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Home / National Symphony Orchestra John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts June 12

National Symphony Orchestra John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts June 12

United States national cultural eye in Washington, D.C.

John F. Kennedy Memorial Middle for the Performing Arts
Kennedy Center seen from the Potomac River, June 2010.jpg

Kennedy Middle seen from the Potomac River

John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts is located in Central Washington, D.C.

John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts

John F. Kennedy Memorial Middle for the Performing Arts

Location inside Cardinal Washington, D.C.

Show map of Central Washington, D.C.

John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts is located in the United States

John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts

John F. Kennedy Memorial Middle for the Performing Arts

John F. Kennedy Memorial Centre for the Performing Arts (the United States)

Show map of the United States

Accost 2700 F Street, NW
Location Washington, D.C., U.s.a.
Coordinates 38°53′45″N 77°03′21″Westward  /  38.8957°N 77.0559°W  / 38.8957; -77.0559 Coordinates: 38°53′45″North 77°03′21″W  /  38.8957°N 77.0559°Westward  / 38.8957; -77.0559
Public transit WMATA Metro Logo.svg Washington Metro
WMATA Blue.svg WMATA Orange.svg WMATA Silver.svg at Foggy Lesser–GWU station
Bus transport Metrobus
Owner United states government
Operator John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
David Rubenstein, Chairman
Deborah Rutter, President
Type Performing arts center
Capacity Concert Hall: two,454
Opera House: 2,294
Eisenhower Theater: 1,161
Terrace Theater: 475
Theater Lab: 398
Family Theater: 320
Jazz Lodge: 160
Construction
Broke ground December 2, 1964
Opened September 8, 1971 (1971-09-08)
Builder Edward Durell Rock
Structural engineer Severud Associates
General contractor John McShain
Tenants
National Symphony Orchestra
Washington National Opera
Website
world wide web.kennedy-center.org

Bust of John F. Kennedy by Robert Berks located opposite the entrance to the Opera House in the Center

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known equally the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Centre) is the United states National Cultural Center, located on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. It was named in 1964 equally a memorial to assassinated President John F. Kennedy. Opened on September viii, 1971, the center hosts many different genres of performance art, such as theater, dance, orchestras, jazz, popular, and folk music.

Authorized by the 1958 National Cultural Center Human action of Congress,[i] which requires that its programming exist sustained through private funds, the center represents a public–individual partnership. Its activities include educational and outreach initiatives, almost entirely funded through ticket sales and gifts from individuals, corporations, and individual foundations.

The original building, designed by architect Edward Durell Stone,[i] was constructed by Philadelphia contractor John McShain, and is administered equally a bureau of the Smithsonian Institution. An earlier design proposal chosen for a more curvy, spaceship-inspired building like to how the Watergate complex appears today.[ii] An extension to the Durell Stone Building was designed by Steven Holl and opened in 2019. The heart receives annual federal funding to pay for edifice maintenance and operation.

History [edit]

The idea for a national cultural center dates to 1933 when First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt discussed ideas for the Emergency Relief and Civil Works Administration to create employment for unemployed actors during the Great Depression.[3] Congress held hearings in 1935 on plans to establish a Cabinet level Section of Science, Art and Literature, and to build a awe-inspiring theater and arts edifice on Capitol Hill near the Supreme Court building. A 1938 congressional resolution chosen for construction of a "public building which shall exist known equally the National Cultural Middle" near Judiciary Square, but nothing materialized.[three]

Flags in the Hall of States

The idea for a national theater resurfaced in 1950, when U.S. Representative Arthur George Klein of New York introduced a bill to qualify funds to plan and build a cultural center. The bill included provisions that the heart would prohibit any discrimination of bandage or audience. In 1955, the Stanford Inquiry Institute was commissioned to select a site and provide design suggestions for the heart.[4] From 1955 to 1958, Congress debated the idea amid much controversy. A pecker was finally passed in Congress in the summer of 1958 and on September 4, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law the National Cultural Center Human action which provided momentum for the project.[v]

This was the first fourth dimension that the federal government helped finance a structure defended to the performing arts. The legislation required a portion of the costs, estimated at $10–25 million, to be raised inside v years of the bill'due south passage.[6] Edward Durell Rock was selected every bit architect for the projection in June 1959.[7] He presented preliminary designs to the President's Music Committee in October 1959, along with estimated costs of $50 million, double the original estimates of $25–30 million. By Nov 1959, estimated costs had escalated to $61 meg.[8] Despite this, Stone's design was well received in editorials in The Washington Mail, Washington Star, and rapidly approved past the United States Commission of Fine Arts, National Capital Planning Committee, and the National Park Service.[ix]

The National Cultural Centre was renamed the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 1964, post-obit the assassination of President Kennedy.[x]

Fundraising [edit]

The National Cultural Center Board of Trustees, a group President Eisenhower established January 29, 1959, led fundraising.[vi] Fundraising efforts were not successful, with merely $thirteen,425 raised in the first three years.[xi] President John F. Kennedy was interested in bringing culture to the nation's upper-case letter, and provided leadership and support for the projection.[12] In 1961, President Kennedy asked Roger L. Stevens to assistance develop the National Cultural Center, and serve as chairman of the Board of Trustees. Stevens recruited Offset Lady Jacqueline Kennedy as Honorary Chairman of the Centre, and one-time First Lady Mamie Eisenhower as co-chairman.[13] In January 1961, Jarold A. Kieffer became the first Executive Managing director of the National Cultural Center, overseeing numerous fundraising efforts and assisting with the architectural plan.[fourteen]

