Where Is the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

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

John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts

Kennedy Center seen from the Potomac River
John F. Kennedy Memorial Eye for the Performing Arts Location within Cardinal Washington, D.C. Prove map of Cardinal Washington, D.C. John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts (the United States) Evidence map of the The states
Accost	2700 F Street, NW
Location	Washington, D.C., Us
Coordinates	38°53′45″Northward 77°03′21″Due west  /  38.8957°N 77.0559°Westward  / 38.8957; -77.0559 Coordinates: 38°53′45″Due north 77°03′21″W  /  38.8957°Northward 77.0559°W  / 38.8957; -77.0559
Public transit	Washington Metro at Foggy Bottom–GWU station Metrobus
Owner	Us government
Operator	John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts David Rubenstein, Chairman Deborah Rutter, President
Type	Performing arts center
Capacity	Concert Hall: 2,454 Opera House: ii,294 Eisenhower Theater: 1,161 Terrace Theater: 475 Theater Lab: 398 Family Theater: 320 Jazz Club: 160
Construction
Broke ground	December 2, 1964
Opened	September viii, 1971 (1971-09-08)
Architect	Edward Durell Stone
Structural engineer	Severud Assembly
General contractor	John McShain
Tenants
National Symphony Orchestra Washington National Opera
Website
www.kennedy-centre.org

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

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (formally known as the John F. Kennedy Memorial Heart for the Performing Arts, and commonly referred to as the Kennedy Middle) is the United states of america National Cultural Center, located on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. It was named in 1964 every bit a memorial to assassinated President John F. Kennedy. Opened on September 8, 1971, the middle hosts many different genres of operation art, such as theater, trip the light fantastic, orchestras, jazz, pop, and folk music.

Authorized by the 1958 National Cultural Middle Act of Congress,^[1] which requires that its programming be sustained through private funds, the center represents a public–private partnership. Its activities include educational and outreach initiatives, almost entirely funded through ticket sales and gifts from individuals, corporations, and individual foundations.

The original edifice, designed by architect Edward Durell Rock,^[one] was constructed past Philadelphia contractor John McShain, and is administered as a bureau of the Smithsonian Institution. An before blueprint proposal called for a more curvy, spaceship-inspired building similar to how the Watergate complex appears today.^[2] An extension to the Durell Stone Building was designed by Steven Holl and opened in 2019. The center receives annual federal funding to pay for building maintenance and operation.

History [edit]

The idea for a national cultural center dates to 1933 when Beginning Lady Eleanor Roosevelt discussed ideas for the Emergency Relief and Civil Works Administration to create employment for unemployed actors during the Peachy Low.^[3] Congress held hearings in 1935 on plans to establish a Cabinet level Department of Scientific discipline, Art and Literature, and to build a monumental theater and arts building on Capitol Hill most the Supreme Court edifice. A 1938 congressional resolution called for structure of a "public building which shall be known as the National Cultural Eye" near Judiciary Square, only nada materialized.^[3]

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 authorize funds to programme and build a cultural center. The neb included provisions that the middle would prohibit whatever discrimination of cast or audition. In 1955, the Stanford Enquiry Plant was commissioned to select a site and provide design suggestions for the center.^[4] From 1955 to 1958, Congress debated the idea among much controversy. A beak was finally passed in Congress in the summer of 1958 and on September four, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into police force the National Cultural Heart Deed which provided momentum for the project.^[5]

This was the beginning time that the federal government helped finance a structure defended to the performing arts. The legislation required a portion of the costs, estimated at $ten–25 one thousand thousand, to be raised within five years of the bill's passage.^[6] Edward Durell Stone was selected equally architect for the project in June 1959.^[7] He presented preliminary designs to the President's Music Committee in Oct 1959, along with estimated costs of $l meg, double the original estimates of $25–thirty million. Past November 1959, estimated costs had escalated to $61 one thousand thousand.^[8] Despite this, Rock'southward pattern was well received in editorials in The Washington Mail, Washington Star, and quickly approved by the United states Commission of Fine Arts, National Capital Planning Committee, and the National Park Service.^[9]

The National Cultural Center was renamed the John F. Kennedy Eye for the Performing Arts in 1964, following the bump-off of President Kennedy.^[10]

Fundraising [edit]

The National Cultural Center Board of Trustees, a group President Eisenhower established Jan 29, 1959, led fundraising.^[half-dozen] Fundraising efforts were not successful, with just $13,425 raised in the first 3 years.^[11] President John F. Kennedy was interested in bringing culture to the nation'due south capital, and provided leadership and support for the project.^[12] In 1961, President Kennedy asked Roger L. Stevens to help develop the National Cultural Center, and serve equally chairman of the Board of Trustees. Stevens recruited Get-go Lady Jacqueline Kennedy as Honorary Chairman of the Center, and former First Lady Mamie Eisenhower as co-chairman.^[13] In January 1961, Jarold A. Kieffer became the get-go Executive Director of the National Cultural Center, overseeing numerous fundraising efforts and assisting with the architectural programme.^[14]

The full cost of structure was $70 million.^[10] Congress allocated $43 million for construction costs, including $23 million every bit an outright grant and the other $20 meg in bonds.^[12] Donations too comprised a significant portion of funding, including $5 million from the Ford Foundation, and approximately $500,000 from the Kennedy family.^{[15] [16]} Other major donors included J. Willard Marriott, Marjorie Merriweather Post, John D. Rockefeller Three, and Robert W. Woodruff, every bit well as many corporate donors.^[xvi] Strange countries provided gifts to the Kennedy Center, including a gift of three,700 tons of Carrara marble from Italy (worth $1.5 meg) from the Italian government, which was used in the edifice'south construction.^[17]

Structure [edit]

President Lyndon B. Johnson dug the ceremonial outset-shovel of earth at the groundbreaking for the Kennedy Center December ii, 1964.^[18] However, fence connected for another year over the Foggy Bottom site, with some advocating for some other location on Pennsylvania Avenue.^[15] Excavation of the site got underway on December 11, 1965, and the site was cleared by January 1967.^[nineteen]

The first performance was September 5, 1971, with 2,200 members of the general public in attendance to see a premiere of Leonard Bernstein'southward Mass in the Opera House,^[ten] while the Center's official opening took place September 8, 1971, with a formal gala and premiere operation of the Bernstein Mass.^[xx] The Concert Hall was inaugurated September 9, 1971, with a functioning past the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Antal Doráti.^[xx] Alberto Ginastera'southward opera, Beatrix Cenci premiered at the Kennedy Center Opera Business firm September 10, 1971. The Eisenhower Theater was inaugurated October 18, 1971, with a functioning of A Doll's House starring Claire Bloom.^[21]

Architecture [edit]

Architect Edward Durell Stone designed the Kennedy Heart.^[22] Overall, the building is 100 anxiety (30 m) high, 630 feet (190 m) long, and 300 feet (91 m) wide. The Kennedy Center features a 630-foot-long (190 chiliad), 63-foot-loftier (19 m) grand lobby, with 16 mitt-blown Orrefors crystal chandeliers (a gift from Sweden) and red rug. The Hall of States and the Hall of Nations are both 250-foot-long (76 m), 63-foot-high (nineteen m) corridors. The edifice has drawn criticism about its location (far away from Washington Metro stops), and for its scale and form,^[22] although it 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 M. Harris designed the Kennedy Middle'southward auditoriums and their acoustics.^[24] A fundamental consideration is that many aircraft wing along the Potomac River and overhead the Kennedy Middle, as they take off and land at the nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Drome. Helicopter traffic over the Kennedy Heart is also fairly high. To proceed out this noise, the Kennedy Center was designed as a box within a box, giving each auditorium an extra outer beat out.^[25]

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

Artwork [edit]

The plaza entrance of the Kennedy Center features two tableaus by German sculptor Jürgen Weber; created betwixt 1965 and 1971, which were a gift to the Kennedy Center from the West German language government. Near the north end of the plaza is a brandish of nude figures in scenes representing war and peace, called State of war or Peace. The piece, viii ft × 50 ft × i.5 ft (2.44 m × 15.24 thousand × 0.46 one thousand), 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's image of America (8 × 50 × one.v ft.). 4 scenes are depicted representing threats to freedom, technology, strange aid and survival, and gratis speech.^[29] Information technology took the creative person four years to sculpt the two reliefs in plaster, creating 200 castings, and some other ii years for the foundry in Berlin to cast the pieces. In 1994, the Smithsonian Institution's Save Outdoor Sculpture! program surveyed War or Peace and America and described them as being well maintained.^{[28] [29]} Some other sculpture Don Quixote past Aurelio Teno occupies a site near the northeast corner of the building. King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain gave the sculpture to the Us for its Bicentennial, June three, 1976.^[30]

Venues [edit]

Layout of the 3 primary theaters at the Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Middle has 3 main theaters: the Concert Hall, the Opera House, and the Eisenhower Theater.

Concert Hall [edit]

The Concert Hall, located at the southward end of the Center, seats ii,442 including chorister seats and stage boxes, and has a seating arrangement similar to that used in many European halls such equally Musikverein in Vienna. The Concert Hall is the largest functioning space in the Kennedy Center and is the home of the National Symphony Orchestra. A 1997 renovation brought a high-tech acoustical awning, handicap-attainable 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 Firm [edit]

The Opera House, in the middle, has nearly 2,300 seats. Its interior features include walls covered in red velvet, a distinctive red and gold silk curtain, given by the Japanese regime, 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 Center, and airtight during the 2003/2004 flavor for all-encompassing renovations which provided a revised seating arrangement and redesigned entrances at the orchestra level. Information technology is the dwelling house of the Washington National Opera and the annual Kennedy Middle Honors.

Eisenhower Theater [edit]

The Eisenhower Theater, on the north side, seats about 1,163 and is named for President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who signed the National Cultural Middle Act into law on September two, 1958. It primarily hosts plays and musicals, smaller-calibration operas, ballet and contemporary dance. The theater contains an orchestra pit for up to 35 musicians that is convertible to a forestage or additional seating space. The venue reopened in October 2008, following a 16-month renovation which altered the color scheme and seating arrangements.

Other performance venues [edit]

Archway to the Theater Lab

The Millennium Stage in 2019

Other performance venues in the Center include:

• The Family Theater, with 324 seats, opened December nine, 2005. Information technology replaced the former American Motion-picture show Institute Theater located next to the Hall of States. Designed by the architectural firm Richter Cornbrooks Gribble, Inc. of Baltimore, the new theater incorporates a computerized rigging organisation; and a digital video projection system.
• The Terrace Theater, with 513 seats, was synthetic on the roof terrace level in the belatedly 1970s as a Bicentennial gift from the people of Japan to the Us. It is used for sleeping room music, ballet and contemporary dance, and theater.
• The Theater Lab, with 399 seats, currently houses the whodunit Shear Madness which has been playing continuously since August 1987.
• The Millennium Stage. Part of the concept of "Performing Arts for Everyone" launched by Chairman James Johnson in the wintertime of 1997, the Millennium Stage provides free performances every evening at vi:00 pm on two particularly created stages at either finish of the Grand Anteroom. A wide range of art forms are featured on the Millennium Phase. These include performing artists and groups from all l states and an Artist-in-Residence program featuring artists performing several evenings in a month. Every testify on the Millennium Stage is available equally a simulcast of the live prove at vi:00 pm, and is archived for later viewing via the Kennedy Center'due south website.
• The Terrace Gallery. On March 12, 2003, the space formerly known as the Education Resource Center was officially designated the Terrace Gallery. Information technology is now domicile to the Kennedy Center Jazz Order.

River and rooftop terraces [edit]

The Kennedy Center offers ane of the few open-air rooftop terraces in Washington, D.C.; it is free of accuse to the public from 10:00 a.m. until midnight each mean solar day, except when closed for private events. The wide terrace provides views in all iv directions overlooking the Rosslyn skyline in Arlington, Virginia, to the Due west; the Potomac River and National Aerodrome to the South; the Washington Harbor and the Watergate Complex to the North; and the Lincoln Memorial, Department of Country buildings, George Washington University and the Saudi Embassy to the Eastward.

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

Productions [edit]

Dance [edit]

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

The Center sponsors 2 annual dance residency programs for young people; Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell and the Dance Theatre of Harlem Residency Programme, both now in their second decade. The Kennedy Center's Contemporary Dance series offers a broad range of artistic perspectives, from the foremost masters of the genre to the art form's newest and well-nigh heady artists. In the 2008/2009 series, the Kennedy Eye recognized Modern Masters of American Dance, bringing Martha Graham Dance Visitor, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Limón Trip the light fantastic Company, Mark Morris Dance Group, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and Paul Taylor Trip the light fantastic Company.

