By contributing writer Christine Monta

Hear ye, hear ye! All ye families of the realm looking for ways to occupy your kiddos during spring break week, look no further than Medieval Times’ Maryland Castle, located in Arundel Mills Mall! From April 12-21, visitors can receive discount pricing to the Castle’s iconic dinner & tournament show (details and discount code below), and on April 17 & 18, young squires can participate in a memorable “Jr. Knight Training” before the 3 p.m. show. 

My family received four free tickets in exchange for this review, but we paid out-of-pocket for souvenirs. All ideas are my own.

TRAINING WITH THE KNIGHTS OF THE REALM

On April 17 and 18 (Thurs. & Fri.), children ages 5-12 can train with the Knights of the Realm, free with admission, an hour before the 3 p.m. show. Kids get to enter the ring – the same sand-filled arena where the jousting and sword-fighting happens – and learn basic swordsmanship techniques from skilled knights, while parents and caregivers watch from the stands. (Don’t worry about safety – the kids are spread out, and they practice with the same wooden swords available in the gift shop.) After practicing a few rounds of sword fighting moves and defensive positions, the junior squires are asked to kneel, and the king and queen knight them en masse from the castle balcony. This was a memorable experience for my sword-curious 7-year-old and presented some excellent photo opportunities!

Space is limited and available on a first-come-first-served basis, so make sure to come and sign up early (doors open at 1:30 p.m.; Jr. Knight Training starts at 2 p.m.). Closed toed-shoes are required; the arena is also sandy, so best not to dress your kiddos in their Sunday finest if they’ll be participating.

THE MEDIEVAL TIMES EXPERIENCE

Afterwards, the kids rejoin their families for some time to explore the spacious castle lobby (aka the Hall of Arms) before the main event: the tournament and feast! The fun begins the moment you arrive: every member of your group receives a paper crown color-coded to the knight you’ll be rooting for (and the section you’ll be sitting in). Early arrivals (the castle opens 75 minutes before the start of the show) have plenty of time to browse the gift shop, grab a drink (alcoholic or non – my kiddo was particularly amused by the slushie machines, which he noted “they probably didn’t have back then”), take photos with the various armor displays, and watch the Knighting Ceremonies (available as an upgrade with your ticket). 

At show time, guests are ushered into the arena for the feast. We sat at the front of the “Red” section, and thus were cheering for the Red Knight – who ended up being the villain of the show! (The “winner” and “villain” change every night, so you can’t predict it based on your section – even our waitress didn’t know our knight would be the baddie.) The scripted show has a loose plot and lots of action – including spark-producing sword fighting, horse-mounted jousting with splintering lances, and hand-to-hand combat with shields and various medieval weapons – but it wasn’t all bouts and battles. There were also skilled demonstrations of falconry and dressage, impressive equestrian displays, and lots of fun and oft-silly audience interaction with your section’s knight. It was easy to get immersed in the drama of it all – and to forget you’re still in a suburban shopping mall. 

And while this is all happening, of course, you’re being served a three-course meal, to be eaten the medieval way – without utensils! All diners start with bread and soup (which you slurp straight from the bowl); meat-eaters then get a half rotisserie chicken, corn on the cob, and potato (again, all to be eaten by hand). I’m a vegetarian and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the veggie alternative – a satisfying bowl of three-bean stew with rice (and spoon!), plus the corn cob and potato. The dinner ends with dessert, coffee, and a moist towelette. They also offer to-go boxes for those who can’t finish their meals, which comes in very handy if you’re bringing kiddos (there are no kid portions, so even your littles get a half chicken). 

If you stick around the lobby, er, Hall of Arms after the show, you may get a chance to meet your favorite knight up close and tell them what you thought of the show.  

BIG SAVINGS

Through June 30, 2025, visitors can use coupon code 15MT to receive a 15 percent discount on tickets when booking online (making Child tickets $39.91 and Adult tickets $63.71). Military discounts and party packages are also available year-round.

Photo by Daniel Rader. Shereen Ahmed (Countess Ellen Olenska) and A.J. Shively (Newland Archer) in The Age of Innocence at Arena Stage.

