Came to see the Hungry Caterpillar show with 3 year olds for the first time and they absolutely loved it. The production quality and actors were amazing. Now I have kiddos who keep asking whether we can go again. Just bought tickets to see the Snow Man and the Snow Dog show for the holidays and looking forward to it. Update: Snow Man and the Snow Dog was not loved by the kids (3 year old and 5 year old), personally I felt it was really boring too. High production value but just not captivating enough. My kid loved the original video but couldn't wait for the play to end. read more

I attended my first play at Imagination Stage yesterday, and I know it won't be my last. This theatre is truly a gem, making performing arts accessible for families of all ages and abilities. Here is what you need to know: + Garage parking is free on Sundays + Tickets are sent electronically along with a helpful email and storybook pdf that helps prepare young children on what to expect when they go to the theatre + The theatre is truly intimate -- there is not a bad seat in the house (Trust me -- we were last row, on the side of the stage and still had a great view!) + Children's shows can be quite corny and cut corners when it terms to production value but not at Imagination Stage. I was really impressed by the quality of acting and the set of "Dory Fantasmagory." + They offer lots of free programming such as "Meet the Cast", family yoga, and a children's fashion show to go with the play. I went with a group of children ages 4 - 11 and they had everyone entertained. Seeing everyone's faces light up and laughing out loud has truly filled my cup of cuteness for the entire week. Thanks again Imagination Stage. Can't wait to visit again! read more

What a cool place! Picked up a friend's child from theater camp and got to see their performance, which was awesome. Love all the inspiring quotes on the walls and the way in which the staff interacted with the teens. Seems like a great place for camp! read more

Imagination Stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I went here today for my field trip to see "The Snowman and The Snowdog" I probably might be wrong I kinda forgot the title but I know it was something like that and anyways the acting was really really good so yeah. read more

Being young parents in the area, Imagination Stage has been on our list for awhile. Living in Southeast D.C., any reason to venture out to Bethesda isn't worth it. Imagination Stage was. We booked a one-hour play on a Saturday, which meant the commute was only 35 minutes and parking is free in the nearby garage. The show itself was 60 minutes with a 25-minute intermission. It kept our five-year-old daughter engaged from start to finish! read more

See all

Great place for young and old... Classes and workshops and performances galore. For folks diverse in ability and age and even aspiration. Accessible. Parking garage on the block. read more

See all

Great venue for families, strong productions to entertain kids and their grownups. Definitely worth checking out!

Love this theater! We went to go see the hula hoop in queen and it was a great experience! Can't wait to see more shows! read more

5 stars for the curderoy show! I want to take away 1 star but the show was just so good so they earned the star back. The reason I think they screwed us this time is because they didn't give out programs. My son collects them from every show and treasures them. Their excuse was "covid" which is absolutely cheap and a pathetic money grab from the people continuing to support this place during the pandemic. There's no reason having a program is any more likely to spread disease than the coloring sheets they have out to the kids, and out of the 5 people in my group only one showed vaccination. So covid my ass you guys are just being cheap. 1 star for management. 5 star show. read more

I'm trying to figure out summer camps and discovered that, without emailing anyone, imagination stage will not be offering any kind of refund at all on summer camps. It's posted on the webpage: https://imaginationstage.org/a-plan-for-the-summer/ This is not acceptable since now I'm stuck with a big camp payment but can't use the funds elsewhere. They really should refund the difference to families. So much for community confidence. read more

A truly wonderful space where your little ones imaginations can be free to run wild! They are well equipped for even the youngest theater goers, but in my experience older audiences will have just as much fun! Recently caught Imagination Stage's production of "The Ballad of Mu Lan" and was completely captivated! During the weekend shows the actors come out at the end of the show for mini meet and greets which are perfect photo ops for you and your little thespians! The amount of fun to be had is only limited by your imagination! read more

See all

Didn't realize that the even and odd numbers seats were on the opposite sides so we ended up getting tickets on the wrong side of the theater from our friends. We could not get seats on the same side. My son was disappointed he couldn't sit with his friends. Lessons learnt! The Very Hungry Caterpillar show was great and we ended sitting in front of Wolf Blitzer. The kids reunited after the show. read more

What a great idea! I went with a friend and her son to see a play here and now I want to do the same with my kid once he is old enough. Imagination Stage is a children's theater company that puts on modern and classic plays year round. And, as we found out, Imagination also offers classes in drama, acting, dance, musical theater, and filmmaking at all age and grade levels. This theater company used to be housed inside White Flint Mall until it moved to this space in 2003. The "new" location is impressive for what is a children's theater-- everything is state-of-the-art. They really have thought of everything. If a young audience member gets too loud, he or she can be moved to "the quiet room" which is a glass covered room behind where the main audience sits so he or she can still see the play. Genius! read more