Education [edit]

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

Performances for Young Audiences [edit]

Theater for Young Audiences (TYA)

The 2008–2009 flavour programming for Performances for Immature Audiences reached more than than 100 performances for young people and their families and over 110 performances for school audiences. The season included iv Kennedy Heart-commissioned earth premieres: The Trumpet of the Swan, a musical adapted by Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman from the book by E.B. White with music by Jason Robert Brown; Mermaids, Monsters, and the World Painted Imperial, a new play past Marco Ramirez; Unleashed! The Clandestine Lives of White Firm Pets, a new play by Allyson Currin in collaboration with the White Firm Historical Clan; and OMAN...O man!, a new dance production conceived and directed by Debbie Allen and is part of the Center'south Arab festival, Arabesque: Arts of the Arab World. Theater for Young Audiences on Tour toured with two nationally touring productions of The Phantom Tollbooth and Blues Journey.

On June 8, 2016 it was announced that the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences-deputed musical Elephant & Piggie's We are in a Play!, with book and lyrics by Mo Willems and music by Deborah Wicks La Puma, will transfer to the Off-Broadway New Victory Theater in January 2017.^[32]

National Symphony Orchestra Performances for Immature Audiences

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

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

Started in 1969 past Roger L. Stevens, the Kennedy Centre's founding chairman, the Kennedy Center 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 than 600 academic institutions throughout the country, 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 one thousand thousand theatergoing students and teachers nationwide.

Irresolute Education Through the Arts (CETA) [edit]

The Kennedy Heart'southward CETA programme's mission is make the arts a disquisitional component in every child's education. CETA, which stands for Changing Teaching Through the Arts, creates professional evolution opportunities for teachers and school administrators. Each year over 700 teachers participate in approximately sixty courses that focus on ways to integrate the arts into their teaching.^[33] The Kennedy Centre'southward CETA plan too partners with sixteen schools in the Washington DC Metro surface area to develop long-range program for arts integration at their school. Two of these schools, Kensington Parkwood Elementary School in Kensington, Doctor and Woodburn Elementary School for the Fine and Chatty Arts in Falls Church, Virginia serve as Research and Development schools for CETA.

Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell (EBSF) [edit]

Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell is a iii-week summertime ballet intensive for international pre-professional ballerinas ages 14–xviii. Suzanne Farrell, ane of the virtually revered ballerinas of the 20th century, has been hosting this Balanchine-inspired intensive at the Kennedy Middle since 1993.^{[34] [35]} During their three weeks in Washington, D.C., Farrell'due south students do technique and choreography during twice daily classes, six days per week. Outside of the classroom, excursions, activities and functioning events are planned for EBSF students to fully immerse themselves in the culture of the nation's upper-case letter.^[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 Eye presented an exploration of the culture of Japan entitled Japan! culture + hyperculture. The 2009 Arab festival was an unprecedented exploration of the civilization of the 22 Arab countries in the League of Arab States, titled Arabesque: Arts of the Arab World. In 2011, the Kennedy Center presented maximum Republic of 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 Center for the Performing Arts has showcased jazz in solo, diverse ensembles, and large band settings. In 1994, the Kennedy Eye appointed Dr. Baton Taylor as Artistic Advisor for Jazz, and his get-go installation was his own radio show Baton Taylor's Jazz at the Kennedy Centre. Featuring his trio and invitee artists in performance and word, the serial ran for seven seasons on NPR. Since Taylor's appointment in 1994, the Centre has initiated numerous performance programs to promote jazz on a national stage, featuring leading international artists and rising stars, including: the Fine art Tatum Piano Panorama, named afterward Dr. Taylor'southward mentor; the Louis Armstrong Legacy, highlighting vocalists; the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival, the first 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 United states Department of Land, sending musicians on worldwide goodwill tours (1998–2004); the KC Jazz Order, a highly praised intimate setting; and Discovery Artists in the KC Jazz Club, highlighting up-and-coming talent. Kennedy Heart and NPR annually collaborated on the dearest holiday broadcast 'NPR's Piano Jazz Christmas', until the retirement of host Marian McPartland, and hence the show, in 2011. Since 2003, the Center'due south jazz programs have been regularly broadcast on NPR'due south JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater. Recent highlights, produced by the Middle, have included Great Vibes, A Salute to Lionel Hampton (1995); Baton Taylor's 80th Birthday Celebration (2002); Nancy Wilson, A Career Celebration (2003); Michel Legrand with Patti Austin, part of the Middle'south Festival of France (2004); A Tribute to Shirley Horn (2004); James Moody'southward 80th Birthday (2005); and Benny Golson at 80 (2009). In March 2007, the Middle hosted a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, Jazz in Our Time, which bestowed the Eye'due south Living Jazz Legend Award to over xxx revered artists. During Dr. Taylor's tenure, the Center 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 vocaliser's legacy of identifying outstanding young talent. In 2015, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett performed there as part of their Cheek to Cheek Tour.

National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) [edit]

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

In addition to its regular flavor concerts, the National Symphony Orchestra presents outreach, education, and pops programs, besides as concerts at Wolf Trap each year. The annual American Residencies for the Kennedy Center is a program unique to the National Symphony Orchestra and the Middle. The Center sends the Orchestra to a dissimilar state each year for an intensive period of performances and educational activity encompassing full orchestral, chamber, and solo concerts, master classes and other teaching 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, North and South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Nevada, and Wyoming/Montana.

The NSO recording of John Corigliano's Of Rage and Remembrance won a Grammy Award in 1996.

Performing Arts for Everyone (PAFE) [edit]

The Kennedy Center is the only U.S. establishment that presents a gratuitous functioning 365 days a yr, daily at 6pm (12 noon on Dec 24). The Millennium Stage, created as part of the Center's Performing Arts for Everyone initiative in 1997 and underwritten by James A. Johnson and Maxine Isaacs, features a broad spectrum of performing arts, from trip the light fantastic and jazz, to chamber music and folk, comedy, storytelling and theater. In the past twelve years, over iii 1000000 people accept attended Millennium Phase performances. The Millennium Stage has presented more than than 42,000 artists, which includes over four,000 international artists from more than 70 countries; performers representing all 50 states; and 20,000 Washington-area ensembles and solo artists. The Charlie Byrd Trio and the Baton Taylor Trio were the first artists to please audiences with a free performance on March 1, 1997. In 1999, the Middle began web-casting each night's live performance, and continues to archive and maintain each event in a database of over iii,000 performances which may exist accessed via the Center's website. Performing Arts for Everyone initiatives as well include low- and no-cost tickets bachelor to performances on every stage of the Kennedy Center, and several outreach programs designed to increase access to Kennedy Middle tickets and performances.

The Conservatory Project [edit]

An initiative of the Millennium Stage, the Conservatory Project is a semi-almanac outcome occurring in February and May that is designed to present the best immature musical artists in classical, jazz, musical theater, and opera from leading undergraduate and graduate conservatories, colleges and universities.

Creative person Residencies [edit]

The Kennedy Center hosts residencies for artists to collaborate with the Middle's performing ensembles, programmers, and community initiatives. The Center holds positions for Composer-in-Residence, Education Artist-in-Residence, and Civilization Artist-in-Residence. The current artists-in-residence are The Roots, author Jacqueline Woodson, composer Carlos Simon, and pianist Robert Glasper.^[36]

Theater [edit]

The Centre 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 organization Without Really Trying, The King and I, Titanic, and the American premiere of Les Misérables. The Eye besides produced the Sondheim Celebration (vi Stephen Sondheim musicals) in 2002, Tennessee Williams Explored (three of Tennessee Williams' classic plays) in 2004, Mame starring Christine Baranski in 2006, Carnival! in 2007, Baronial Wilson's Pittsburgh Wheel (Wilson's complete ten-play wheel performed as fully staged readings) and Broadway: 3 Generations both in 2008, and a new production of Ragtime in 2009. The Kennedy Heart Fund for New American Plays has provided critical back up in the development of 135 new theatrical works. In 2011, a new product 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 Middle Honors take been awarded annually by the Centre'southward Board of Trustees. Each year, five artists or groups are honored for their lifetime contributions to American culture and the performing arts, including dance, music, theater, opera, moving-picture show, and television.^[37] The Center has awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor since 1998.

Local performing arts organizations [edit]

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

• American Film Establish
• The Washington Chorus
• The Cathedral Choral Social club of Washington
• Choral Arts Society of Washington
• Opera Lafayette
• VSA arts
• The Washington Ballet
• Washington Concert Opera
• Washington National Opera
• Washington Performing Arts Society^[38]
• Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
• Young Concert Artists of Washington^[39]

Other events [edit]

During the American Bicentennial, the Kennedy Heart hosted numerous special events throughout 1976, including half dozen deputed plays.^[40] The center hosted gratuitous performances by groups from each state.^[41] In December 1976, Mikhail Baryshnikov's version of The Nutcracker ballet played for two weeks.^[42] The Kennedy Center too hosts special inauguration events and galas.

In 1977, the Opera Business firm hosted George Bernard Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra with Rex Harrison and Elizabeth Ashley.^[43] The American Ballet Theatre has also frequently performed at the Kennedy Center.^[44] The troupe's 2004 production of Swan Lake, choreographed by Kevin McKenzie, was taped there, shown on PBS in June 2005, and released on DVD before long after. Productions of The Panthera leo Male monarch and Trevor Nunn's product of My Fair Lady (choreographed by Matthew Bourne) were presented in the 2007–2008 flavor, to name a few.^[45]

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

Millennium Stage Athenaeum [edit]

The Kennedy Center stages gratuitous daily performances on its Millennium Stage in the Grand Foyer. Featured on the Millennium Stage are a range of fine art forms, including performing artists and groups.

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

VSA [edit]

VSA (formerly VSA arts) is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 past Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where people with disabilities larn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. VSA provides educators, parents, and artists with resource and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities. Each year 7 million 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 organization in 2011 to become part of the Heart'southward Department of VSA and Accessibility.

Renovations and expansion [edit]

On June 16, 1971, Congress authorized appropriations for one year to the Lath of Trustees for operating and maintenance expenses. In following years, the appropriations were provided to the National Park Service for operations, maintenance, security, safe and other functions not directly related to the performing arts activities.^[48] The National Park Service and the Kennedy Heart 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 be used for performing arts functions. The understanding did not specify who was responsible for long-term capital improvement projects at the Kennedy Eye, along with only periodic funding by Congress for i-time projects.^[49]

1990–2005 [edit]

In fiscal years 1991 and 1992, Congress recommended that $27.7 million be allocated for capital improvement projects at the Middle, including $12 million for structural repairs to the garage and $fifteen.seven million for structural and mechanical repairs, also every bit projects for improving handicapped access.^[fifty] In 1994, Congress gave full responsibility to the Kennedy Heart for capital comeback 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 projects, repairs, and to bring the heart into compliance with modern burn rubber and accessibility codes.^[51] Improvements included renovation of the Concert Hall, Opera House, plaza-level public spaces, and a new burn warning organisation.^[52] The renovations projects were completed 13 to fifty percent 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–nowadays [edit]

Beginning in 2013, the Heart commenced with an 60,000 square feet (v,600 one thousand²) expansion project on four acres in the Center's South Plaza. The expansion adds classroom, rehearsal, and performance space and includes iii 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 span over Rock Creek Parkway.^{[54] [55]} The architect is Steven Holl,^[55] with help from architectural firm BNIM.^[56] Edmund Hollander Landscape Architects is the landscape architect.^[57]

Plans for the projection began after David M. Rubenstein donated $fifty 1000000 to the center.^[56] A groundbreaking ceremony took place in December 2014. Originally estimated to cost $100 million, the cost of the projection grew to $175 million, and design changes and a major D.C. sewer project significantly delayed construction. The expansion, entitled the Accomplish, opened on September 7, 2019 with an opening arts festival.^{[55] [58] [59]} The fundraising goal for the new Reach arts eye grew to $250 million^[60] as the project progressed, and the target was achieved just ii days earlier opening. Since its opening, the REACH as received several design awards, such as the Architect's Newspaper All-time of the Year Honour 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 by the chairman of the board of directors, and past the board itself. Aspects of the middle'due south programming and operations were overseen by various other people. George London was the Kennedy Center's first executive director (ofttimes called "artistic director" by the press, although that was not the formal title), serving from 1968 to 1970,^[63] while William McCormick Blair, Jr. was its first administrative director.^[64] Julius Rudel took over every bit music director in 1971.^[65] In 1972, Martin Feinstein replaced London and held the position of artistic director until 1980.^[66] Marta Casals Istomin was named the first female artistic managing director in 1980, a position she held until 1990;^[67] she was also the first person to be formally invested with that title.^{[68] [69]}

In 1991, the board created the position of chief operating officeholder to remove the mean solar day-to-twenty-four hours operations of the Kennedy center from the chairman and board. Lawrence Wilker was hired to fill the position, which subsequently was retitled president.^[70] The creative managing director continued to oversee artistic programming, under the president's management.

