Ocean Planet Theater
Live theatrical performances will be a unique component of the Ocean
Planet exhibition. The Ocean Planet Theater will present live
performances of ocean-related plays, storytelling, and a puppet show
throughout the April 1995 through January 1996 showing of the
exhibition in Washington, D.C. A 50-seat theater space will be
constructed at the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) adjacent
to the exhibition hall, and will be dedicated to Ocean Planet
programming. Two plays, one puppet show, and several storytelling
pieces will be developed for the Ocean Planet Theater, with each
production targeting a different age group. Although the theater
space is not part of the design of the traveling show, the scripts,
sets, props, and costumes developed for the NMNH venue will be made
available to the Ocean Planet host museums.
The Ocean Planet Players are John Kirkman,
Anji Long and Victor Steele. Danielle
Eifler is house manager and Drucy McDaniel
is director.
The Sea Theater is adjacent to the "Ocean
Planet" exhibition. Theater programs are
presented Wednesday through Sunday, April
22 through Aug. 20 and Sept. 14 through
Nov. 26. Performance times: 10:30 and 11
a.m., noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. Seating is
limited. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day,
free passes will be distributed outside
the theater on a first-come, first-served
basis. For a recorded message, call (202)
786-2759.
Everything is food for the customers at
"The Web Diner." This humorous musical
puppet play introduces young visitors to
the animals in an Antarctic food web.
Join Paul the penguin as he learns to
keep orders straight at the Web diner.
Most appropriate for Pre-K through 2nd
grade. (Children in school groups or
accompanied by their parents.)
Adapted from a Native American tale,
"Salmon Boy" follows the transformation
of a young boy who doesn't care about
the environment into a live salmon who
sees the value of nature.
Surfers spend much of their time in and
around the water. They know where the
killer waves break, and they learn when
not to swim into the ocean. In "Surf's
Up" join two teen-agers who find out
that everyone must take a hand in
keeping coastal waters clean, even if
they live far from the beach. Best for
4th grade and up.
Ocean Planet Exhibition Floorplan
gene carl feldman (gene@seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov) (301) 286-9428
Judith Gradwohl, Smithsonian Institution (Curator/Ocean Planet)