PREPOSTEROUS! with Happenstance Theater

happenstance theater, full company cast posing in their preposterous costumes for a photo in front of their set in an outdoor setting

Leslie Swan Photography LLC

Step back in time with your friends and family to the era of vaudeville traveling shows with Happenstance Theater for their production of PREPOSTEROUS! The show is a family-friendly, pocket-sized clown circus in which charming vintage clowns play circus animals, sing as a human calliope, do the classic circus mirror routine with a twist, invent a number of ridiculous “entrées”, perform live music, and execute a very satisfying slow motion number involving a pie!

PREPOSTEROUS! premiered in the summer of 2017 at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s 50th Anniversary featuring CIRCUS ARTS and it has been performed at The National Theater as part of their Saturday Morning family series. The show is a pared-down version of the award-winning production IMPOSSIBLE! A Happenstance Circus about which the Washington Post said “Happenstance Theater specializes in the old skills – physical theater, clowning, mime – all served here with winking whimsy.” Featuring Mark Jaster, Sabrina Mandell, Gwen Grastorf, Sarah Olmsted Thomas, and Alex Vernon.

This event will be held at the Cabin John Amphitheater at Cabin John Regional Park on Saturday, July 15 and begins at 10:00 am. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and picnic blankets for viewing.

This event is intended for all ages.

Sign Language Interpretation will be provided by Montgomery Park’s Program Access.

This event will be held at Cabin John Regional Park

Frequently Asked Questions

Address:: 7400 Tuckerman Lane Bethesda, MD 20817
Parking:: Free parking is available at Cabin John Regional Park in the main parking lots located off Tuckerman Lane as well as Westlake Drive. Overflow parking is located at the Cabin John Ice Rink. A paved footpath is available from the Cabin John Ice Rink parking lot to the main lot off Westlake Drive. See the Cabin John Map on this page for reference.
Restrooms:: On-site restroom facilities are available Cabin John Regional Park
Accessibility:: This park is generally accessible according to the 2010 Standard ADA Guidelines. If you or a member of your party need further accessibility accommodations for this event, please contact the Montgomery Parks Program Access office.
Pets:: Pets are allowed at all Parks Playhouse events, but must be kept on a leash while on park property.
Cost:: This event is free.
What to bring:: Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets for viewing. Come prepared for the summer weather with appropriate UV-protective accessories and a water bottle.
Additional Questions:: For additional questions, please contact the Montgomery Parks Public Information and Customer Service office at 301-495-2595 or email Info@MontgomeryParks.org.