Imagination Stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

EXCELLENT!!!! An amazing place for kids and adults. The price seems amazingly low for the performance you get! The actors and actress were amazing Very well done!! Look forward to the next performance!! Must do for kids!! read more

Imagination Stage - Stage setup for the show!! - Performing Arts Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Due to a funeral we were unexpectedly unable to attend the show we had tickets for. We contacted ImaginationStage and they were so understanding and compassionate in rescheduling for us. We really appreciated the gesture during a difficult time. read more

Amazing gem of a non-profit, award-winning children's theater located in Bethesda. Wildly innovative and creative productions at reasonable prices, Imagination Stage also offers community classes and acting camps. The gift shop also offers fantastic gifts and costumes (super useful around Halloween!) read more

December 2019 I'd purchased a subscription prior to the pandemic shut down and called requesting a refund on my unused tickets since Imagination Stage was not open for business. I was informed that I needed to formally request a refund in writing; I did so. Fast forward after several more calls to today when I called, yet again, and spoke with Emily who informed me that Imagination Stage would be issuing refunds at the end of this month for 85% of the value of my subscription amount (they'll be keeping 15% for "administrative fees"). I've been supporting IS for years, regularly purchase tickets as gifts, and am not supportive of their decision to not issue 100% of my money. I understand the pandemic impacted their ability to deliver the service they provide but this is not my fault and, as such, I should not be financially penalized. Poor customer relations IS, you could've kept a supporter but instead you've lost one over $24. read more

I chaperoned a first grade field trip to see Cinderella, and this is an experience that I would highly recommend for all children in this age-group. I would say that for the majority of the students attending, this was their first experience in a theater setting, yet the play was so well done that the kids were fully engaged the entire show. I loved that since it was specifically a show for elementary students, there was a Q&A after the show, where the children were able to ask about the acting process, how stage effects are done, and anything else that came to their minds. read more

Imagination Stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Really disappointed with how group sales were handled. We tried to plan a birthday party. We were given incorrect information about the availability of a private room. Because we had already made plans, we decided to go ahead and still attend the show. Then, the show was cancelled because of the corona virus. We were not given the option to get a refund. It's one thing if you bought a ticket or two, but given that we had bought a whole party's worth that we will not be able to use now, that was really unfair. Throughout the process, the company made it clear that they didn't have much concern for other people's time or money. read more

My kids just had an amazing field trip experience here. Their whole school was able to attend. Kudos!

This place is a gem for children. I took a large group there and you would be wise to secure parking before you think about going to Bethesda. Most of the streets are either metered or No Parking. read more

Imagination Stage - Inside Lobby view - Performing Arts Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Great summer camps and classes throughout the year. My daughter loves attending Imagination Stage. Staff are excellent. Communication has always been very informative and timely. Would highly recommend. read more

Are you a toddler? Do you like using your imagination? Go see AQUARIUM at Imagination Stage! I was in town for the weekend and brought my friend and her kids to this amazing show meant for ages 12 months to 5 years. I have never seen anything else like it for this age group. Designed to inspire a child's imagination, the hour long show is interactive, poetic and absolutely inspiring. The two actors, Hyla and Rex are perfectly cast, and made both kids and adults want to help raise the sun and make the ocean's waves. It's a must see. They also offer classes such as dance, improv, and more for kids of all ages. read more

Top notch. It's organizations like this that make me happy to live in the DC area! We took my little one to see Roald Dahl's "James and the Giant Peach" and we all had a great time. As a testament to the power of live theater and the actors, when I asked my little one whether she preferred the play or the movie she said the play! She was one of three little attendees invited on stage to participate in the play (during three different parts) - if you want the chance I would recommend having your child sit on an aisle seat near the bottom of a section. We broke that rule after watching three kids turn down the opportunity! The staff is nice and the offer intermissions during weekend shows (along with free parking). We cannot wait to go back and just saw they released their 2013-2014 schedule - tickets go on sale August 12th. Good stuff! read more

I thought granddaughter and I had done pretty much all the cool things to do in Montgomery County. I knew her pre-K had gone to Imagination Stage and her Kindergarten class too--but she and I had never done a class or gone to a show together. Took her to her first class today and was so impressed. It's quite an operation--class rooms, shop, cafe and a theater. Granddaughter liked her class. Going to check out more things for her to do in the future--I think she wants to be the next Selena Gomez/Hannah Montana or whatever. read more

