Imagination Stage premieres ‘The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen’

Imagination Stage, the region’s largest professional theater for children, will debut its latest new play commission, “The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen,” adapted for the stage by Gloria Bond Clunie from the book by Thelma Lynne Godin, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, with Angelisa Gillyard directing.

Set in Harlem, this intergenerational story is a charming celebration of family and community ties.

The show runs Feb. 18 through April 8 at Imagination Stage in Bethesda and is best suited for ages 5 to 11.

“The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen” tells the story of Kameeka, who is confident that she will finally beat her rival, Jamara, and become the HulaHoopin’ Queen of 139th Street. But Mama reminds her that today is their neighbor Miz Adeline’s birthday, and Kameeka has important chores to do to prepare for the party. Kameeka is so preoccupied with thoughts of victory that she accidentally ruins Miz Adeline’s birthday cake and has to own up that there won’t be a cake for her special day. Disappointment dissipates quickly when Miz Adeline confesses that she’s also got the hula-hoopin’ itch. The young and the young at heart spill into the street to celebrate with timeless fun.

Not only does Oprah Winfrey recommend the book “The HulaHoopin’ Queen,” she reads it on YouTube. This is a wonderful way to become acquainted with the story and also to see how much depth Clunie adds to the characters and their relationships in bringing the story to the stage. These relationships are at the heart of the story, as mothers, aunties and neighbors lovingly dole out advice. And, of course, the hulahooping becomes delightfully real, incorporating choreography, rhyme and music into its own hip-hop adjacent art form.

Playwright Clunie says that the hula hoop is “an embodiment of the freedom and joy of childhood. A bright, sparkly neon circle of hope, and desire, and energy that we pick up and spin around with every ounce of our being. Children, and the child in all of us, need that kind of joy! Circles connecting a community.”

Director Gillyard loves that in the play “kids are just being kids. In my opinion, too often kids, particularly Black kids, just don’t get a chance to really enjoy their childhood. They are bombarded with adult situations and realities and are forced to make adult decisions. The children in this play get to spend time being carefree and doing what they love.” Gilyard hopes that children will leave the theater realizing that “forgiveness and love are real. Without giving too much away, true friendship can survive the mistakes we all occasionally make, but we have to also learn to forgive ourselves.”

Tickets are $12 to $36 and available at imaginationstage.org or by phone at 301-280-1660.

Student artists will return for Seed to Roots show

The third annual Seed to Roots Youth Arts Performance will highlight Frederick city and county student artists and performers in grades K-12. Participation requires that each performance be in celebration of Black artists and Black history and culture.

This year’s performance will take place at 6 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Weinberg Center for the Arts.

Tickets are $10 and available at weinbergcenter.org. Admission for children under 10 is free.

“This program … recognizes and celebrates Black history as American history and creates an engaging venue for residents to share their life stories,” Frederick City Mayor Michael O’Conner said. “We are excited to once again be a partner in this event and see these stories shared with our community.”

The goal of Seed to Roots is to establish a diverse creative opportunity for local youth to showcase their artistic talents and allowing the community at large to enjoy and celebrate their art.

Last year, ticket sales for the live performance raised nearly $1,200 in dance class scholarship donations for 24/7 Dance Studio in Frederick. This year, applications to participate doubled, and the planning committee hopes to raise even more money to benefit several arts scholarship programs across Frederick.

“Seed to Roots is a program built upon diversity and inclusion, which are core values of Frederick County Gov- ernment,” said County Executive Jessica Fitzwater. “I am deeply committed to arts opportunities for our young people, not only because of my years as a music educator, but because the performing arts are essential for our students to express themselves and their ideas.”

For the first time, cash prizes will be awarded by the Alpha Lambda Lambda chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, whose members will also serve as judges. One high school grand prize winner will be selected to travel to the regional Omega Psi Phi Talent Hunt competition for an all-expenses-paid trip to Pittsburgh in April.

Planning committee members Tricia Kennedy, Tarolyn Mckinney, Andrea Thompson, Kia Tisdale and Desiree Tucker are excited to offer this opportunity for the third year to all student artists, including those with talent who have a desire to perform but may not have the access to formal artistic training. Donations from ticket sales go back into the community to support student artist training.

To donate purchased tickets (whole or in part) to students or community members, contact the box office at 301600-2828 so the Weinberg can make these tickets available to the community for free. Tickets may be purchased and donated as such up to one day prior to the event.

For more information, email Desiree Tucker at desiree.tucker@womensolve.org.