Theater for Young Audiences on Tour
Get ready for KCTYA's Spring 2025 tour of Look Both Ways!
This story was going to begin like all the best stories. With a school bus falling from the sky. But no one saw it happen—they were all too busy. Washington, D.C. area native, New York Times best-selling author, and Kennedy Center Next 50 leader Jason Reynolds conjures 10 tales (1 per block) about what happens after the dismissal bell rings.
10 blocks. 10 unique tales. There’s something for everyone across these 10 vignettes about identity, compassion, fear, and friendship—as told through puppetry, dance, music, projections, audience participation, kamishibai (paper theater), and more. This faithful stage adaptation of Reynolds’ award-winning book (Carnegie Medal, Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book, National Book Award for Young People’s Literature finalist, and more) encourages audiences to look both ways not only when crossing the street, but also when acknowledging the people walking by. This world premiere family play is a co-production with Theater Alliance, adapted by El Chelito and Raymond O. Caldwell, and directed by Caldwell.
Look Both Ways is headed to a city near you! Keep checking this page to see where you can catch this production in Spring 2025.
Access the Kennedy Center Education Learning Guide materials for engagement prompts, discussion and reflection questions, resources to explore, and more.
Photo at left (from L to R): Charles Franklin IV, Tre'mon Mills, Savina Barini, Kalen Robinson, Ixchel Hernandez, John Sygar - Photo credit Teresa Wood
Image description: On a grey stage covered with criss-crossing lines, six actors stand in front of a back wall covered with a birds-eye view map with a street sign at the top. All six are wearing beige khaki pants, burgundy or blue shirts reminiscent of a school uniform but in slightly different styles, and backpacks in different styles. Five of the actors look towards the sixth, who is speaking with hands extended, palms-down.
About KCTYA on Tour
Since 1992, Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour has been a leader in bringing imaginative and original works to communities around the nation.
Throughout the program’s history, 44 tours have played in hundreds of cities in 49 states as well as parts of Canada. More than two million children, teachers, and parents have been part of these audiences. Many of the students who see these productions may never have the chance to visit the nation's performing arts center, but could still experience the professionalism and talent that has become the trademark of Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences.
When presenters book a KCTYA on Tour production, they also receive access to educational materials, including a performance guide with curriculum connections, discussion questions, and additional resources.
Find information about past productions here.
Photo at right: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! cast members from left to right: Lauren Davis and Sylvern Groomes, Jr. perform. Photo credit Jati Lindsay.
IMAGE: In front of a blue and green background with a curved white and yellow scenic archway in front of it, two actors perform animatedly. At left, Lauren Davis smiles, wearing a grey top with a hood at the back and grey jeans, holding a yellow duckling puppet clutching a hot dog. At right, Sylvern Groomes Jr wears a similar grey outfit, holding a blue and yellow pigeon puppet, looking intently at the hot dog.
Book a KCTYA on Tour Production
For more information about booking a Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences on Tour production, please contact Shaw Entertainment Group.
Simon Shaw
Contact Us
Main Contact Info
Theater for Young Audiences on Tour
c/o The Kennedy Center
PO Box 58100 Washington DC 20037
Telephone: +1 (202) 416-8830
Email: [email protected]
All Boxes And Fedex/UPS Deliveries Should Be Sent To:
Theater for Young Audiences on Tour
c/o The Kennedy Center
2700 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20566
Staff Contact Info:
For general information about our touring program please contact:
Maribeth Weatherford, Production & Operations Manager, TYA
[email protected]
Telephone: (202) 416-8134
Interested in working on a future tour?
If you're a stage manager, lighting technician, sound technician, technical director, wardrobe person, or props person interested in working on a future tour, please check out the available job postings - TYA tour listings are listed under the Education department.
Kennedy Center Education
The Vice President of Education is generously endowed by the
Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.
Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Bank of America; Capital One; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Carnegie Corporation of New York; The Ednah Root Foundation; Harman Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The Kiplinger Foundation; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; The Markow Totevy Foundation; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives;
Prince Charitable Trusts; Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Jackie Washington; GRoW @ Annenberg and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Family; Wells Fargo; and generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts..
The content of these programs may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal government.