This place/program is so good for youth and kids with special needs ! All staff are perky helpful and I like that you have to sign in before entering , safety is a must I used to take a client here for an acting class and he loved it ! It was good socialization skills for him and the plays were nice ! The teachers were so kind and awesome! I liked the gift shop there were always sales and cute props for the play. The classes were fun and educational with plenty of brochures around for other classes. I also used to see a lot of other youth around so I know it was a popular place. If you're looking for extra curricular activities for your child or those with special needs look into Imagination! read more

We've seen many shows here (no classes). As a children's theater it's first rate. Great seating with wide aisles for easy ingress and a quick egress, high chairs, etc. The stage is big and bright. Often kids are invited to sit on the carpet up front. There is nice cafe and gift shop as well. The perfomances have steadily improved, but sometimes lazily staged, making it harder for the kids to understand what is going on. Actors may be on a plane with only someone holding up a model airplane to connote the mode of travel. Scenery is sometimes left unchanged. A WWI trench served as the backdrop for not only the war, but a child's bedroom and the jungle in a production of Dr Doolittle for example. These quibbles aside Imagination Stage is a fun, entertaining venue to see children's shows. A little bit more attention to how to communicate the story to younger minds is all that's missing. read more

The most magical place on earth! I have been going to Imagination Stage for 10 years and the organization never disappoints. Acceptable for all aged children from 1-18, kids can take classes throughout the year as well as summer camps through the summer. Great family activities include the shows in the Lerner theatre, and for the little itty bitty ones, there are wonderful interactive performances for 1-5 years old. The staff are extremely professional and everything is always run so well. read more

This is our favorite children's theater venue in DC area. If you are looking to introduce your kids to drama, fine arts and music in a playful manner - this is a place to start. Imagination Stage offers early childhood classes and performances. They have amazing puppetry, thus making their plays so attractive for the young ones. In addition to early childhood groups, there are classes for elementary- and middle school aged children, as well as camps. We have been attending their plays since our was three years old. He still talks about "Seussical the Musical", although lately he also fell in love with "101 Dalmatians." This theater hires top notch actors who are often seen in the DC area theater scene. A few years back IStage started a sensory-friendly performances program, targeting young audiences with special needs. The lights are dimmed, children get plenty of warning whenever anyone is approaching them, and there's a quite room in case kids get overwhelmed. This program was developed in collaboration with multiple special ed professionals, thus making every child feel included and welcome. Finally, tickets are reasonably priced and great parking! What's not to love?:) read more

Their shows are amazing. Even for the under 5 set which is pretty hard to do. From the set design to the acting to the plot, it was all very engaging. I highly recommend bringing your child here. It's completely worth it. read more

A great stage for a student crowd. On Fridays, the actors stay for post-show interviews. This was a hit with my students. The staff is really attentive here; we were ushered in orderly, and left the same. Everything was organized. The one hang up was that it was FREEZING in the theater. Just have your kids bring a sweater just in case. read more

High quality professional shows for children! My son has loved the shows that we have seen there together. They offer a large range of classes for children, too, taught by local theater professionals. read more

My kids have taken classes nearly everywhere in the DC/MD area - and this is the ONLY place they both love. We live a fair distance away (much closer to Musical Theater Center which both kids hated) and have found it to be well worth the trip. The teachers we've had are ALL top-notch, and the staff couldn't be any friendlier - either in person or via email. Great service makes happy parents, and great teachers make happy kids. Classes are fun and the kids really learn about acting (and singing, for one of my boys). They love doing their final performances (in-class for younger ones, on stage for some older ones) and always hate to leave their new friends at the end of a semester. We've been to several of their productions, too, and while they are low-budget, they are far superior to any children's plays we've seen in the area. Compared to more expensive venues like Olney Theater, this place gets my vote. There's not a bad seat in the house and the kids (and the adults) really enjoy every performance. I can't recommend this place highly enough! read more

