Adventure Theatre-MTC is the longest-running children's theatre in the Washington D.C. area. Located in Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, Maryland, it has been performing for children since 1951 and educating children in creative drama since 1978.
History
Adventure Theatre was founded in 1951 by a group of women from the Community Arts Association’s drama classes, who believed that children deserve to experience excellent theater. In 1955 Adventure Theatre began commissioning plays by award-winning, nationally-recognized children’s theater playwrights Flora Atkins and Helen Avery. Both are recipients of the prestigious Charlotte B. Chorpenning Award from The Children's Theatre Association of America. The In-School Players, a traveling troupe, was launched in 1969 as a result of a request by the Director of Language Arts for the District of Columbia Public Schools. The In-School Players remains a vital part of AT programming. Adventure Theatre moved into a new permanent space of its own in 1971 after years of touring, at Glen Echo Park, its current location. For 1974–79, Adventure Theatre expanded programming by partnering with the Junior League to create The Picture Book Players, a performance troupe for pre-school and early elementary-aged children. Adventure Theatre also began offering its first theater-education classes and created a puppet division, now The Puppet Co., another resident of Glen Echo Park. In 1986 New Plays Books published Six Adventure Theatre Plays, which were distributed to bookstores and children’s theaters around the country. The County Council of Montgomery County proclaimed June as “Adventure Theatre Month,” in honor of the theater’s 35 years of service. Renovation of the home space was completed in 2007. The extensive renovation, which includes a state-of-the-art theatre, new rehearsal spaces, and room for an expanded administrative staff, Adventure Theatre, enables the theater to expand its programming and offer services to thousands of additional patrons each year. Producing Artistic Director, Michael J. Bobbitt received the 2010 County Executive’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts – Emerging Leader and became President of the League of Washington Theaters. Adventure Theatre partnered with Montgomery College to co-produce Harry Connick, Jr’s, The Happy Elf, directed by Tony Winner John Rando and starring Tony winner Michael Rupert. Additionally, Adventure Theatre adapted and produced the classic television special – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Adventure Theatre’s production of If you Give a Pig a Pancake, broke box-office records, received critical and public acclaim, and was featured in American Theatre Magazine. Both If you Give a Pig a Pancake and The Happy Elf received national recognition and helped solidify Adventure Theatre's position as a leader in arts and arts education for youth.
Facility
In September 2007, Adventure Theatre introduced renovations including a new stage and audience seating, a state-of-the-art sound and light system, new rehearsal and education spaces, and party rooms.
