Individual tickets may be purchased through our website on each show page. Use the drop-down menu on the right-hand side of the pages to select the date and time. You will be redirected to a secure page on the Smithsonian Associates website. If it’s your first time, you will need to set up an account to complete your purchase. Once your purchase is complete, you’ll receive an automatic email confirmation/receipt from CustomerService@SmithsonianAssociates.org. Please check your Junk/Spam folder if you do not have this in your Inbox. At this time, we are NOT mailing out hard-copy tickets via mail, so the email confirmation is all that you will receive to confirm your purchase.
You may also purchase tickets by phone: 202-633-8700 (M-F, 10am-3pm)
Seating for all programs is general admission AND at the discretion of House Management based on the space and how many people are attending the show. Families will most often be asked to sit in a specific section of the theater in order to leave room for groups that cannot be spit up. Due to sight lines, we do not allow adults (parents or teachers) to sit on the floor with their children. Adults are asked to sit in chairs along the side OR they can sit with their children on the risers.
Late seating is at the discretion of the House Manager. If it is not possible for you to be seated late, every attempt will be made to reschedule you or credit you for a future performance.
All ticket sales are final. There are NO REFUNDS on tickets once payment is received. If Discovery Theater closes and a performance is canceled (in the case of the federal government closing or inclement weather), you will have the option of rescheduling for another performance or receiving a refund.
You may exchange tickets (pending availability) by calling or emailing at least 30 minutes prior to the start time of your scheduled performance. If you are unable to reschedule at the time of your call, a credit will be placed on your account for you to use for a future performance. Credits cannot be given after a performance has taken place so, please call or email us before your scheduled performance if you cannot make it.
What if I show up to the wrong performance (time, date, etc.)?
We strongly encourage you to check your tickets or email confirmations carefully and let us know ASAP if there was a mistake. If you come to the wrong performance and we are sold out, you will be put on a wait list and asked to come back right before the show starts. If we have ticket holders that do not show up, you will be allowed in. If you miss your show and we can’t get you into another performance, we can credit your account for a future performance.
What is your seating policy?
Seating for all programs is general admission AND at the discretion of House Management based on the space and how many people are attending the show. For many of our programs, we will also need to seat large groups of school children. Families are sometimes asked to wait to enter the theater if we are about to seat a group or if the group arrived before you. Families will often be asked to sit in a specific section of the theater or auditorium. This ensures that everyone has a seat and can see and hear the performance. If you have special needs that require you or your child to sit in front, please let us know in advance and we will do our best to accommodate you.
What if my child is sick on our show day and we can’t make it?
Please call or email the theater at least 30 minutes prior to the start time of your performance to let us know you won’t be attending. We will put a credit on your account for you to reschedule for a future performance. Credits cannot be given after a performance has taken place so, please call or email us before your scheduled performance if you cannot make it.
Where can I park at Discovery Theater?
Parking is VERY limited on and around the National Mall. Limited metered parking is available on all streets surrounding the Mall. The nearest parking garages to the Ripley Center are at 6th St. and Maryland Ave., SW and L’Enfant Plaza/10th St SW. For more information about Parking, please visit our Directions & Parking page.
Can I bring a stroller into the theater?
We have a designated area to park strollers at all performance locations. Due to most of our performances being sold out, there is not room to keep the stroller with you in the theater during your show. Please keep any valuables with you as we aren’t responsible for lost items.
How long is the show?
All Discovery Theater performances are about 40-50 minutes in length. Plan for about an hour total with seating, the welcome speech, and dismissal.
Can I bring my infant?
Anyone is welcome at Discovery Theater; however, everyone needs a ticket to enter (including infants). When purchasing tickets, please add the “Child Under 2” price type to your cart if needed. The cost is $3.00. If you have a runner, screamer, crier, etc, please take them out of the theater during the performance and bring them back in when they are ready to re-enter.
Can I buy tickets on the day of the show?
On show days, please call 202-633-8700 after 8:30 AM to hear a message about the day’s show. This message will give you the ticketing situation for the day (sold out, tickets available, etc.). If a show is sold out and you still come to the theater, you will be put on a wait list upon arrival and asked to wait until the show starts to see if there were any no-shows or space is available. The wait list is not a guaranteed method of entry, so we advise purchasing in advance as much as possible. We accept all major credit cards, checks, and cash at the door.
I didn’t get my tickets in the mail or don’t have my email confirmation.
No problem! Currently, we are not mailing out paper tickets. We always have a list at the door so please check in at the box office window. If you are unsure of your date/time, please give us a call to verify that you have tickets or check your email confirmation from your purchase.
Where can my child have a snack?
We suggest having a snack before entering the building, as we are in a Gallery space and there is no eating or drinking allowed in the building or in the theater during the show. Shows are less than one hour, so please plan snack time accordingly.
If you require special assistance, please call 202-633-8700 to speak to Discovery Theater staff, or email us at Info@DiscoveryTheater.org. If you require the services of an interpreter, please contact us at least 2 weeks prior to your performance and we will do our best to accommodate you.
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