). In the Christopher and Dana Reeve Studio Theatre, there will be two multi-sensory shows for the youngest audiences: Balloonacy (January 10 – February 15) and the premiere of Good Morning, Good Night (March 20 – April 19). And spring also sees a special limited run of Cat Kid Comic Club (March 18 – 22). Discount ticket packages are on sale here. Single tickets will go on sale August 1.
Kids love animals, and the 2025/26 season features them right, left, and center, highlighting how they provide comfort and companionship for children and are just plain fun and entertaining. One of the shows even features a live dog appearing on stage. Details on that to follow in the fall…
Joanne Lamparter, Imagination Stage’s Chief Artistic Programming Officer, says that “this season is sure to provide young people a sense of adventure and wonder as they journey through worlds full of music, magic, and wonder. Through new stories and old, we welcome families and schools to experience the joy of theater in 2025/26.”
September sees the return of the smash-hit The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, a puppet extravaganza that brings four popular Eric Carle story books to life. “Every child should have the chance to see this jaw-dropping show before they turn six,” enthuses Imagination Stage’s Director of Theatre, Kathryn Chase Bryer. “And we have a cast who can perform the show in both Spanish and English.” The four stories in this year’s version are “Brown Bear, Brown Bear,” “The Very Lonely Firefly,” “10 Little Rubber Ducks,” and, of course, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” Directing is IStage Artist-in-Residence Tony Thomas, a talented director/choreographer whose work can be seen all over DC. See Imagination Stage’s website for Spanish-language performance dates.
From Thanksgiving through the end of the holiday season is the world premiere of The Snowman and the Snowdog, adapted by Janet Stanford from the 2012 film. The story is a sequel to the classic “The Snowman” by Raymond Briggs. There will be a lot of theatre magic in the form of puppetry and scenic projections to whisk audiences on a soaring adventure. The show is commissioned and developed by Imagination Stage, and Bryer is particularly excited about how the artistic collaboration among Stanford, puppet designer Erik Van Wyck, and composer Tim Guillot will create a stunning piece.
In the spring, Paige Hernandez’s acclaimed autobiographical piece, Havana Hop, delights elementary-aged children. “We’ve known and worked with Paige for 20 years, and are thrilled to have her work on our stage, “says Bryer. “We chose this show because it is so interactive. Everyone in the theatre will be on their feet, dancing and having the time of their lives.” The show’s theme of celebrating one’s cultural identity is affirming and empowering for children, and the piece is accessible for both Spanish and English speakers. Hernandez directs.
And on March 21-22, 2026, there will be a special presentation of TheatreWorks/USA’s Cat Kid Comic Club: the Musical, based on the book series by Dav Pilkey. Cat Kid and Molly Pollywog have started an epic club to teach 21 rambunctious baby frogs how to make their own comics. What could go wrong?
Summer 2026 brings Pete the Cat, which is based on the popular series of books by Kimberly Dean and James Dean. The show is a music-filled adventure of friendship between second-grader Jimmy and the groovy feline. Bryer directs and expects that “it will have the vibe of a summer rock concert for kiddos. Everyone who has enjoyed the book will love this show!”
Since 2008, Imagination Stage has been a national leader in Theatre for the Very Young (TVY), and this season offers two multi-sensory, interactive productions for children ages 1-4 in the intimate Reeve Studio Theatre, both directed by Bryer.
In January and February is the gently comedic Balloonacy, which incorporates European clown technique in its non-verbal storytelling. In the show, the boy from the classic film The Red Balloon is now a lonely old man. He is re-visited by the magical red balloon, in a show with unique artistry and humor. It is accessible to all ages and also to non-English language speakers. Bryer calls the show “one of our most popular for this age group–and with a sophistication that also appeals to adults.”
In March and April is the world premiere of Good Morning, Good Night. The show is written by Doug Robinson, a playwright who has new play commissions from several DC theatres, including The Kennedy Center, and who started his career in Imagination Stage’s apprenticeship program. Bryer says, “We love Doug and are thrilled to watch his talent be widely recognized and his writing career blossom.” In the show, two characters make the elements of morning and night happen. It’s a fantasy world, and also very simple. The multi-sensory way the story is told allows young children time to process what they are discovering, at the same time as the characters in the show. Bryer says that “adults take for granted clouds, birds, and stars, and the rhythms of the day. But for young children these simple occurrences are momentous events.”
Discount ticket packages for 3, 5, or all 7 shows are now available for purchase. Packages structured by age of child(ren) as well as flexible options to pick and choose among all of the shows. Discounts are as high as 35%, the best prices of the year. To learn more about extra benefits and to purchase a ticket package, go to Imagination Stage’s website or call the box office at 301-280-1660. Single tickets go on sale on August 1 with prices starting at $15.
