Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts

71he mood crackles with excitement as performance time nears. Inside the Filene Center, patrons stride down gently-sloped stairs, enter wide aisles, and settle into their seats. Outside of the theater on the grass, couples close picnic baskets and adjust colorful blankets while children wiggle onto spots claimed as their own. For the nearly 4,000 people seated inside the house and the 3,000 on the lawn, there is a feeling of intimacy with the performance on stage and with the natural setting that surrounds them. Inside the Filene Center cool breezes and moonlight flow through vertical open-air expanses that alternate with panels clad in Douglas-fir. Reminiscent of a fringe of gigantic trees, the timbers reflect sound from the stage back to the audience and provide exceptional acoustics in this partially enclosed theater. Outside, the audience enjoys the best of both worlds—the performance on stage and natures show found in the grassy meadows and lofty trees of this 130-acre park. g o c 1 v .c o • E © co 5 •£ E Q. to CO <D Today Wolf Trap's success is due to an unusual partnership between a government agency and a private organization. The National Park Service cares for the park, sponsors interpretive programs, and directs the operation and maintenance of the technical equipment and backstage facilities that serve the performing artists. The Wolf Trap Foundation, a private not-forprofit corporation founded at the request of the Department of the Interior, is responsible for artistic programming, tickets, public relations and marketing, fundraising, and educational programs. Together they foster the Wolf Trap experience—the audience and the performing artist coming together in a setting of natural beauty. Z3 E Q. 2 Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts began as a gift to the American people from Catherine Filene Shouse. Encroaching roads and suburbs inspired Mrs. Shouse to preserve this former farm as a park where people could find spiritual nourishment in the peacefulness of nature and in the performing arts. Mrs. Shouse donated the land for the park, 5 existing buildings, and the funds to build the Filene Center. In 1966 Congress accepted Mrs. Shouse's gift, and Wolf Trap Farm Park was authorized as the first national park for the performing arts. The Filene Center opened on July 1,1971, despite a damaging fire only weeks before completion. For a decade Wolf Trap's reputation blossomed as a world-class entertainment facility. Then, on April 4,1982, tragedy struck again, and the Filene Center burned to the ground. In the spirit of "the show must go on," performances were held in a large tent until the rebuilt Filene Center opened July 30,1984. CO •l-l J- < c 1o 1 r o Q_ 0 £Z •*-> o "Wolf Trap is a gift to people of all ages in all walks of life to enjoy the performing arts in a natural setting of woods, fields, and stream. It can grow in scope and meaningfulness to the extent of one's imagination and support." Catherine Filene Shouse 8 a (0 0 C 0 O ( / ) 0 "U m a(0 i Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing i Arts is outside 1-495 (Capital Beltway] between Route 7 and Route 267/ Dulles Toll Road. Access from the Dulles Toll Road is limited to 2 hours before performances. For directions to the Filene Center by vehicle or by Metro, call 703-255-1860. The Wolf Trap Experience Exciting performances, picnics, and a beautiful setting are just part of the Wolf Trap Farm Park experience. Through the cooperative effort and partnership of the National Park Service and the Wolf Trap Foundation, you can enjoy music, dance, and a variety of performances throughout the year. Together they offer festivals in the park and performances in the summer at the Filene Center. The Foundation provides year-round entertainment in an intimate setting at The Barns of Wolf Trap. The National Park Service (NPS) operates the park and keeps it active all year with backstage tours, performances for children, interpretive activities, and the annual Christmas carol program. The park is open daily except December 25. It closes at dark except for Filene Center patrons. performance talks and offseason backstage tours, call 703-255-1800. Theatre-in-the-Woods Performances for children are sponsored by NPS during July and August in this aptly-named outdoor amphitheater. Nestled in the forest near Wolf Trap Run, Theatre-in-the-Woods introduces children to the world of live performing arts with presentations of music and song, a diversity of dance, mime, puppets, and plays. The children's Great entertainment is no surprise to patrons of Wolf Trap, but few visitors realize how the National Park Service contributes to the experience. Check below to see how the NPS works behind the scenes to help make your visit to Wolf Trap Farm Park memorable. Filene Center On s t a g e dance, opera, symphony orchestras, jazz, pop, musicals, countrywestern, or bluegrass—the performing artists and their creative skills are paramount here, whether the evening's performance is a grand-scale production or an entertaining country group. Behind the scenes NPS specialists are responsible for maintaining the high standards of technical operation that best support the artists, including sound reinforcement, lighting control, scenery movement, and special effects. Backstage, too, NPS provides comfortable lounges and dressing rooms, which have led to Wolf Trap's reputation among performing artists as a home-away-fromhome. For information on pre- excitement is contagious as they become involved with the activities on stage. Workshops on the performing arts bring them even closer to the arts experience. Performances are free, but reservations are required. For information call 703-255-1827. Enjoying Nature You may wish to explore the forest, stream, and meadows of this 130-acre park on your own to learn about native plants, birds, and animals. Summer Evenings Come early and relax. Walk in the coolness of the forest canopy, listen to the stream play its own symphony, and watch squirrels perform acrobatics among the tree branches. After you shake off the day's stress, shake out a blanket and enjoy a picnic before the performance begins. Here are some suggestions to help your summer evenings at Wolf Trap go smoothly: Tickets and 24-Hour Information You may obtain tickets by phone, mail, or in person. Ticket sales are final—no refunds or exchanges allowed. All persons entering the Filene Center, regardless of age, must have a ticket. For performance schedules and to be placed on the mailing list, call the Wolf Trap Foundation at 703-255-1900. A 24-hour recorded service provides information about tickets, directions, performances, group sales, The Barns, Wolf Trap policies, and gift certificates; call 703-255-1860. Picnic and Food Services You may picnic on the grass throughout the park or at tables in the special events area and in the meadow. Concession facilities offer food and beverages. The Meadows Restaurant and Lounge offers a 200-seat pavilion with a full dinner menu and bar. For reservations, call 703281-4256. Parking Free parking is available in the lots on both sides of Trap Road and in overflow park- ing areas. Parking is limited for sold-out performances, so carpooling is suggested. Please be considerate of property owners if you are forced to park in residential areas. Illegally-parked vehicles may be towed. The Barns of Wolf Trap Reconstructed from 2 early 18thcentury barns from upstate New York, The Barns is owned and operated by the Wolf Trap Foundation and is not part of the national park. Call 703-938-2404. Accessibility Parking, restrooms, food service, and paths to the Filene Center are accessible for persons with disabilities. For information about wheelchair performance seating, motorized cart assistance, or services for the deaf and hard of hearing, call 703255-1820 or 703-255-9432 TDD. Park Information Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts is a unit of the National Park System. Write: 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, VA 22182-1643, or call 703-255-1800 voice/TDD. Foundation Programs and Services Write: Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, 1624 Trap Road, Vienna, VA 22182-2064; or call 703255-1900. Regulations • Grills, portable stoves, fires, and heliumfilled balloons are not allowed. • Food and beverages must stay outside the Filene Center covered seating area. • Smoking is prohibited in all Filene Center seating areas. • Follow directions given by NPS personnel, observe speed limits, and yield to pedestrians. • Cameras and audio and video recording devices are prohibited during performances. • Overnight camping is prohibited. • Plants, animals, and natural and cultural resources are protected by law. • In an emergency, contact the U.S. Park Police, an usher, or a park ranger. Theatre-in-the-Woods