The Kennedy Center will present “The Promise of US: Our Nation at 250” as part of its 2026 programming. “America has long been seen as a country that drives art forward, from generation to generation,” said Deborah F. Rutter, Kennedy Center President, in an official press statement. “We also recognize that our nation’s 250-year-old artistic identity is complex—embracing both individualism {…}
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has announced its 2024–25 Performances for Young Audiences Season. For the purpose of this article, only opera works are included. The Washington National Opera presents Kamala Sankaram and Kelley Rourke’s “Jungle Book.” The beloved story gets a contemporary twist with music from South Asian and Western music traditions and mesmerizing Bollywood {…}
The Kennedy Center has announced a three-year contract extension for Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon. “My time here at the Kennedy Center has been amazing. It’s been rewarding creating many new works in partnership with the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, and the many other art forms here,” said Simon in an official press release issued by The Kennedy Center. “I’m {…}
The Kennedy Center has announced the launch of “The Cartography Project,” a multi-year initiative aimed at providing a platform for creators of color from communities grieving from race-based violence in the United States. The first installment of the project, which comes during the Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary season, will include eight new commissions, each of which will receive live world {…}
(Credit: Scott Suchman – CBS) The 44th Kennedy Center Honors are set to be televised on Dec. 22 on the CBS Television Network. The gala, which was held on Dec. 5, 2021, will also be available to stream live and on demand via the CBS app and Paramount+. The 2021 honorees included Justino Díaz, Berry Gordy, Lorne Michaels, Bette Midler, {…}
The Kennedy Center of Washington D.C. will present the co-commissioned opera, “…(Iphigenia),” the collaborative work of Wayne Shorter, and Esperanza Spalding. Performances will take place on Dec. 10 and 11 at the Eisenhower Theater, and will feature a production by Obie Award winner Lileana Blain-Cruz. Clark Rundell will conduct the production with scenic design by Frank Gehry, costume design by {…}
Dates for composer Wayne Shorter and librettist / performer esperanza spalding’s “Iphigenia” have been announced. The opera, which will be directed by Lileana Blain-Cruz and conducted by Clark RUndell with set designs by Frank Gehry, costumes by Montana Levi Blanco, lighting by Jen Schriever, and sound by Mark Gray, will make its world premiere this November at ArtsEmerson in Boston {…}
On Sept. 14, 2021, The Kennedy Center will hold its 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert. Hosted by Audra McDonald, this special celebration echoes the “An American Pageant for the Arts” fundraiser in 1962, and is directed and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse, with conductors JoAnn Falletta, Steven Reineke, and Thomas Wilkins. Among the roster of distinguished artists are Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear, {…}
The Kennedy Center is set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s famed “Mass” on Sept. 8, 2021. The piece, which inaugurated the brand-new John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts with its world premiere on Sept. 8, 1971, will be presented in a new fully staged production starring Will Liverman as the Celebrant. The work was commissioned by {…}
On Thursday, July 9, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced the continuation and expansion of long-term Social Impact initiatives leveraging the arts for non-arts outcomes. Under the leadership of Vice President and Artistic Director of Social Impact, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, and the Social Impact team, the Kennedy Center is harnassing the momentum it has built across {…}
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has released the upcoming schedule for its digital programming. Among the broadcasts is Couch Concerts, the center’s digital performance initiative which will feature a number of showcases with groups such as the U.S. Army Chorus and Washington National Opera. Also streaming is Renee Fleming’s new series “Music and the Mind Live.” {…}