Hylton's Family Series Sure to Please Young, Old

The dog days of summer may seem endless, with parents struggling to find exciting activities to keep bored kids occupied from dawn until dusk. But with busy autumn days filled with school, homework and shuffling kids to sporting events and extracurricular activities, some parents may find themselves yearning for just a few hours to spend together as a family. 

These parents can look no farther than the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, which welcomes audiences of all ages back this fall by introducing its inaugural Hylton Family Series as part of its 2011-12 season.

"The Hylton Family Series was designed to create an opportunity for families to enjoy and experience the arts together," said Thomas Reynolds, the Hylton's director of artistic programming, who handpicked the four modestly priced events that compose the inaugural Hylton Family Series.

"We are committed to offering programming in our Hylton Presents series that is appropriate for young audiences, so many of  our events are designated as 'family friendly.' With the Hylton Family Series, we take this concept one step further by offering performances created specifically for children, but that are enjoyable for adults as well."

The Hylton Family Series kicks off on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 4 p.m. With music by Grammy Award-winning composer Michael Silversher, six-time Emmy Award-winning author/illustrator Mo Willems adapts his Caldecott Honor-winning children’s book “Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale” into a family musical.

Directed by Rosemary Newcott, “Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical” is the delightful and hilarious tale of a child, her father and her beloved stuffed animal on their first trip to the laundromat. This production is presented in partnership with Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour.

The wacky Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Company takes the stage on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. for a fun, interactive program that combines physical comedy, dance, juggling and inflatable inventions. For almost two decades, pneumatic wizard Fred Garbo and Brazilian ballerina Daielma Santos have brought their unique performances to audiences across the globe. The show begins when a 10-foot cylinder slithers onto stage and implodes, and before long, the entire audience is playing catch with gigantic inflatable props that dance, shimmer, enlarge, deflate and bounce in a rainbow of colors. Garbo and Santos both don inflatable costumes and the result is delightful comedy that leaves audience marveling and howling.

On Sunday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m., folk icon Peter Yarrow, from the legendary group Peter, Paul & Mary, performs heartwarming renditions of some of the most beloved music of the 20th century, including “Puff The Magic Dragon,” “If I Had Hammer,” “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “Leaving on a Jet Plane.”

Yarrow produced three critically acclaimed animated television specials based on “Puff,” receiving an Emmy nomination for his efforts, and even published a children’s picture book based on the song.

“I love the fact that Puff's face is so filled with love.” Yarrow said, when interviewed by Canada’s National Post about the release of the book in 2007.

Imago Theatre takes the stage on Sunday, April 22 at 2 p.m., combining comedy, illusion, physical finesse and original music in “ZooZoo.” This critically acclaimed production features a five-member cast playing mischievous animals and inanimate objects that adopt human characteristics, subtly demonstrating universal themes while performing without dialogue to a score of original music.

This wild and witty production features a menagerie of creatures – a giant dinosaur, hungry anteaters, hitchhiking rabbits, introverted frogs, cantankerous polar bears, insomniac hippos and tricky penguins – that will mesmerize and delight families of all ages.

Tickets to each event are $15 for adults and $5 for children, or $48 for adults or $16 for children when all four events are purchased at once. Children’s tickets are available for anyone grade 12 and under when accompanied by an adult. Ticket packages and single tickets are on sale now.

To purchase tickets to the Hylton Family Series, please visit the Hylton's box office (open Wednesday through Saturday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.), charge by phone at 888-945-2468 or visit hyltoncenter.org.

The Hylton Performing Arts Center is located on George Mason University’s Prince William Campus at 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, Va., 20110. Free parking is available in the lot next to the Hylton Center.

Visit the center's website for more information.