The total cost of construction was $70 million.[x] Congress allocated $43 1000000 for construction costs, including $23 million as an outright grant and the other $20 million in bonds.[12] Donations also comprised a significant portion of funding, including $5 1000000 from the Ford Foundation, and approximately $500,000 from the Kennedy family.[fifteen] [16] Other major donors included J. Willard Marriott, Marjorie Merriweather Post, John D. Rockefeller Three, and Robert W. Woodruff, as well equally many corporate donors.[16] Strange countries provided gifts to the Kennedy Center, including a gift of three,700 tons of Carrara marble from Italy (worth $1.5 million) from the Italian regime, which was used in the building's construction.[17]

Structure [edit]

President Lyndon B. Johnson dug the ceremonial showtime-shovel of earth at the groundbreaking for the Kennedy Center Dec two, 1964.[18] Nevertheless, contend continued for some other twelvemonth over the Foggy Bottom site, with some advocating for another location on Pennsylvania Artery.[fifteen] Excavation of the site got underway on December 11, 1965, and the site was cleared past January 1967.[xix]

The beginning performance was September 5, 1971, with ii,200 members of the full general public in attendance to encounter a premiere of Leonard Bernstein'southward Mass in the Opera House,[10] while the Heart'due south official opening took place September 8, 1971, with a formal gala and premiere operation of the Bernstein Mass.[20] The Concert Hall was inaugurated September 9, 1971, with a performance past the National Symphony Orchestra conducted past Antal Doráti.[20] Alberto Ginastera's opera, Beatrix Cenci premiered at the Kennedy Centre Opera House September 10, 1971. The Eisenhower Theater was inaugurated Oct 18, 1971, with a performance of A Doll's House starring Claire Bloom.[21]

Architecture [edit]

Architect Edward Durell Stone designed the Kennedy Centre.[22] Overall, the building is 100 feet (30 m) high, 630 anxiety (190 m) long, and 300 feet (91 m) wide. The Kennedy Centre features a 630-foot-long (190 m), 63-pes-high (19 m) grand foyer, with 16 manus-blown Orrefors crystal chandeliers (a gift from Sweden) and blood-red carpeting. The Hall of States and the Hall of Nations are both 250-foot-long (76 m), 63-foot-high (19 m) corridors. The building has drawn criticism near its location (far away from Washington Metro stops), and for its scale and form,[22] although information technology has also drawn praise for its acoustics, and its terrace overlooking the Potomac River.[22] In her book On Architecture, Ada Louise Huxtable called it "gemütlich Speer."[23]

Cyril Yard. Harris designed the Kennedy Middle's auditoriums and their acoustics.[24] A key consideration is that many aircraft fly forth the Potomac River and overhead the Kennedy Center, every bit they take off and country at the nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Helicopter traffic over the Kennedy Centre is also fairly high. To keep out this noise, the Kennedy Center was designed every bit a box within a box, giving each auditorium an extra outer beat out.[25]

After the original structure was marked for expansion, a contest in 2013 selected Steven Holl Architects to undertake the design.[26] The extension, chosen The REACH, opened in 2019.[27]

Artwork [edit]

The plaza entrance of the Kennedy Centre features two tableaus by German sculptor Jürgen Weber; created between 1965 and 1971, which were a souvenir to the Kennedy Center from the West German government. Near the due north finish of the plaza is a display of nude figures in scenes representing state of war and peace, called War or Peace. The slice, 8 ft × fifty ft × one.5 ft (two.44 m × 15.24 chiliad × 0.46 m), depicts 5 scenes showing the symbolism of war and peace: a war scene, murder, family, and creativity.[28] At the south end is America which represents Weber'due south image of America (8 × l × i.five ft.). Four scenes are depicted representing threats to liberty, engineering, foreign aid and survival, and free spoken communication.[29] It took the artist four years to sculpt the two reliefs in plaster, creating 200 castings, and another 2 years for the foundry in Berlin to cast the pieces. In 1994, the Smithsonian Institution'due south Save Outdoor Sculpture! program surveyed War or Peace and America and described them as existence well maintained.[28] [29] Another sculpture Don Quixote past Aurelio Teno occupies a site most the northeast corner of the building. Rex Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain gave the sculpture to the United States for its Bicentennial, June 3, 1976.[30]

Venues [edit]

Layout of the three principal theaters at the Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center has three main theaters: the Concert Hall, the Opera House, and the Eisenhower Theater.

Concert Hall [edit]

The Concert Hall, located at the s end of the Center, seats 2,442 including chorister seats and stage boxes, and has a seating arrangement similar to that used in many European halls such as Musikverein in Vienna. The Concert Hall is the largest performance infinite in the Kennedy Eye and is the home of the National Symphony Orchestra. A 1997 renovation brought a high-tech acoustical canopy, handicap-accessible locations on every level, and new seating sections (onstage boxes, chorister seats, and parterre seats). The Hadeland crystal chandeliers, given by the Norwegian Crown, were repositioned to provide a clearer view.[17] Canadian organbuilder Casavant Frères constructed and installed a new pipe organ in 2012.[31]

Opera House [edit]

The Opera Firm, in the heart, has about two,300 seats. Its interior features include walls covered in red velvet, a distinctive blood-red and gold silk curtain, given past the Japanese authorities, and Lobmeyr crystal chandelier with matching pendants, which were a gift from the authorities of Republic of austria.[17] It is the major opera, ballet, and big-scale musical venue of the Middle, and closed during the 2003/2004 season for extensive renovations which provided a revised seating arrangement and redesigned entrances at the orchestra level. It is the home of the Washington National Opera and the annual Kennedy Eye Honors.

Eisenhower Theater [edit]

The Eisenhower Theater, on the north side, seats almost 1,163 and is named for President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who signed the National Cultural Middle Human activity into law on September two, 1958. Information technology primarily hosts plays and musicals, smaller-scale operas, ballet and contemporary dance. The theater contains an orchestra pit for upwards to 35 musicians that is convertible to a forestage or boosted seating infinite. The venue reopened in October 2008, post-obit a 16-month renovation which altered the colour scheme and seating arrangements.

Other operation venues [edit]

Entrance to the Theater Lab

The Millennium Stage in 2019

Other performance venues in the Center include:

  • The Family Theater, with 324 seats, opened December 9, 2005. It replaced the erstwhile American Film Institute Theater located adjacent to the Hall of States. Designed by the architectural firm Richter Cornbrooks Gribble, Inc. of Baltimore, the new theater incorporates a computerized rigging organization; and a digital video projection arrangement.
  • The Terrace Theater, with 513 seats, was constructed on the roof terrace level in the tardily 1970s as a Bicentennial gift from the people of Japan to the The states. It is used for sleeping room music, ballet and gimmicky trip the light fantastic toe, and theater.
  • The Theater Lab, with 399 seats, currently houses the whodunit Shear Madness which has been playing continuously since August 1987.
  • The Millennium Phase. Role of the concept of "Performing Arts for Everyone" launched by Chairman James Johnson in the winter of 1997, the Millennium Stage provides complimentary performances every evening at 6:00 pm on two specially created stages at either end of the Thousand Foyer. A broad range of fine art forms are featured on the Millennium Stage. These include performing artists and groups from all 50 states and an Creative person-in-Residence programme featuring artists performing several evenings in a month. Every show on the Millennium Phase is available as a simulcast of the alive show at six:00 pm, and is archived for later viewing via the Kennedy Eye's website.
  • The Terrace Gallery. On March 12, 2003, the infinite formerly known as the Education Resource Middle was officially designated the Terrace Gallery. It is now abode to the Kennedy Centre Jazz Club.

River and rooftop terraces [edit]

The Kennedy Heart offers one of the few open up-air rooftop terraces in Washington, D.C.; information technology is free of accuse to the public from x:00 a.m. until midnight each day, except when closed for private events. The wide terrace provides views in all four directions overlooking the Rosslyn skyline in Arlington, Virginia, to the Westward; the Potomac River and National Airport to the South; the Washington Harbor and the Watergate Complex to the Due north; and the Lincoln Memorial, Department of State buildings, George Washington University and the Saudi Embassy to the East.

The Grand Foyer, at 63 feet (19 m) high and 630 anxiety (190 g) long, is one of the largest rooms in the world. If laid on its side, the Washington Monument would fit in this room with 75 feet (23 thousand) to spare.

Productions [edit]

Dance [edit]

World premiere performances of Kennedy Eye-commissioned works accept been offered through a commissioning program for new ballet and dance works. These works take been created past America'south foremost choreographers—Paul Taylor, Lar Lubovitch, and Merce Cunningham—for leading American dance companies including American Ballet Theatre, Ballet W, Houston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, and the San Francisco Ballet. The Kennedy Eye formerly supported and produced the Suzanne Farrell Ballet in performances at the Center and on extended tours.

The Center sponsors two annual dance residency programs for young people; Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell and the Dance Theatre of Harlem Residency Plan, both at present in their 2nd decade. The Kennedy Middle'due south Contemporary Dance series offers a wide range of artistic perspectives, from the foremost masters of the genre to the art form'due south newest and most exciting artists. In the 2008/2009 series, the Kennedy Center recognized Modern Masters of American Trip the light fantastic toe, bringing Martha Graham Dance Company, Merce Cunningham Dance Visitor, Limón Dance Company, Mark Morris Dance Group, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Trip the light fantastic toe Company and Paul Taylor Trip the light fantastic toe Visitor.

Education [edit]

In contempo years the Kennedy Center has dramatically expanded its instruction programs to accomplish young people, teachers, and families throughout the nation. The 2005 opening of the Family unit Theater has helped attain this.