Photo by Daniel Rader. Delphi Borich (May Welland) and A.J. Shively (Newland Archer) in The Age of Innocence at Arena Stage

ABOUT THE SHOW:

The Age of Innocence, In the Fichandler Stage | February 28 – March 30, 2025

Written by Edith Wharton and Adapted for the stage by Karen Zacarías 
Directed by Hana S. Sharif
Starring Shereen Ahmed, A.J. Shively, Felicia Curry, Delphi Borich

Against the lavish backdrop of 1870s New York, where hypocrisy thrives and hidden passions simmer, Karen Zacarías brings Edith Wharton’s timeless masterpiece, The Age of Innocence, to the stage. This adaptation unveils a searing critique of high society’s suffocating norms, presenting a riveting tale of forbidden desires. Surrounded on all sides by an ocean of societal conformity, love clashes with duty, and innocence is sacrificed. Follow the compelling journey of Newland Archer as he grapples with the rigid constraints of privilege, torn between tradition and the allure of forbidden passion.

Run time: Approx. 3 hours with one 15-minute intermission

Support for The Age of Innocence is provided by Sue Henry and Carter Phillips and PNC.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• Tickets start at $59 plus applicable fees. Ticket prices and availability are subject to change. Get tickets here.
• Arena Stage’s many savings programs include “pay your age” tickets for those aged 35 and under; military, first responder, and educator discounts; student discounts; and “Southwest Nights” for those living and working in the District’s Southwest neighborhood. To learn more, visit arenastage.org/savings-programs.
• Performance Dates:
  • Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
  • Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8 p.m.
  • Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
  • Weekday matinees at 12 p.m. on March 12, March 20, and March 26
• Early Curtain: Sunday, March 23 at 6 p.m.
• Southwest Nights: Sunday, March 9 at 2 p.m. and Friday, March 14 at 8 p.m.
• Audio-Described Performance: Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m.
• ASL-Interpreted Performance: Saturday, March 29 at 2 p.m.
• Mask-Required Performances: Saturday, March 8 at 2 p.m. and Tuesday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m.
• Closed Captioning: GalaPro begins Friday, March 7
• Industry Night: Sunday, March 2 at 7:30 p.m.
• Pride Night: Wednesday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m.
• HBCU/Divine Nine Night: Thursday, March 13 at 8 p.m.
• Steeped in Success: A Tea Party Celebration of DC’s Women Leaders: Saturday, March 15, 12 to 3 p.m. A The Age of Innocence-inspired tea party celebrating female leaders in the DC community. More details to come.

We’re partnering with Theater J to offer one family two tickets to see Tiny Lights, which will be at the Theater J from now through Dec. 15. One lucky winner will get two tickets to their choice of this weekend’s performances: Saturday, December 14, 11 a.m. or 3 p.m. or Sunday, December 15, 11 a.m. or  3 p.m.

Three masterful storytellers take on more than 40 roles as they bring us into the magical world of Isaac Bashevis Singer’s famed folktales. Created and directed by award-winning artists and Theater J favorites Aaron Posner and Erin Weaver, this funny and fast-moving show uses simple props and the art of storytelling to transport us to different worlds. Get ready for laughter, surprises, and lots of participation! 

Tiny Lights is for families with children ages 3-9.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• TINY LIGHTS runs at Theater J (1529 Sixteenth Street, NW Washington, DC 20036),  through this Sunday, Dec. 15.
• Recommended for ages 3-9.
• Click here to purchase tickets, which range from $12 to $27 .

To enter the giveaway, simply comment here or on our Facebook page by noon ET Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024.

© T Charles Erickson

John Leguizamo’s play The Other Americans is, like August Wilson’s work, a powerful reminder of how the American Dream can be nearly impossible for people of color to achieve.  Set in the affluent neighborhood of  Forest Hills, Queens in 1998, the story is loosely based on a tragedy that took place in Rockville Center, Long Island in 1990.

Leguizamo’s character Nelson Castro is a Colombian-Puerto Rican businessman who owns a series of laundromats all around New York City and New Jersey. What his lovely wife Patti (Luna Lauren Velez) doesn’t know is that they are on the brink of bankruptcy. The play takes place on a momentous day for the Castro family: their college-aged son Nick (Trey Santiago-Hudson) is about to return from a year-long stay at a residential psychiatric facility after a serious post-traumatic episode of depression and suicidal ideation. Rounding out the family is Nick’s older sister Toni, who works for the family business and was recently engaged to childhood friend Eddie.

