Marietta Students Help Create Kennesaw's New Garden Theater Adventure

Immersive outdoor performance debuts at Smith-Gilbert Gardens during Art Blooms festival

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Marietta fifth-graders from the Marietta Center for Advanced Academics helped shape an immersive outdoor theater experience debuting at Kennesaw's Smith-Gilbert Gardens this April. Families can follow performers through the gardens in a 'Through the Looking-Glass'-inspired journey included with regular admission, with multiple showtimes and added festival activities during Art Blooms and the Art Hatch: Spring Arts Festival.

Why it matters

This collaboration between Marietta students and the Kennesaw garden showcases how local schools can partner with community institutions to create unique educational and cultural experiences. The immersive theater production aims to engage visitors in an imaginative, multisensory way while highlighting the natural beauty of Smith-Gilbert Gardens.

The details

The Marietta students worked with the garden's staff to develop the storyline, characters, and interactive elements of the 'Through the Looking-Glass'-themed production. Visitors will be able to follow performers through the gardens and participate in the narrative as it unfolds around them. The experience is included with regular garden admission, with multiple showtimes offered during the Art Blooms festival and the Art Hatch: Spring Arts Festival.

  • The immersive theater production will debut in April 2026 at Smith-Gilbert Gardens in Kennesaw.
  • The production will be featured during the Art Blooms festival and the Art Hatch: Spring Arts Festival.

The players

Marietta Center for Advanced Academics

A public elementary school in Marietta, Georgia that collaborated with Smith-Gilbert Gardens to develop the immersive theater experience.

Smith-Gilbert Gardens

A 16-acre public garden located in Kennesaw, Georgia that is hosting the new immersive theater production.

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The takeaway

This partnership between Marietta students and the Kennesaw garden demonstrates how local schools and community institutions can work together to create innovative, engaging experiences that bring people together and showcase the unique assets of a community.