Performances for Young Audiences [edit]

Theater for Young Audiences (TYA)

The 2008–2009 season programming for Performances for Young Audiences reached more than 100 performances for immature people and their families and over 110 performances for school audiences. The season included four Kennedy Center-commissioned world premieres: The Trumpet of the Swan, a musical adjusted by Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman from the book by Due east.B. White with music by Jason Robert Brown; Mermaids, Monsters, and the World Painted Purple, a new play by Marco Ramirez; Unleashed! The Underground Lives of White House Pets, a new play by Allyson Currin in collaboration with the White House Historical Association; and Sultanate of oman...O human!, a new dance production conceived and directed by Debbie Allen and is part of the Center's Arab festival, Arabesque: Arts of the Arab Earth. Theater for Young Audiences on Tour toured with two nationally touring productions of The Phantom Tollbooth and Blues Journeying.

On June viii, 2016 information technology was announced that the Kennedy Eye Theater for Young Audiences-deputed musical Elephant & Piggie's We are in a Play!, with volume and lyrics by Mo Willems and music past Deborah Wicks La Puma, will transfer to the Off-Broadway New Victory Theater in January 2017.[32]

National Symphony Orchestra Performances for Young Audiences

Members of the National Symphony Orchestra will go along to present Teddy Bear Concerts throughout its seasons. During these concerts, children aged 3 to 5 bring their favorite stuffed animal to interactive musical programs featuring members of the NSO. Members of the NSO present NSO Ensemble Concerts, connecting music with various schoolhouse subjects such equally science and math, Kinderkonzerts, introducing kids to orchestral instruments and classical composers, equally well as NSO Family Concerts.

Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) [edit]

Started in 1969 past Roger L. Stevens, the Kennedy Eye'southward founding chairman, the Kennedy Centre American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) is a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide which has served as a catalyst in improving the quality of higher theater in the United States. The KCACTF has grown into a network of more than 600 bookish institutions throughout the land, where theater departments and student artists showcase their piece of work and receive outside assessment by KCACTF respondents. Since its establishment in 1969, KCACTF has reached more than 17.5 million theatergoing students and teachers nationwide.

Changing Didactics Through the Arts (CETA) [edit]

The Kennedy Center'southward CETA program's mission is make the arts a disquisitional component in every child's instruction. CETA, which stands for Irresolute Education Through the Arts, creates professional development opportunities for teachers and school administrators. Each year over 700 teachers participate in approximately lx courses that focus on means to integrate the arts into their teaching.[33] The Kennedy Centre's CETA programme besides partners with sixteen schools in the Washington DC Metro area to develop long-range plan for arts integration at their school. Two of these schools, Kensington Parkwood Elementary Schoolhouse in Kensington, MD and Woodburn Elementary School for the Fine and Communicative Arts in Falls Church building, Virginia serve as Research and Development schools for CETA.

Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell (EBSF) [edit]

Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell is a 3-week summer ballet intensive for international pre-professional person ballerinas ages xiv–18. Suzanne Farrell, one of the most revered ballerinas of the 20th century, has been hosting this Balanchine-inspired intensive at the Kennedy Center since 1993.[34] [35] During their three weeks in Washington, D.C., Farrell'southward students practice technique and choreography during twice daily classes, six days per calendar week. Outside of the classroom, excursions, activities and operation events are planned for EBSF students to fully immerse themselves in the culture of the nation'south capital.[34]

Festivals [edit]

The Kennedy Center presents festivals celebrating cities, countries, and regions of the world. The festivals are filled with a wide range of performing arts, visual arts, cuisine, and multi-media. In 2008, the Center presented an exploration of the culture of Japan entitled Nippon! culture + hyperculture. The 2009 Arab festival was an unprecedented exploration of the culture of the 22 Arab countries in the League of Arab States, titled Arabesque: Arts of the Arab Earth. In 2011, the Kennedy Centre presented maximum INDIA, a three-week-long celebration of the arts and culture of the sub-continent.

Jazz [edit]

Since its establishment in September 1971, the John F. Kennedy Eye for the Performing Arts has showcased jazz in solo, various ensembles, and large band settings. In 1994, the Kennedy Center appointed Dr. Billy Taylor as Artistic Counselor for Jazz, and his outset installation was his own radio show Baton Taylor's Jazz at the Kennedy Centre. Featuring his trio and invitee artists in performance and discussion, the series ran for 7 seasons on NPR. Since Taylor's appointment in 1994, the Center has initiated numerous performance programs to promote jazz on a national phase, featuring leading international artists and rising stars, including: the Art Tatum Piano Panorama, named afterward Dr. Taylor's mentor; the Louis Armstrong Legacy, highlighting vocalists; the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival, the commencement festival by a major institution promoting outstanding female jazz artists; Beyond Category, featuring artists whose work transcends genre; the Platinum Series, with internationally acclaimed headliners; Jazz Ambassadors with the The states Department of State, sending musicians on worldwide goodwill tours (1998–2004); the KC Jazz Society, a highly praised intimate setting; and Discovery Artists in the KC Jazz Club, highlighting upwardly-and-coming talent. Kennedy Heart and NPR annually collaborated on the honey holiday broadcast 'NPR's Pianoforte Jazz Christmas', until the retirement of host Marian McPartland, and hence the bear witness, in 2011. Since 2003, the Heart'due south jazz programs have been regularly broadcast on NPR'southward JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater. Recent highlights, produced by the Center, take included Great Vibes, A Salute to Lionel Hampton (1995); Billy Taylor'south 80th Altogether Celebration (2002); Nancy Wilson, A Career Celebration (2003); Michel Legrand with Patti Austin, part of the Heart's Festival of French republic (2004); A Tribute to Shirley Horn (2004); James Moody'south 80th Birthday (2005); and Benny Golson at 80 (2009). In March 2007, the Center hosted a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, Jazz in Our Time, which bestowed the Middle'south Living Jazz Legend Honor to over xxx revered artists. During Dr. Taylor's tenure, the Centre has created recognized educational initiatives, including national jazz satellite distance-learning programs; adult lecture series; master classes and workshops with national artists and local metropolitan Washington, D.C. students; and Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead—continuing the vocalist's legacy of identifying outstanding immature talent. In 2015, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett performed there as role of their Cheek to Cheek Tour.