This children's theatre does fine work and offers a season of plays for elementary age children as well as a series of performances for nursery/pre-k age. My oldest has been attending plays there since she was about 2&1/2 and has consistently enjoyed them--I think there was only one she did not enjoy. It is so important that we have arts institutions that provide arts experiences for children and we are fortunate in DC to have Imagination Stage and Adventure Theatre and the Kennedy Center. I will say, however, that the birthday party experience is not always the best. I have had several parties there and while the shows were enjoyed by all the guests, we have had mixed experiences with communication and space. The most recent party we held there, we were given a space in the lobby (!!!) and while the helpful staff cordoned off an area, we were still in a public space with lots of parents/theatre goers in the area. I was having a party with 20 four-year-old guests, so we needed some contained, space and we were crammed in a corner of the lobby. I had planned to do some games with the children after they saw the My First Imagination Stage show and before snack & cake, but because there was only room for the tables and chairs, I could not do the games. I asked if I could use the large part of the lobby, in front of the Lerner Theatre (there was no show in that space that day) just to do some circle games and I was told I could not because it would obstruct the space and would be against the fire code (!!!). I did not argue, but considering the audience for that theatre is around 300 and they must congregate in that space as they wait to go into the theatre before shows, that did not seem to ring true to me. The rental fee is not that much, and we appreciated that the staff was trying to be as helpful as possible, but I was not happy about the space offered. We hosted a party at Imagination Stage about 2 or 3 years ago and we were given a classroom space to hold the party in, which was much better and more private. If the lobby is the space available for parties, I think I will opt not to have parties at Imagination Stage. read more

Performance was decent. Four actors carried the entire show, playing multiple parts. Very good quality set and costumes. My only complaint comes from the employees that work their. They are beyond rude. The stage manager/director spoke to me in a very condescending rude tone, which I did not appreciate. This place would definitely be a golden treasure, if they found better quality people to work in house. This guy needs to find another job if he enjoys "talking down" to people. But 3 stars performance wise, my children 6 and 9 lost interest after about 30 minutes. Maybe it was the play we went to that caused them to be bored. I'll give this place another go when we have nothing better to do. Unfortunate because I really wanted to like this place and all it has to offer; but I was not impressed at all with the play we saw read more

We have been to Imagination Stage for a few shows and have loved all of them. The plays are well organized, very entertaining, educational, affordable, and just altogether magical. There is not a bad seat in the house and I always leave with a smile on my face. I highly recommend going to any show. read more

Best children's theater in the DMV! Every show I've seen has been fun and entertaining. In this world of non-stop streaming content, it's such a pleasure to go and enjoy a live show! I park in the garage directly next door, but it's also Metro accessible. read more

2 year old activities - park, check; museum, check, done that; aquarium, check, done that a few times and its friggin expensive (parking plus ticket); children's theater, what's that??? Oh I'm in for that, love Broadway shows...why not have your kid exposed to theater too? Wish I had these when I was a kid! Went here on a cold winter day with my 2 year old and his friend to watch "Wake Up Brother Bear". The theater setup was perfect for little kids as we all sat around the stage in a circle, kinda like in elementary school story time. Except this experience was different. It was real theater, with real actors! What's different here is that the kids get to interact with the show and be a part of it. It's really cute and some kids are more willing to interact with the actors than most. You see a range of 1 year olds to 5 year olds. The show itself was awesome as you get to see two bears, one sister bear and one brother bear go through the seasons together. In the beginning, there is a heap of blankets in the center and you don't realize it until the show starts that Brother Bear is underneath! Brother Bear gets wakes up out of his hibernation stage and then the adventure begins. Kids get props to use during key moments in the show and every kid was pretty much engaged the entire time. My 2 year old loved it as well as his 3 year old friend. We liked the show so much we signed up for a different one called "Inside Out", which was also really good. Its a good time for adults to enjoy with their kids and definitely rewarding to see your kid's eyes light up with excitement as the use their imagination. Can't say anything bad about the production or the theater at all. There are other classes that I saw going on as well if you want to sign your kids up for them. Not sure what they were, but I'm assuming its related to playing games, puppets, or anything theater related. Definitely recommend this for the parents that have a 2 -5 year old. I personally think a 1 year old is too young for this but they do have some. Just seems more fitting for a kid over 2 though so that he comprehends what's going on and can discuss it with you afterwards. I still get so happy when my 2 year old re-enacts moments in the show and still remembers that we took him. Must go! I'm sure they have other shows, but kids shows is all I know, sorry! The Good: - theater concept of kids sitting around in a circle right near the action is genius - tickets are reasonable, $12 bucks I think per ticket - you can sit right behind your child, which gives them sense of security - theater seats for those who are uncomfortable sitting on the floor - great actors and well produced shows, great live music that supplements the show masterfully - professional staff - free parking on weekend in the garage, short walk - great for 2-5 year olds for the shows, not sure about the classes - build lasting impression on your child that helps them explore their creativity and imagination, just a great outing that substitutes for a day at the park or museum The Bad: - shows not good for 1 year old, your child may cry or not really comprehend anything yet The Ugly: - nothing to report, I love this place. Ready to go back soon! read more

