Encore Stage & Studio

Recently went to a performance of Sleeping Beauty (encore does kids plays). The performers are good. There are a lot of kids so it’s not the same professional level as Imagination Stage in Bethesda. Still the kids liked the play. One new idea that does not seem well though out was the addition of the Prelude Youth Orchestra. I received an email saying that there would be pre-​performance music which I took to mean would be about 15 minutes before the show started at 3. Not the case. The show started at 3 and then there was 15 minutes of classical music. Surely I thought — there will some peppy kids music — maybe some nursery rhyme music or other fun tunes. No just classical music for 15 minutes and lot of 6 – 8 year old girls getting restless and asking when the show would start. I think it’s fine to try and expose kids to music but should be at intermission or post show or really before the listed start time, It seems the members of the encore theater have forgotten what it’s like to have squirmy kids who are waiting for the show to start.