Curious George Swings into Washington DC

Kids favorite mischievous monkey, Curious George, is swinging into town. Curious George® Live, a new live musical stage production will be presented with 5 performances at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia.

The Curious George story stated with the first book in 1940 created by authors and illustrators H. A. and Margret Rey.

Their first book, based on their drawings was titled Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys. One of the characters, an adorable monkey named Curious George became the star and the couple wrote a manuscript about just him.

But the German-born Jewish couple who carried Brazilian passports were living in Paris just as the Nazi’s were invading the city, so the couple was forced to feel on bicycle just hours before the occupation.

Upon arriving in the US, the couple found a publisher in 1941 and the Curious George and the Man in the Yellow Hat series was born.

In the first Curious George book, George, a monkey in the jungle is captured and taken to a big city zoo. His adventure starts there and has continued for close to 70 years, spawning additional books, merchandise, movies, a PBS kid’s series, a video game, and even a children’s play area at Universal Studios in Florida. Since the first book, 27+ million copies have been sold.

George seems to always get into trouble on his road of discovery and exploration but finds a way out of the chaos he creates along the way using intriguing problem-solving skills. The precocious monkey, a delightful character to most 5 year olds, is possibly based on a pair of marmoset monkeys the couple kept as pets in the 1930s.

In Curious George Live, George is on a mission to help save a restaurant owned by his friend Chef Pisghetti. To save the restaurant, the chef needs to win a world-famous meatball competition. With help from his friend, The Man with the Yellow Hat, George’s adventures take him to Rome where the Golden Meatball Contest is being held.

Curious George takes the audience through a fun-filled, swinging and flipping story filled with original composition and familiar songs, dancing and follow-that-monkey fun.

Curious George Live – Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, Virginia (map)

Dates and Times -  Friday, Saturday and Sunday – August 27-29, 2010. Friday at 7:00 p.m., Saturday at 11:00 and 3:00 and Sunday at 1:00 and 5:00.

Tickets – $16.00 $40.00, plus $75 Monkey seats located in rows 1 or 2 and a pre-show Meet & Greet with the infamous monkey himself, Curious George. Tickets are available online, by phone at 703-573-SEAT or at the box office. Tickets go on sale July 19.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Vienna/GMU – Orange line, then a 6-mile cab ride.

Parking – Free parking is available.

Image – Flickr – Curious George