I wish I could give the imagination stage a better rating, but for an institution that provided classes and camps for children, I don't think they are very parent friendly. It is almost impossible to get anyone at Imagination State to return a call or answer basic questions about a class or camp before signing up. They just aren't interested, and I think they want parents to sign up on line and just take whatever they get. I have really loved all of the productions I've seen at Imagination Stage, but I don't like how impossible it is to talk to the staff about the classes and camps that they offer. read more

NOT THE FAULT OF IMAGINATION STAGE: My wife, 3-year old daughter, and I were on vacation in Alexandria, and scheduled to see The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe on Saturday, June 30, 2012, in Bethesda at Imagination Stage. Unfortunately, the big storms blew through Virginia, DC, and Maryland and wiped out power in various places. THE FAULT OF IMAGINATION STAGE: 1. We had no way of knowing whether or not the show was still on as large portions of DC, VA, and MD still had power, so we left our hotel in Alexandria and drove 30-45 minutes to the stage. When we got there, 3 employees were sitting out front and informed us the production was off. I inquired as to why someone didn't contact us by phone or email, and they replied that unless they could access their ticketing system at their facility (not remotely, not from a laptop at home or Starbucks), they had no way to know who to contact. Understandable at some level, but frustrating nonetheless. Seems like a rather large flaw in the system. 2. When I inquired of the 3 about a refund, they said they'd be in contact the following week. They also said something to the effect of, "We'll do our best to work with you to reschedule," even though I'd already explained we were in from out of town and would simply need a refund. I reiterated that we'd need a refund (not a reschedule), and thought it was odd, but moved on. The following Monday, July 2, I received a mass email from them with a subject line that read, "Rescheduling for The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe". See where this is going?? I responded to the email and said, "Sir or Madam, Thanks for your email. Unfortunately, we were in from out of town visiting and cannot reschedule. Can you please tell me the process for receiving a refund?" I received a voice message the following day (July 3) from someone named "Nick", advising, once again, "We'd love to reschedule with you and if not will be happy to give you a refund, just give us a call." Though frustrated that I had to, I tried to call back that afternoon at 5:12pm. I got voicemail. I received a redundant email the following day (July 4) saying, "Hi Ryan,I'm so sorry you and your family will miss out on the show. Please give us a call tomorrow, we are closed today for the 4th, and we'll be able to refund your credit card for the purchase. Best, Brian D. Antin Director of Patron Services" I wrote back and responded, "Brian,Thanks for writing. I received a call from Nick at the box office yesterday and attempted to call back. I will call on July 5, 2012, but I'm not sure why I have to. I am requesting a refund, and would prefer not to have to call. I was on vacation in Alexandria and will not be back anytime soon, so I guess I'm just not sure what the purpose of my phone call is, and it is in an imposition on my time. Please issue the refund." So, at this point I'm wondering why, if he can email me on July 4, he can't just a) issue the refund, or b) call me since it is apparently necessary. Yet another July 4 response: "Hi Ryan, Unfortunately, with the way credit card security laws work, we are unable to save your credit card information. This is a security that is built into the system for your protection as a consumer. If you do not want to call us, I am able to issue you a credit that can be used at our organization at a later date, or we can convert the total amount of the purchase including the facility fees into a tax deductible donation. However, if you would like a full refund, the only way I am able to process it would be over the phone as we do not have your credit card information. To process the refund will take less than 2 minutes. If you are interested in either of the other options let me know and I'll have a tax deduction form mailed to you first thing in the morning. I am very sorry for the inconvenience this has caused, but we are doing our best to accommodate everyone in the most efficient way possible." I responded that "From a customer service perspective and the perspective of a fellow business owner, it looks like an attempt to keep money by making the process to refund difficult. In the end, it's just frustrating." I further instructed that he didn't need to write anything more. He did anyways, and re-explained their process and concluded with, "I can assure you, that holding on to your money was NOT our intention, nor are we trying to waste your time by making you call. We are doing our best in a tough situation." I did not have time to call the next 2 days, and on Friday (7/6/12) I received a call from "John" who did not try to reschedule me and did refund the card. He'd apparently been made aware of my discontent as he apologized that I'd "gotten caught in some phone tag." My suspicion is that if we'd gone to the show, it would've been spectacular, and probably will be for you too!!! My suspicion is that if you need a refund for any reason, it may be a rather large pain in the behind. read more