FROM: Jen Martin, Marketing & Events Coordinator, Office of Special Events, 301-228-2844
DATE: June 26, 2006

SUMMERFEST FAMILY THEATRE BEGINS JULY 8th
FREE ENTERTAINMENT FOR CHILDREN AND PARENTS!

Big names in entertainment for little people are coming to Frederick, Maryland this summer! It’s all part of the 15th season of Summerfest Family Theatre, a series of FREE shows in Frederick’s Baker Park Bandshell. The season begins on July 8th and continues for eight consecutive Saturdays through August 26th. Each show begins at 7 PM with a local act opening the performance and offering a variety of entertainment sure to please all ages. Opening the season is national award-winning duo Doug “Dirt” & “Airy” Larry of the Banana Slug String Band. Following is a list of what’s in store for this year’s series:

July 8th
Doug “Dirt” & “Airy” Larry of the Banana Slug String Band duo
Musical
The Banana Slug String Band Duo is Doug “Dirt” and “Airy” Larry, two teachers dedicated to bringing the FUN-damentals of science and ecology to children and families. Come along as these wacky educators take you on a Penguin Parade. From feathers to furs and scales to skin, this journey raises awareness about the diversity of animals and their habitats. Don’t just be a spectator, come dressed as your favorite animal and join the fun during this wildly interactive show filled with original songs, humor and tons of amusing costumes.

July 15th
Flumpa & Friends Live! Starring Wendy “The Singing Scientist”
Musical Science Adventure
Prepare to rock with this one-of-a-kind show led by Flumpa the tree frog and Wendy Whitten, ‘The Singing Scientist’. Touring nationwide since 1995, this fast-paced duo has entertained over 2.5 million people with their effortless blend of science, fitness and original, award-winning music. Come ready to travel on a rainbow, cheer on your favorite reptile, swim the vast oceans and hop like a frog! This captivating show will have you exploring the Earth and beyond, all without leaving Baker Park!

July 22nd
Safety First
Frederick City Police & United Fire Company
Learn all about safety, firsthand, as a representative from the Frederick City Police and the United Fire Company present a program aimed at keeping you safe. First, meet your friends, the policeman and the fireman. After the program, explore a police cruiser and fire engine right in Baker Park.

July 29th
COMSTAR Federal Credit Union presents The Lion’s Whiskers
Catskill Puppet Theater
Touring internationally since 1979, Catskill Puppet Theater co-founders John Potocnik and Carol Mandigo are experts at charming young and old alike with their delightful musical productions and engaging puppets. Dedicated to the tradition of traveling puppet troupes, the duo brings high quality entertainment to over 75,000 children each year. Join them in the heart of Africa for The Lion’s Whiskers where a young woman struggles to create a happy home for her new, ‘blended’ family. Through humor and stunning visuals, the veteran puppeteers examine the powerful emotions felt in relationships and the need for patience, reconciliation and love.

August 5th
Speed & Thro
High Energy Magic
Speed & Thro is the unforgettable comic duo Alex de Tessieres and Todd Davis. Speed is the slick, fast talking leader while Thro is the bumbling, lovable side kick. Together they are a sometimes wacky, often crazy and always an amazing team that combines their hyperactive brand of humor with truly astonishing magic and illusions. Don’t miss their most requested effect, “Dove from the Air,” a spectacular illusion that leaves audiences asking the age-old question, How did he do that? Guaranteed to have audiences raving, these crazy characters will leave you laughing and wondering long after the show has ended.

August 12th
Magpie with Terry Leonino & Greg Artzner
Musical
Master artists with the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, Magpie works with children and families to develop methods for using music as a tool in early childhood development. Coupling this with their commitment to environmental stewardship, Terry and Greg created the “Living Planet” program to honor Mother Earth and her creatures. Join them in celebrating the diversity of life, from whales to wolves, from magpies to macaws, from teeming oceans to the frozen tundra. Share in the vision of a generation of guardians of the Earth’s diversity and custodians of a Living Planet.

August 19th
The Fun Company presents Mother Goose on the Loose
Children’s Theatre
Part of the Maryland Ensemble Theatre, The Fun Company has been dedicated to producing high quality family theater for 13 years. This seasoned troupe will present the lighthearted “Mother Goose on the Loose,” featuring many childhood favorites including Jack and Jill and The Cat & Fiddle. Come along as these charming characters join in song and dance to honor the literary works of Mother Goose in a “This is Your Life” tribute. Along the way, lessons in creative rhyming, teamwork, problem-solving and friendship will be explored.

August 26th
Summerfest Carnival
Featuring The Skip Wizards Jump Rope Team
Returning this year is the Summerfest Carnival from 5– 7 PM, featuring amusements, pony rides, face painting, balloon sculptures, crafts, wandering entertainers, and costumed characters (some activities charge a small fee). The Carnival is followed by The Skip Wizards Jump Rope Team at 7 PM on the Bandshell stage. Made up of young athletes from around Frederick County, the group is a nationally ranked Competition and Demonstration team. Participants in the Junior Olympics, both the Junior and the Senior teams, won gold medals at the last competition in New Orleans.

This year’s theater series would not be possible without the generous support of the following corporate sponsors. The Spires Sponsors are Bechtel Foundation, CelllularOne, Drees Homes, Sandy Spring Bank, Spectrum Federal Credit Union and Weis Markets. The Carillon Sponsors are Adelphia, COMSTAR Federal Credit Union, Roy Rogers – A Plamondon Company and The Frederick News-Post. The Bandshell Sponsors are BB&T and Frederick Arts Council.

For more information, please call The City of Frederick Office of Special Events at
301-600-CITY (2489) or visit www.CelebrateFrederick.com .