2025/26 Season
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show
Created by Jonathan Rockefeller
Based on Eric Carle’s Books
Directed by Tony Thomas
September 17 – October 15, 2025
Best for ages 2-6
Experience more than 70 beautiful, larger-than-life puppets and original music as “Brown Bear, Brown Bear,” “The Very Lonely Firefly,” “10 Little Rubber Ducks,” and, of course, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” come to life on stage. This extra special event returns by popular demand, following a sold-out run in 2023.
The Snowman and the Snowdog
Stage adaptation by Janet Stanford
Composed and Orchestrated by Tim Guillot
Directed by Janet Stanford
November 19, 2025 – January 21, 2026
Best for ages 5+
Set to become an instant holiday classic, this soaring new musical play, is based on the sequel to Raymond Briggs’ “The Snowman.” It is told with eye-popping theater magic by talented actors, stunning puppetry, and beautiful projections. The story is of a boy who has moved into a new house and lost his beloved dog. In the garden he builds a snowman and then, to keep it company, a snow dog. They both come to life during the night, and the three embark on a fantastic journey.
Balloonacy
by Barry Kornhauser
Originally commissioned and produced by Children’s Theatre Company
Produced by special arrangement with Plays for New Audiences
Directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer
January 10 – February 15, 2026
Best for ages 1-5
A beautiful, movement-based show that revisits the classic film The Red Balloon and will delight audiences of all ages and speakers of all languages. Nothing can go right for the old man, whose days are gray and dreary, until he is visited by a friendly red balloon. In the playful physical style of 1930s silent movies, the old man – an adult version of the boy in the film – regains his youthful spirit.
Havana Hop
Written, Directed, Choreographed, and Performed by Paige Hernandez
Original Direction by Danielle Drakes
Original Music by Nick ‘tha 1da’ Hernandez and Kris Funn
Commissioned by Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning, VA
Developed by Playhouse Square, OH
February 12 – March 7, 2026
Best for ages 5+
A charming, dynamic tale of culture and originality, created by award-winning DC and Imagination Stage artist Paige Hernandez, using her childhood as inspiration. What if you were invited to dance for President Obama? You’d want it to be the best dance ever! Meet young Yeila who visits her grandmother in Cuba to add a salsa flavor to her own hip-hop style! Journey with Yeila as she discovers the fun of her multicultural heritage.
TheaterWorks/USA’s Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical
Based on the books by Dav Pilkey
Book and Lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila
Music by Brad Alexander
March 21-22, 2026
Best for ages 5+
Cat Kid and Molly Pollywog have started a club to teach 21 rambunctious baby frogs how to make their own comics. Their fishy father Flippy is overjoyed that his kids will learn to unleash their creativity, but when the frogs’ constant bickering and outrageous imaginations send their comics comically off the rails, Flippy flips out! Will the club survive? Will the frogs ever get along? And will creativity finally save the day? All will be answered in this madcap musical.
Good Morning, Good Night
Written by Doug Robinson
Directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer
March 20 – April 19, 2026
Best for Ages 1-4
In this brand-new show, very young children will discover the beauty of the world during daytime and nighttime. They will watch – and help – Winnie and August work the “day shift:” waking the birds, putting dew in the grass, and baking fresh clouds; and the “night shift:” releasing the fireflies, shining the stars, and banishing nightmares. The show uses gentle, multi-sensory storytelling and incorporates audience participation.
Pete the Cat
Book and Lyrics by Sarah Hammond
Music by Will Aronson
Based on the Pete the Cat series of books by Kimberly Dean and James Dean
Directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer
June 18 – August 3, 2026
Best for ages 4+
Life is a really, really, really big adventure as Pete the Cat and the Biddle family rock out in a fast-paced, globe-trotting musical based on the smash hit book series. When Jimmy Biddle is anxious about finishing second grade, Pete takes him to Paris in his VW bus and Jimmy connects with his inner artist.
ABOUT IMAGINATION STAGE
Imagination Stage, the DMV’s leader in youth development through the arts, is driven to build a generation of compassionate, collaborative young people who are capable of changing the world. Starting as an arts academy in Bethesda in 1979, it has responded to the evolving “needs of now” over the last 45 years by expanding its reach throughout Montgomery County and Washington, DC. Children from every socioeconomic group need experiences that teach empathy, demonstrate resilience, and inspire hope. Theater does just that. Beyond the classes, camps, and shows at its Bethesda location, Imagination Stage brings programming to over 50 locations per year in Montgomery County and DC, through partnerships with Montgomery County Public Schools, DC Public Schools and others. These programs include Theatre for Change. It serves teenagers, using theater productions and educational workshops to bridge cultural divides, lift up underrepresented voices, and explore complex social justice issues.