Children and Family

Adventure Theatre

7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. 301/634-2270, www.adventuretheatre.org

• “The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fair(l)y (Stoopid) Tales.” Fairy-tale characters burst into song as they find themselves in one another”s stories. Ages 3 and up. 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays; weekday field-trip performances 10 and 11:30 a.m. April 10 and 11. Through April 20. $12.

• “Clara Barton: The Courage Within.” An interactive play for Women’s History Month dramatizing the pivotal moments in the life of the American Red Cross founder and Civil War nurse. Following the play, students will tour the Clara Barton National Historic Site in Glen Echo. 10:15 a.m. April 15. $12; $5 each student for school groups.

Charter Theatre

Theater on the Run, 3700 South Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington. 202/333-7009, www.chartertheatre.org

• “The Chicken of the Family.” When little Henrietta’s older sisters tell her she’s really a chicken and not a person, life gets hard. 11 a.m. Saturdays, Sundays. April 19, 20, 26, 27 and May 3. $10.

Classika Theatre

4041 Campbell Ave., Arlington. 703/824-6200, classika.org

• “The Story of the Lost Sock.” Sock puppets take youngsters on a journey to find the right one. Ages 3 and up. 12:30 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays. Through May 4. $12, $15.

• Momotaro. The story of the Japanese folk hero, whose name translates literally to “Peach Boy.” Ages 5 and up. 3:30 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays. Through May 18. $12, $15.

Discovery Creek Children’s Museum

4954 MacArthur Blvd. NW. 202/364-3111.

• Exhibitions, explorations, hikes, guest speakers and crafts. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. $5.

Discovery Theater

Various locations. $4-$6 unless otherwise noted. 202/633-8700, discoverytheater.com

• Seasons of Life. Multicultural show examining world celebrations of spring and the Earth’s rebirth, from May Day to Easter to Buddha’s birthday. Ages 5-10. S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Drive SW. 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. April 10 and 11, 15-16 and 22-25. Some sessions postponed.

• Ecosystems Alive! Reptile expert Jennifer Pennington introduces a black rat snake, a bearded dragon, a snapping turtle and a boa constrictor. Ages 8-12. S. Dillon Ripley Center, 1100 Jefferson Drive SW. 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. April 17 and 18, Sat., noon April 19. Some sessions sold out.

Gadsby’s Tavern Museum

134 N. Royal St., Alexandria. 703/838-4242, www.gadsbystavern.org

• Tavern Toddlers. Special weekly open playtime program for walkers through 36 months and their caregivers. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. first Monday of the month. $10 per group of three, which must include one adult; five-week pass $35.

George Washington University Lisner Auditorium

730 21st St. NW. 202/994-6800, 301/808-6900 or ticketmaster.com; www.lisner.org

• Theatreworks USA: “Junie B. Jones.” Junie gets to first grade. Kindergarten to fifth-grade. 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. May 12. $10. 800/497-5007, www.theatreworksusa.org

• Theatreworks USA: “Yarina: Music of the Andes.” A musical journey across the Andes Mountains with this indigenous Ecuadorean group, who sing in Quechua, Spanish and English. Kindergarten to ninth-grade. 10:30 a.m. May 13. $10. 800/497-5007, www.theatreworksusa.org

• Theatreworks USA: “Seussical.” Dr. Seuss’ best-loved stories in an adaptation from the Broadway version, especially for young audiences. Pre-kindergarten to fourth-grade. 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. May 19. $10. 800/497-5007, www.theatreworksusa.org

Imagination Stage

4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda. 301/280-1660, www.imaginationstage.org

• “Looking for Roberto Clemente.” A rock musical about baseball and heroes and learning that winning isn’t everything. Ages 4 and up. 12:30, 3:30 and 7 p.m. Saturdays; 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. Sundays; field-trip matinees for classes Tuesdays-Fridays. April 12-June 1. $10-$21.

• “Hamlet (abridged).” Four Hamlets, representing the different parts of his personality, are featured in this student performance as the Maryland participant of “Shakespeare 24,” a 24-hour global celebration of Shakespeare’s 444th birthday, on St. George’s Day, April 23, 1564. 7 p.m. April 23. Free, but reservations required, through 301/280-1660.

Kennedy Center

Family Theater, 2700 F St. NW. 202/467-4600, kennedy-center.org

• “Kite on the Wind: A Tale of Pakistan.” Friendly characters from Pakistani folklore help a young boy from Lahore gain the confidence he needs to compete in a kite-flying contest. A world premiere in collaboration with the Pakistan National Council on the Arts. Directed by Deirdre Kelly Lavrakas. Ages 9 and up. 7:30 p.m. April 11 and 12; 1:30 and 4 p.m. April 12. Through April 12. $18.

McLean Community Center

1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. 703/790-9223, www.mcleancenter.org

• McLean Kids: “Carnival of the Animals and Beyond.” A new interpretation of the classic by mime Mark Jaster, narrator Sabrina Mandell, singer Kyle Engler, pianist Daniel Lau. With Ogden Nash’s verse and Apollinaire’s “The Bestiary” set to music by Poulenc. Ages 6 and up. 2 p.m. April 19. $10, $14.

National Gallery of Art

Family weekend performances built around the exhibit “In the Forest of Fontainebleau.” East Building Auditorium, Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Free. First come, first seated. 202/789-3030, www.nga.gov

• “Beauty and the Beast.” Walt Disney’s 1991 version. Ages 4 and up. 11:30 a.m. April 19, 20.

• “Claude Monet: Shadow and Light.” Monet and Renoir discover and mentor a young boy with budding talent in this 2000 Canadian film. Ages 7 and up. Noon, 1:30 and 3 p.m. April 19, 20.

• Concert: 19th-Century French Music. Marcio Botelho, Kate Hearden and Patricia Parker in 30-minute performances of music by Franck, Massenet, Chausson and Debussy for piano, cello and voice. East Building Mezzanine. Ages 4 and up. 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 p.m. April 19, 20.

National Museum of Natural History

Baird Auditorium, 10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. 202/633-1000, www.nmnh.si.edu

• WPAS presents: “Tyrannosaurus Sue: A Cretaceous Concerto.” Bruce Adolphe of NPR’s “Piano Puzzlers” and 13 musicians take a musical romp through time to tell the story of a T. rex and how she survives. 2 p.m. April 12. $10-$40. Tickets at wpas.org or through 202/785-WPAS or 202/633-3030.

• Dinosaur Day at the Museum. Special activities in the museum’s Dinosaur Hall before and after the “Tyrannosaurus Sue” concert feature scientists and educators. April 12.

National Theatre

Saturday Morning at the National, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Performances for young people at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Admission free, but seating limited. Tickets required and are distributed first come, first served 30 minutes before showtime. 202/783-3372, www.nationaltheatre.org and click on the “Saturday Morning” logo.

• Theatre IV: “The Ugly Duckling.” A swan that grows up in a family of ducks gains self-confidence in a musical romp. April 12.

National Zoological Park

3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. Grounds open 6 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, buildings 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Oct. 31. Free. 202/633-4800, nationalzoo.si.edu

• Kids’ Farm. New 2-acre exhibit helps children understand where food comes from. Cows, donkeys, goats, vegetable garden. Opportunities to groom the goats and donkeys. Near the zoo’s Rock Creek Park entrance, at the bottom of Olmsted Walk. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Oct. 31. Free.

Patriot Center

4400 University Drive, Fairfax. 202/397-SEAT, www.patriotcenter.com

• Doodlebops Live. 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. April 19. $22-$45.

Puppet Company Playhouse

North Arcade Building, Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. 301/320-6668, www.thepuppetco.org

• “The Jungle Book.” Applause Unlimited’s production of Kipling’s animal stories. Grades one through six. 10 and 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays-Fridays; 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays. Through April 13. $8.

Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center

Northern Virginia Community College, 3001 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria. 703/845-6156, www.nvcc.edu/schlesingercenter

• ArtsPower: “Fish Face.” Emily Arrow learns a few things about honesty and growing up. School performance. Grades 1 to 4. 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. April 10. $9. 888/278-7769, www.artspower.org

Strathmore: The Music Center

5301 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda. 301/581-5200, www.strathmore.org

• Strathmore Strums! with Joe Uehlein. Participants bring their own acoustic stringed instruments and play and sing songs with chords and lyrics. 4 p.m. April 20. $5.

THEARC (Town Hall Education, Arts and Recreation Campus)

1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. 202/484-3272, www.thearcdc.org

• Coyaba Dance Theater Intergenerational Showcase at THEARC. The dance company from Dance Place performs with children in this family program. 4 p.m. April 12. $10, $15. Tickets through Dance Place at 202/269-1600, www.danceplace.org.