The play’s set is the family home, which has been recently upgraded to include a small in-ground pool as a gift for Nick, who was a varsity swimmer in high school. It immerses audiences in the heart of the family’s life, where we can feel the tension as Patti tries to make all of Nick’s favorite dishes in anticipation of his arrival. The actors are all excellent (although the casting didn’t take into consideration that both adult children are substantially taller than their parents), each navigating their personal and family-wide dramas in way that makes them empathetic and authentic. Even Nelson, who can be irredeemably self-centered, is humanized by Leguizamo’s script. 

As a Latina viewer, I especially connected with the way food, music, dance, sexism, and gender expectations were portrayed. Not all immigrant families are the same, but as a fellow Colombian American from New York, I immediately related to the central family in the thought-provoking play. If you have an opportunity to see the play this month, take it.

© T Charles EricksonABOUT THE SHOW:

John Leguizamo’s The Other Americans, Oct. 18 – Nov. 24, 2024

By John Leguizamo
Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson
Starring John Leguizamo, Lauren Luna Velez, Trey Santiago-Hudson, Rebecca Jimenez
In Association with The Public Theater

Emmy Award winner John Leguizamo stars as Nelson Castro, a Colombian-American laundromat owner grappling with a failing business and buried secrets. When his son Nick returns from a mental wellness facility after a traumatic incident, Nelson’s world unravels. Committed to protecting his family and business, he tackles racial and identity challenges to achieve his dream, proving his success. In this gripping tale of resilience, Nelson must navigate morality’s murky waters to salvage his future. Will he emerge victorious, or will his past consume everything he holds dear?

This production uses herbal cigarettes, portrays a mental health crisis and an act of self-harm.

For a more explicit content warning please call or message Arena Stage.

The Other Americans is sponsored by Decker Anstrom and Sherry Hiemstra. 

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

• Get tickets here

• Special Performances:

• Audio-Described Performance
  Saturday, November 9, at 2 p.m.
• ASL-Interpreted Performance
  Saturday, November 16, at 8 p.m.
• Mask-Required Performances
  Saturday, November 23, at 1:00 p.m.
• Closed Captioning
  Gala Pro begins Saturday, November 2.

• Post-Show Conversations
  Wednesday, November 6, at 12 p.m.
  Friday, November 8, at 12 p.m.
  Tuesday, November 12, at 7:30 p.m.
  Wednesday, November 20, at 12 p.m.

Adventure Theatre

By Nicholas Polt, contributor to The DC Moms

In a two-person version of the classic tale, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy discover a secret portal to a magical world called Narnia. With an evil White Witch ruling the kingdom, can Lucy, her new friend Mr. Tumnus, and her family band together to save this land from the eternal winter?

From the moment Peter and Lucy–played exuberantly by Dylan Toms and Irene Hamilton–bound onstage to introduce themselves to the audience and breathlessly kick off the story of their epic adventure, you know you and the little ones are in for a treat. The Adventure Theatre at Glen Echo Park stages a delightful adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe that transports playgoers of all ages to Narnia and back through immersive set design, lighting and sound. But most impressive are the feats of the two actors who bring to life all of your favorite characters, sometimes switching with head-spinning speed.

Kids of all ages love the myriad moments of audience interaction and actors’ use of the entire space. Our 5-year-old guest did not hesitate to exclaim confidently once the applause died down, “That was great.”

Big festive feels, fun, and ferocity from a small stage (and cast)!

ABOUT THE SHOW:

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Nov. 17 – Jan. 7, 2024

Based on the story by C.S. Lewis
Dramatized by le Clanché du Rand
Directed by Tom Story and Shanara Gabrielle
Recommended for ages 4 and up 

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

• Get tickets here
• Directions: Click here for Google Map directions on getting to Glen Echo Park. You may also want to look up information about the Cafe, carousel, or Glen Echo’s neighbors.
• Note: Adventure is located past the carousel under the two tallest towers beside the Cuddle Up. It takes approximately 10 minutes with young children to get from the parking lot to Adventure Theatre MTC. For a map of the park, click here.

We are partnering with Allied DC on Paramount Pictures’ new release TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS, which will open nationwide June 9, 2023. On on Tuesday, June 6, there’s a screening, and we are giving away 20 “admit two” tickets. If you’re interested in attending, click here for an admit-two pass (each pass allows two people to attend). Just remember to get there early, since passes don’t guarantee a seat.

TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS

Tuesday, June 6^th

7:00 p.m.

AMC Tysons Corner

Virginia

• Opens in theaters nationwide and available on Friday, June 9
• Rated PG-13 

Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the Returning to the action and spectacle that have captured moviegoers around the world, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts will take audiences on a ‘90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new faction of Transformer – the Maximals – to join them as allies in the existing battle for earth. Directed by Steven Caple Jr. and starring Anthony Ramos and Dominique Fishback, the film arrives in theatres June 9, 2023.

Watch the trailer:

On Saturday, October 15^th at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., The National Symphony Orchestra will perform Karen LeFrak’s Sleepover at the Museum. It combines music and adventure to tell the story of a boy named Mason and his birthday party and scavenger hunt at a natural history museum. It’s sure to keep the kids excited! Get more information about the family-friendly show, including a sensory-friendly performance.

Imagine spending your birthday at the museum!

The Museum of Natural History is Mason’s favorite place to visit and he can’t wait to celebrate his birthday with a sleepover there, but first he has to scout for the best place to spend the night. Join Mason and his friends for a musical and scientific scavenger hunt through the many exhibits that make any museum special in this National Symphony Orchestra concert with projections, music, and story by Karen LeFrak based on her book of the same name. The program will be narrated by CNN Legal Analyst Laura Coates and will also feature John Williams’ “Nimbus 2000,” a magical tune from the Harry Potter film series.

“Sleepover” at the Symphony
Hey kids! Be a part of Mason’s birthday sleepover fun by wearing your favorite pajamas to the concert.

Most enjoyed by ages 5+

Tickets can be purchased here! For more about the show, check out the Kennedy Center’s digital program. The show runs approximately 40 minutes with no intermission. For more about the book, check out author Karen LeFrak’s website.

Stay after for a Creative Conversation

Following the 4 p.m. performance, young audience members can ask questions and hear stories from the show’s artists and creative team.

My husband and I are always a bit skeptical of jukebox musicals, because the book don’t always work seamlessly with the artist or band’s music, but TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL was fabulous, mixing the genre with biography and providing a comprehensive look at how Anna Mae Bullock became the inimitable Tina Turner, surviving abuse and mistreatment to reinvent herself as one of rock’s most venerable artists.

We saw Naomi Rodgers (who alternates the lead role with Zurin Villanueva) as Tina, and wow is it a tour-de-force performance. Most musicals have supporting characters who sing several songs and share the load, but TINA demands so much of the main role that the national tour offers two actresses in the role (audiences should be prepared to see Naomi or Zurin). As Gen Xers, my husband and I were well-versed in Turner’s greatest hits, but our favorite performances of the show were PROUD MARY, LET’S STAY TOGETHER, PRIVATE DANCER, WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT, and the Phil Spector-produced RIVER DEEP, MOUNTAIN HIGH, which even days later we can’t stop playing or singing! 

This is a fabulous show, and we recommend it for teens and up (the domestic and drug abuse content depicted in Tina’s toxic relationship with Ike Turner is too mature for younger audiences in my opinion). Just be prepared to keep replaying a Tina Turner playlist for a while after the musical!

TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL  is at Broadway at the National for a limited engagement Oct. 4 – Oct. 23!

This new musical reveals a comeback story like no other, of a woman who dared to defy the bounds of racism, sexism and ageism to become the global Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL is a celebration of resilience and an inspiration of triumph over adversity.

One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Tina Turner has won 12 Grammy Awards and her live shows have been seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history.

Featuring her much loved songs, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall and directed by the internationally acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd.

Check out an interview with the two leads about the touring show:

If you saw this year’s Tonys, you’re ready to see Six The Musical! The Tony-winning musical celebrates the wives of infamous King Henry VIII. The Washington Post hails SIX as “Exactly the kind of energizing, inspirational illumination this town aches for! The Broadway season got supercharged!” Coming to Broadway at the National for a limited engagement July 5 – September 4!

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take the mic to reclaim their identities out of the shadow of their infamous spouse—remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an exuberant celebration of 21st century girl power. The female cast are backed by an all-female band, the “Ladies in Waiting.”

Check out a montage from the show: