S. Dillon Ripley Center (Smithsonian Institution) Search this
Arts and Industries Building (Washington, D.C.) Search this
National Museum of American History (U.S.) Search this
Type:
Mixed archival materials
Date:
1964
1964-
Category:
Agency History
Notes:
This is an agency history. It does not describe actual records. The Smithsonian Institution Archives uses these histories as brief accounts of the origin, development, and functions of an office or administrative unit to set that unit in its historical context. To find information on record holdings, please double-click the highlighted field "Creator/Author", which will open on a brief view of relevant records.
Discovery Theater, Mission/History, https://discoverytheater.org/about-us/index.shtm, accessed September 24, 2021.
The Discovery Theater had its beginnings in 1964 as The Smithsonian Puppet Theater, performing in a room on the thrird floor of the National Museum of American History. In 1979, the theater moved into the Arts and Industries Building and renamed as the Discovery Theater. The theater continued to feature puppets and began to include other traditional arts such as storytelling, acoustic music from around the globe, mime and commedia clowning; retelling of classical Greek and Roman fables and myths and ensemble performance in the manner of festival or street performers. The theater's inclusion as part of the Smithsonian Associates defined its mission as serving primarily the Washington, D.C. area's children and their teachers and families.
By 1995, the Discovery Theater had broadened its reach to present the heritage and cultural arts, and accessible science and math; reflecting the larger collections and making it an avenue to the Smithsonian for children. In 2004, the Arts and Industries Building closed to the public and the theater moved into a new space in the Smithsonian's S. Dillon Ripley Center.
Staff of the theater have included Stephen Diamond, 1993-1999, and Roberta Gasbarre, 2000- .
For a history of the larger creating unit, refer to "Forms part of " above.
Repository Loc.:
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Capital Gallery, Suite 3000, MRC 507; 600 Maryland Avenue, SW; Washington, DC 20024-2520
Topic:
Associations, institutions, etc--Membership Search this
