The arts provide such a wonderful experience for audiences of all ages. In the coming months, you’ll find “something for everyone,” thanks to some exciting, family friendly programming in our area.

The Spotlight on the Arts Celebration brings music, theater, dance, and visual art together in the Fairfax City area from mid-April through mid-May. Programming includes art displays, orchestras, high school musical productions – arts that are professional, community, and school-based. It also includes some brand new theater fare that I’ll tell you about in a bit. For information on this Spring festival, visit www.fairfaxspotlight.org.

The Mason Summer Festival will take place on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University from May 31 – June 27. During this Festival, there are opportunities to attend readings of world-premiere plays, where the audience can give the playwright feedback. Imagine knowing that your input might help shape a play that could go on to a full, productive life locally, nationally, or internationally! The First Light program for new play development will feature a play written by a local high school student, two by college students, two by professional playwrights and one screenplay, written by a professional screenwriter. These are stories, the very first time they’re being told. If you enjoy theater, this is a truly special process to take part in. Also included in the Festival will be performances by professional and student musicians, actors and dancers. Visual art will be featured in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall lobbies. There are many activities to choose from. For additional information, please see www.masonfestival.org.

I am most excited to invite you all to the world premiere of a brand new play for young audiences, produced by my company, AFYP Stages. Part of the company’s mission is to use theater as a teaching tool, bringing important lessons to children using an entertaining format. The show, entitled SALLY SURFER AND THE WILD WILD WEB, teaches internet safety for children ages 8 and up. It includes puppetry, live, original music, and some information that is necessary for parents to have, too. The first presentation of SALLY SURFER will be Saturday, May 2, at 11 a.m., at Old Town Hall in Fairfax (Spotlight Festival). The next will be on Sunday, May 31 at 1 p.m., at George Mason University (Mason Summer Festival). Both have free admission, and we’d love to have a chance to share this new play with you and get your feedback. The show will begin touring local schools next fall, so this is your chance to see it before it goes out on the road!

It’s important to know that we have a vibrant, rich selection of arts-related activities right here in Northern Virginia. I hope you’ll have a chance to check some of these out, and that it will inspire your children’s creativity, as well as your own.