National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) [edit]

The National Symphony Orchestra, the Kennedy Center's artistic affiliate since 1987, has deputed dozens of new works, amidst them Stephen Albert'southward RiverRun, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Music; Morton Gould'south Stringmusic, also a Pulitzer Prize-winner; William Bolcom'southward 6th Symphony, Roger Reynolds's george WASHINGTON, and Michael Daugherty's UFO, a concerto for solo percussion and orchestra.

In addition to its regular season concerts, the National Symphony Orchestra presents outreach, education, and pops programs, as well as concerts at Wolf Trap each year. The annual American Residencies for the Kennedy Eye is a program unique to the National Symphony Orchestra and the Center. The Center sends the Orchestra to a different state each yr for an intensive catamenia of performances and teaching encompassing full orchestral, bedchamber, and solo concerts, main classes and other pedagogy sessions. The Orchestra has given these residencies in 20 states so far: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, North and South Carolina, Oklahoma, N and South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Nevada, and Wyoming/Montana.

The NSO recording of John Corigliano'due south Of Rage and Remembrance won a Grammy Laurels in 1996.

Performing Arts for Everyone (PAFE) [edit]

The Kennedy Center is the only U.Due south. institution that presents a costless performance 365 days a year, daily at 6pm (12 apex on December 24). The Millennium Stage, created as function of the Center'due south Performing Arts for Anybody initiative in 1997 and underwritten by James A. Johnson and Maxine Isaacs, features a broad spectrum of performing arts, from dance and jazz, to chamber music and folk, comedy, storytelling and theater. In the past twelve years, over three meg people have attended Millennium Phase performances. The Millennium Stage has presented more than than 42,000 artists, which includes over 4,000 international artists from more than 70 countries; performers representing all fifty states; and 20,000 Washington-area ensembles and solo artists. The Charlie Byrd Trio and the Billy Taylor Trio were the first artists to delight audiences with a free performance on March one, 1997. In 1999, the Centre began web-casting each dark's alive performance, and continues to annal and maintain each event in a database of over 3,000 performances which may be accessed via the Eye's website. Performing Arts for Everyone initiatives also include low- and no-cost tickets available to performances on every stage of the Kennedy Eye, and several outreach programs designed to increment access to Kennedy Middle tickets and performances.

The Solarium Projection [edit]

An initiative of the Millennium Stage, the Conservatory Projection is a semi-annual event occurring in February and May that is designed to nowadays the best young musical artists in classical, jazz, musical theater, and opera from leading undergraduate and graduate conservatories, colleges and universities.

Artist Residencies [edit]

The Kennedy Middle hosts residencies for artists to collaborate with the Center'due south performing ensembles, programmers, and community initiatives. The Center holds positions for Composer-in-Residence, Education Creative person-in-Residence, and Culture Creative person-in-Residence. The current artists-in-residence are The Roots, writer Jacqueline Woodson, composer Carlos Simon, and pianist Robert Glasper.[36]

Theater [edit]

The Center has co-produced more than 300 new works of theater over the past 43 years, including Tony-winning shows ranging from Annie in 1977 to A Few Good Men, How to Succeed in Business Without Actually Trying, The Male monarch and I, Titanic, and the American premiere of Les Misérables. The Center also produced the Sondheim Celebration (six Stephen Sondheim musicals) in 2002, Tennessee Williams Explored (three of Tennessee Williams' archetype plays) in 2004, Mame starring Christine Baranski in 2006, Carnival! in 2007, August Wilson's Pittsburgh Wheel (Wilson'southward complete x-play cycle performed every bit fully staged readings) and Broadway: Three Generations both in 2008, and a new production of Ragtime in 2009. The Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays has provided critical support in the development of 135 new theatrical works. In 2011, a new production of Follies starring Bernadette Peters opened at the Eisenhower Theater, and transferred to Broadway that fall.[ needs update ]

Kennedy Center Honors [edit]

Since 1978, the Kennedy Center Honors take been awarded annually by the Center's Board of Trustees. Each twelvemonth, five artists or groups are honored for their lifetime contributions to American culture and the performing arts, including dance, music, theater, opera, moving picture, and television receiver.[37] The Heart has awarded the Marker Twain Prize for American Humor since 1998.

Local performing arts organizations [edit]

Many local arts organizations present (or have presented) their work at the Kennedy Centre. Some of these include:

  • American Moving-picture show Institute
  • The Washington Chorus
  • The Cathedral Choral Order of Washington
  • Choral Arts Society of Washington
  • Opera Lafayette
  • VSA arts
  • The Washington Ballet
  • Washington Concert Opera
  • Washington National Opera
  • Washington Performing Arts Social club[38]
  • Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
  • Immature Concert Artists of Washington[39]

Other events [edit]

During the American Bicentennial, the Kennedy Center hosted numerous special events throughout 1976, including 6 commissioned plays.[forty] The center hosted free performances by groups from each state.[41] In December 1976, Mikhail Baryshnikov's version of The Nutcracker ballet played for 2 weeks.[42] The Kennedy Center likewise hosts special inauguration events and galas.

In 1977, the Opera House hosted George Bernard Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra with Rex Harrison and Elizabeth Ashley.[43] The American Ballet Theatre has also oft performed at the Kennedy Centre.[44] The troupe's 2004 production of Swan Lake, choreographed past Kevin McKenzie, was taped at that place, shown on PBS in June 2005, and released on DVD shortly subsequently. Productions of The Lion King and Trevor Nunn's product of My Fair Lady (choreographed by Matthew Bourne) were presented in the 2007–2008 season, to name a few.[45]

The 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert was held on September xiv, 2021, and is scheduled to air on PBS on October 1, 2021. Audra McDonald hosted, and Starting time lady Jill Biden gave opening remarks.[46]

Millennium Stage Archives [edit]

The Kennedy Centre stages free daily performances on its Millennium Phase in the Grand Vestibule. Featured on the Millennium Phase are a range of art forms, including performing artists and groups.

The two theaters of The Millennium Stage are equipped with lights, sound systems, and cameras. Every free event performed at this stage is recorded and archived on the Kennedy Center's website. These archives have been available to the public for free since 2009.[47]

VSA [edit]

VSA (formerly VSA arts) is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Administrator Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where people with disabilities acquire through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. VSA provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased admission to the arts for people with disabilities. Each twelvemonth vii meg people participate in VSA programs through a nationwide network of affiliates and in 54 countries around the world. Affiliated with the Kennedy Center since 2005, VSA was officially merged into the arrangement in 2011 to become part of the Heart'south Section of VSA and Accessibility.

Renovations and expansion [edit]

On June 16, 1971, Congress authorized appropriations for one year to the Board of Trustees for operating and maintenance expenses. In following years, the appropriations were provided to the National Park Service for operations, maintenance, security, rubber and other functions not straight related to the performing arts activities.[48] The National Park Service and the Kennedy Center signed a cooperative agreement requiring each party to pay a portion of the operating and maintenance costs based on what proportion of time the building was to exist used for performing arts functions. The agreement did not specify who was responsible for long-term capital comeback projects at the Kennedy Center, along with merely periodic funding past Congress for i-time projects.[49]

1990–2005 [edit]

In fiscal years 1991 and 1992, Congress recommended that $27.seven million be allocated for capital improvement projects at the Center, including $12 million for structural repairs to the garage and $15.seven million for structural and mechanical repairs, as well as projects for improving handicapped admission.[50] In 1994, Congress gave full responsibility to the Kennedy Middle for capital improvement projects and facility management.[51] From 1995 to 2005, over $200 million of federal funds were allocated to the Kennedy Center for long-term capital letter projects, repairs, and to bring the eye into compliance with modern burn down safety and accessibility codes.[51] Improvements included renovation of the Concert Hall, Opera Firm, plaza-level public spaces, and a new fire alarm system.[52] The renovations projects were completed 13 to 50 per centum over upkeep, due to modifications of plans during the renovations resulting in overtime and other penalties.[53] Renovations to the Eisenhower Theater were completed in 2008.[45]

2013–present [edit]

Offset in 2013, the Center commenced with an 60,000 square feet (5,600 thousandtwo) expansion project on iv acres in the Center's South Plaza. The expansion adds classroom, rehearsal, and performance infinite and includes three pavilions (the Welcome Pavilion, the Skylight Pavilion, and the River Pavilion), reflecting pool, a tree grove, a sloping lawn to be used for outdoor performances, and a pedestrian bridge over Stone Creek Parkway.[54] [55] The builder is Steven Holl,[55] with aid from architectural firm BNIM.[56] Edmund Hollander Landscape Architects is the landscape architect.[57]

Plans for the project began later on David Thou. Rubenstein donated $l million to the heart.[56] A groundbreaking ceremony took place in December 2014. Originally estimated to cost $100 meg, the cost of the project grew to $175 1000000, and blueprint changes and a major D.C. sewer project significantly delayed construction. The expansion, entitled the REACH, opened on September 7, 2019 with an opening arts festival.[55] [58] [59] The fundraising goal for the new Achieve arts middle grew to $250 million[60] as the projection progressed, and the target was achieved just two days before opening. Since its opening, the Accomplish as received several design awards, such as the Architect's Paper All-time of the Twelvemonth Award in the Cultural category and an Honor Award in the 2020 AIA NY Design Awards.[61] [62]

Management [edit]

Prior to 1980, daily operations of the Kennedy Center were overseen past the chairman of the lath of directors, and by the board itself. Aspects of the center's programming and operations were overseen by diverse other people. George London was the Kennedy Middle'south first executive director (often called "artistic director" by the press, although that was non the formal title), serving from 1968 to 1970,[63] while William McCormick Blair, Jr. was its first administrative director.[64] Julius Rudel took over as music director in 1971.[65] In 1972, Martin Feinstein replaced London and held the position of creative director until 1980.[66] Marta Casals Istomin was named the first female artistic manager in 1980, a position she held until 1990;[67] she was too the first person to be formally invested with that title.[68] [69]

In 1991, the board created the position of chief operating officer to remove the day-to-day operations of the Kennedy center from the chairman and board. Lawrence Wilker was hired to fill the position, which later was retitled president.[70] The artistic managing director connected to oversee artistic programming, nether the president'due south management.

Michael Kaiser became president of the Kennedy Middle in 2001. He left the organisation when his contract expired in September 2014.[70] [71]

In September 2014, Deborah F. Rutter became its 3rd president; she is the first adult female to hold that post. Rutter had previously been president of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Clan, a position she held from 2003.[67]

Board of Trustees [edit]

The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, formally known as the Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, maintains and administers the Centre and its site. David 1000. Rubenstein is the chairman of the board.

The honorary chair members of the board are the First Lady and her living predecessors. Members of the lath are specified by xx USC 76h and include ex officio members such as the Secretarial assistant of Wellness and Human Services, the Librarian of Congress, the Secretary of State (substituting for the Director of the United States Information Agency after that agency was abolished), the Chairman of the Commission of Fine Arts, the Mayor of the District of Columbia, the Superintendent of Schools of the District of Columbia, the Director of the National Park Service, the Secretary of Education and the Secretarial assistant of the Smithsonian Establishment, too as 36 full general trustees appointed by the President of the U.s. for 6-twelvemonth terms.[72]

See besides [edit]

  • List of memorials to John F. Kennedy

References [edit]

Notes

  1. ^ a b "U.S. capital seeks to build civilisation center". Lewiston Morning time Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Printing. Oct 21, 1962. p. 2.
  2. ^ Tom (February 24, 2014). "The Kennedy Center Could Take Looked Like This". Ghosts of DC . Retrieved February nineteen, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Center: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Society. 50: 527–528.
  4. ^ "Timeline of SRI International Innovations: 1940s - 1950s". SRI International. Archived from the original on November 29, 2006. Retrieved July i, 2012.
  5. ^ Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Center: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Society. fifty: 529.
  6. ^ a b Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Center: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Society. 50: 541.
  7. ^ Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Eye: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Society. 50: 542.
  8. ^ Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Eye: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Society. 50: 543.
  9. ^ Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Centre: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Society. 50: 544.
  10. ^ a b c Robertson, Nan (September six, 1971). "At Last, the Performances Begin". The New York Times . Retrieved November four, 2014.
  11. ^ Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Eye: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Club. 50: 545.
  12. ^ a b Lydon, Christopher (September vi, 1971). "Kennedy Arts Center Primps for Opening and Hopes to Make Profit". The New York Times.
  13. ^ Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Center: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Lodge. 50: 546.
  14. ^ Printing release [i]. The John F. Kennedy Library. Retrieved: 6 March 2020
  15. ^ a b Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Eye: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Society. fifty: 564.
  16. ^ a b Curtis, Charlotte (September 3, 1971). "Bedlam Continues for Seats at Kennedy Center Opening". The New York Times.
  17. ^ a b c "$three-1000000 in Gifts Beautify Center". The New York Times. September 6, 1971.
  18. ^ Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Center: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Society. 50: 560.
  19. ^ Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Centre: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Guild. 50: 568–569.
  20. ^ a b Schonberg, Harold C. (September ii, 1971). "Kennedy Hall Gets Acoustics Conditioning". The New York Times.
  21. ^ Hutchinson, Louise (October 19, 1971). "Eisenhower Theater Opening Operation Seen by Nixons". Chicago Tribune.
  22. ^ a b c Weeks, Christopher (1994). AIA Guide to the Architecture of Washington, D.C. (Third ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN9780801847134.
  23. ^ Huxtable, Ada Louise (2008). On Architecture: Collected Reflections on a Century of Change . Bloomsbury. p. 82. ISBN978-0-8027-1707-8.
  24. ^ Roth, Leland Chiliad. (1982). A Concise History of American Architecture. Westview Press. p. 337. ISBN978-0064300865.
  25. ^ Raichel, Daniel R. (2000). The Science and Applications of Acoustics . Springer. p. 252. ISBN978-0387989075.
  26. ^ "Steven Holl Receives Blessing for Kennedy Centre Pedestrian Bridge". ArchDaily. July 31, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  27. ^ "Welcome to the Accomplish | the Kennedy Heart | Kennedy Middle".
  28. ^ a b "War or Peace, (sculpture)". Salve Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey. Smithsonian Institution. 1994. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  29. ^ a b "America, (sculpture)". Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey. Smithsonian Establishment. 1994. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  30. ^ "Kennedy Unit to Get King'southward Gift". Spartanburg Herald-Periodical. Associated Press. May ix, 1976. Retrieved Nov four, 2014.
  31. ^ Wakin, Daniel J. (September 27, 2011). "Kennedy Eye to Supplant Its Piping Organ". The New York Times.
  32. ^ Swain, Marianka. "New Flavour Appear for New Victory Theater". broadwayworld.com.
