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THE NEVERENDING STORY
Based on the novel by Michael Ende
Adapted by David S. Craig
Directed by Janet Stanford
A thrilling adventure tale in the epic spirit of The Lord of the Rings, The Neverending Story begins with a lonely boy, Bastian, who sneaks up to his school’s attic to read. There, he discovers the land of Fantastica, whose Childlike Empress is dying. Bastian follows the brave Atreyu as he searches for her cure, losing his horse in the Swamp of Sadness, befriending a flying dragon and outwitting the Werewolf Gmork. But when Atreyu returns to the Empress empty-handed, it is Bastian whose courage must be tested. Recommended for ages 6 and up.
** Young Professionals & Nostalgia Special: See an evening show and use your ticket stub for a free beverage at Black Finn Restaurant & Saloon or Hard Times Cafe!
JUNE 24 - AUGUST 10
Tuesday - Friday at 10:30 AM
Thursday at 1:30 instead of 10:30 (7/24, 7/31, 8/7 only)
Thursday at 7:00 (7/24, 7/31, 8/7 only)
Saturday 12:30, 3:30 through 7/19
Saturday 3:30, 7:00 (7/26, 8/2, 8/9)
Sunday 12:30, 3:30
Purchase tickets online
Performance calendar
Seating chart
(pdf) Production Program
What the critics say:
From the Washington Post:
"Washington area librarians may want to make a pilgrimage to Bethesda: The Neverending Story, the handsome fable currently on view at Imagination Stage, is a paean to the old-fashioned joys of reading. Monsters and mysterious spells abound in this colorful children's production...the linchpin of the production is the puppetry, designed by Eric Van Wyk. (The Lion King may be doing blockbuster business at the Kennedy Center, but Julie Taymor has no monopoly on mask-and-manikin virtuosity.) Whether it's a hand puppet portraying an excitable sprite, waltzing blue marionettes representing Wind Giants, or simply a well-coordinated team of performers wielding hairy staffs to suggest a mammoth spider's legs, the stagecraft is pithy and fetching (as well as stirringly lighted by designer Jason Arnold). Kathleen Geldard's bright, fanciful costumes further emphasize Fantastica's exoticism." --Celia Wren, The Washington Post, July 5, 2008.
Read the full review here>>
From The Gazette:
"Welcome to The Neverending Story, adapted by Canadian playwright David S. Craig from the 1979 children's fantasy novel by German author Michael Ende and brilliantly, whimsically – touchingly — staged by Imagination Stage artistic director Janet Stanford and her team of artistic and technical whizzes at Imagination Stage." --Chris Slattery, The Gazette, July 2, 2008
Read the full review here>>
From The Montgomery County Sentinel:
"...a lively, eye-popping new adaptation...the production team at Imagination Stage really outdid themselves here. They are able to conjure up a complex fantasy world thanks to Eric Van Wyck's intricate puppets, Kathleen Geldard's fanciful costumes and Jason Arnold's moody lighting. Expect a ton of tricks from Dan Conway's set design, which looks simple enough at first but soon reveals trap doors, rising platforms and a backdrop to reflect Deborah Wheatley's imaginative projections...The actors and the technical magic are there in abundance and all in the service of Ende's story. When it all comes together, as in the appearance of the aged tortoise Morla, it really is a fantasy world come to life."
--David Cannon, Montgomery Sentinel, July 10, 2008
From GoCityKids.com:
Rating: 5 stars ("Great for kids and families")
Imagination Stage closes out its season with a fantastic stage version of an equally fantastic children's book...My six-year-old and I are big fans of the book and we were excited about the prospect of the play - and a bit worried about how it would be carried out...Both the movie and the play deal with the first half of the story, but I must say I think the play does a better job of visualizing the book's interplay of fantasy and reality. The script, the direction, the acting, and the inventive staging, music, costumes, and puppets combine to make the rather serious story accessible to a younger audience while not losing sight of its message - the importance of imagination and its power to create.
Although we have read the book numerous times, it seemed that many in the audience were new to the story. I feel, however, that the play was so beautifully executed it will inspire families to go home and start reading. And as my six-year-old said leaving the theater, "Do you think they'll do the rest of the book next?"
--GoCityKids.com, July 8, 2008
Read the full review here>>
From AllArtsReview4U.com:
"It was a book...then a movie...but never as creative as the Imagination Stage's production of The Neverending Story as directed by Janet Stanford. All of the crew and actors do a magnificent job in David S. Craig's adaptation of the German story by Michael Ende...the play was riveting and most exciting for children and adults." --Bob Anthony, June 28, 2008
From AllArtsReview4U.com:
"It was a book...then a movie...but never as creative as the Imagination Stage's production of The Neverending Story as directed by Janet Stanford. All of the crew and actors do a magnificent job in David S. Craig's adaptation of the German story by Michael Ende...the play was riveting and most exciting for children and adults." --Bob Anthony, June 28, 2008
From DC Theatre Scene:
"Children will be captivated by its many charming and entertaining creatures...this show is a good production for children and those who may want to revisit Fantastica like the Never Land of their youth. This script lets the younger audience members see themselves stepping into the protagonist's role as the boy who saves the day. The children in our audience were enthralled and completely entertained. Imagination Stage ushers another generation into Fantastica."
--Ted Ying, July 1, 2008
Read the full review here>>
From OurKids.com:
"Don't Miss The Neverending Story! A good story in itself and one that will be especially liked by avid readers. We are now off to the library to get the book - Thank you, Imagination Stage!" --Our-Kids.com, July 8, 2008
Read the full review here>>
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