Special USBG-Kennedy Center Collaboration

The Kennedy Center and the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) collaborated for the first time on two unique and inventive world premiere productions performed at the USBG in the fall of 2015, and one of these productions returned in 2016. The USBG is a living museum filled with beautiful, inspiring (and sometimes mysterious) plants as well as engaging exhibits that highlight the value of plants to people. Flowers Stink was part of the 2016-2017 Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences season and was being presented at the United States Botanic Garden. Most enjoyed by age 7+. 


A botanical musical co-commissioned by the Kennedy Center and the U.S. Botanic Garden:

Flowers Stink

Words and music by Debra Buonaccorsi and Stephen McWilliams
Directed by Gregg Henry

When you live in a big city, a.k.a. “the concrete jungle,” sometimes it’s hard to appreciate the great outdoors. That’s definitely the case with one middle school girl, who’s struggling with writing a nature-themed poem for school. Giving up, she tweets: “#natureisborings #flowersstink.” Suddenly, two zany and loveable plants magically come to life in her room, encouraging her to open her eyes, ears, and mind to the beauty all around her. Pointing to her own family history, the girl’s newfound friends transport her imagination to the flora of a desert, a volcano, and a rain forest to help unleash her creativity. Mixing plenty of singing and dancing with folk, bluegrass, blues, and gospel, this colorful world premiere musical--by the Helen Hayes Award-winning creators of Dizzy Miss Lizzie's Roadside Revue--shows that, if you look closely enough, you can find the best of nature in the most unlikely places.

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Performed outdoors on the Amphitheatre stage at the U.S. Botanic Garden  |  FREE

Open seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. In case of rain, the show will be performed inside the Conservatory in the West Gallery.