  33. ^ "Ceta: Program Overview". Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  34. ^ a b "Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell". Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  35. ^ "Trip the light fantastic toe Spotlight: Learning Curve". Archived from the original on July 17, 2015. Retrieved July sixteen, 2015.
  36. ^ "50th Anniversary Season | Kennedy Center". www.kennedy-center.org . Retrieved April ten, 2021.
  37. ^ Boliek, Brooks (September 8, 1994). "Kennedy nods to Douglas, Gould". The Hollywood Reporter.
  38. ^ Washington Performing Arts Society website
  39. ^ Young Concert Artists of Washington website
  40. ^ Darling, Lynn (Jan 1, 1977). "Bicentennial Hailed for Its Legacies". The Washington Mail . Retrieved November iv, 2014.
  41. ^ "Critics' Roundtable The Arts: Poised for 1977". The Washington Post. January two, 1977. Retrieved Nov four, 2014.
  42. ^ Kriegsman, Alan Thou. (Jan 2, 1977). "The New Nutcracker: An Creative Coup". The Washington Postal service . Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  43. ^ Quinn, Sally (January 12, 1977). "King Harrison: 'The World Was A Rather Dissimilar Place And so'". The Washington Post . Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  44. ^ Kriegsman, Alan M. (April xi, 1977). "ABT's Last Weekend: Upbeat Performances". The Washington Post . Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  45. ^ a b Smith, Tim (March 6, 2007). "Kennedy Center announces details of 2007–2008 flavour". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on March 24, 2007.
  46. ^ Marsh, Kayla. "All Is Brilliant Again: Inside The Kennedy Center's Star-Studded 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert", Commune Fray, September 16, 2021; and Hampton, Olivia. "Stars smoothen for Kennedy Heart 50th ceremony show", DC Metro Theater Arts, September 16, 2021
  47. ^ "Millennium Phase". Kennedy Center. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  48. ^ General Accounting Office (February 1993). "Kennedy Heart: Information on the Capital Comeback Program" (PDF). p. 2.
  49. ^ General Accounting Office (February 1993). "Kennedy Middle: Data on the Capital Improvement Program" (PDF). p. 3.
  50. ^ General Bookkeeping Role (February 1993). "Kennedy Heart: Information on the Capital Improvement Program" (PDF). GAO Report to Congress. p. iv.
  51. ^ a b Government Accountability Function (April 2005). "Stronger Oversight of Burn down Safety Bug, Structure Projects, and Financial Management Needed" (PDF). p. ane.
  52. ^ Government Accountability Function (April 2005). "Stronger Oversight of Fire Rubber Issues, Construction Projects, and Financial Direction Needed" (PDF). p. three.
  53. ^ Government Accountability Office (Apr 2005). "Stronger Oversight of Burn down Safety Issues, Construction Projects, and Financial Direction Needed" (PDF). p. 4.
  54. ^ Peggy McGlone, Completion of Kennedy Middle expansion nevertheless more a year away, Washington Post (May viii, 2018).
  55. ^ a b c "Expansion Project". John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
  56. ^ a b "KC business firm BNIM volition help pattern $100 one thousand thousand expansion of Kennedy Center". Kansas Urban center Star. April 4, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  57. ^ "The Reach at the [sic] The Kennedy Center". The Kennedy Center. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  58. ^ "Welcome to the Reach | The Kennedy Center | Kennedy Center". www.kennedy-center.org . Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  59. ^ "Attain Opening Festival Announcement | Kennedy Center". www.kennedy-center.org . Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  60. ^ "Kennedy Center celebrates latest expansion 'The Reach' with free opening festival". WTOP. September 7, 2019. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  61. ^ "Announcing the winners of the 2020 AN All-time of Pattern Awards". The Architect'southward Newspaper. December 2, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  62. ^ "THE REACH". AIA New York . Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  63. ^ Davis, Peter G. (September 17, 1981). "November. four Gala to Honor George London". The New York Times . Retrieved Nov iv, 2014.
  64. ^ Robertson, Nan (February 1, 1968). "Rudel and Blair Accept Kennedy Arts Center Jobs". The New York Times . Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  65. ^ Taubman, Howard (Baronial 30, 1971). "Rudel Logs a Hectic Mean solar day In Kennedy Centre Roles". The New York Times . Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  66. ^ Saxon, Wolfgang (Feb vii, 2006). "Martin Feinstein, 84, Dies; Led the National Opera". The New York Times . Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  67. ^ a b Boyle, Katherine (December 10, 2013). "Deborah F. Rutter to Become Kennedy Center's Tertiary President". The Washington Mail . Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  68. ^ "Kennedy Heart Artistic Director". Christian Scientific discipline Monitor. February 29, 1980. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  69. ^ Cummings, Judith; Krebs, Albin (February 27, 1980). "The Kennedy Heart Names a New Artistic Managing director". The New York Times . Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  70. ^ a b Boyle, Katherine (Jan 23, 2013). "Kennedy Center Volition Begin Search to Replace President Michael M. Kaiser". The Washington Mail. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
  71. ^ Pogrebin, Robin (December 10, 2013). "Kennedy Center Names New Master". The New York Times . Retrieved November four, 2014.
  72. ^ "Board of Trustees". Retrieved April 13, 2021.

External links [edit]

  • Official website
  • The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts at Google Cultural Institute

birabandonser.blogspot.com

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_Center_for_the_Performing_Arts