Michael Kaiser became president of the Kennedy Center in 2001. He left the organization when his contract expired in September 2014.^{[seventy] [71]}

In September 2014, Deborah F. Rutter became its tertiary president; she is the first woman to hold that post. Rutter had previously been president of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, a position she held from 2003.^[67]

Lath of Trustees [edit]

The Kennedy Center Lath of Trustees, formally known every bit the Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts, maintains and administers the Center and its site. David Grand. Rubenstein is the chairman of the lath.

The honorary chair members of the board are the First Lady and her living predecessors. Members of the lath are specified by 20 USC 76h and include ex officio members such every bit the Secretarial assistant of Health and Human Services, the Librarian of Congress, the Secretarial assistant of Land (substituting for the Managing director of the United States Information Agency afterward that agency was abolished), the Chairman of the Commission of Fine Arts, the Mayor of the Commune of Columbia, the Superintendent of Schools of the Commune of Columbia, the Director of the National Park Service, the Secretary of Educational activity and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, likewise as 36 full general trustees appointed by the President of the United states of america for six-year terms.^[72]

See also [edit]

• Listing of memorials to John F. Kennedy

References [edit]

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} "U.Southward. capital letter seeks to build culture center". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. October 21, 1962. p. 2.
2. ^ Tom (Feb 24, 2014). "The Kennedy Center Could Have 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 1, 2012.
5. ^ Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Heart: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Society. 50: 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 Center: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Lodge. 50: 542.
8. ^ Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Center: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Society. fifty: 543.
9. ^ Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Center: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Society. 50: 544.
10. ^ ^{a b c} Robertson, Nan (September 6, 1971). "At Last, the Performances Begin". The New York Times . Retrieved November 4, 2014.
11. ^ Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Center: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Social club. 50: 545.
12. ^ ^{a b} Lydon, Christopher (September 6, 1971). "Kennedy Arts Center Primps for Opening and Hopes to Make Turn a profit". The New York Times.
13. ^ Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Center: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Society. 50: 546.
14. ^ Press release [one]. The John F. Kennedy Library. Retrieved: vi March 2020
15. ^ ^{a b} Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Centre: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Society. l: 564.
16. ^ ^{a b} Curtis, Charlotte (September 3, 1971). "Clamor Continues for Seats at Kennedy Middle Opening". The New York Times.
17. ^ ^{a b c} "$3-Meg in Gifts Adorn Centre". The New York Times. September six, 1971.
18. ^ Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Eye: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Society. 50: 560.
19. ^ Meersman, Roger (1980). "The Kennedy Center: From Dream to Reality". Records of the Columbia Historical Society. l: 568–569.
20. ^ ^{a b} Schonberg, Harold C. (September 2, 1971). "Kennedy Hall Gets Acoustics Conditioning". The New York Times.
21. ^ Hutchinson, Louise (October xix, 1971). "Eisenhower Theater Opening Performance 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 Academy Printing. ISBN9780801847134.
23. ^ Huxtable, Ada Louise (2008). On Architecture: Collected Reflections on a Century of Change . Bloomsbury. p. 82. ISBN978-0-8027-1707-viii.
24. ^ Roth, Leland 1000. (1982). A Concise History of American Compages. Westview Printing. p. 337. ISBN978-0064300865.
25. ^ Raichel, Daniel R. (2000). The Science and Applications of Acoustics . Springer. p. 252. ISBN978-0387989075.
26. ^ "Steven Holl Receives Approval for Kennedy Heart Pedestrian Bridge". ArchDaily. July 31, 2016. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
27. ^ "Welcome to the Reach | the Kennedy Middle | Kennedy Eye".
28. ^ ^{a b} "War or Peace, (sculpture)". Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey. Smithsonian Establishment. 1994. Retrieved November four, 2014.
29. ^ ^{a b} "America, (sculpture)". Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey. Smithsonian Institution. 1994. Retrieved Nov iv, 2014.
30. ^ "Kennedy Unit of measurement to Get King'south Souvenir". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. Associated Press. May 9, 1976. Retrieved Nov four, 2014.
31. ^ Wakin, Daniel J. (September 27, 2011). "Kennedy Center to Supercede Its Pipe Organ". The New York Times.
32. ^ Swain, Marianka. "New Season Announced 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. ^ "Dance Spotlight: Learning Curve". Archived from the original on July 17, 2015. Retrieved July xvi, 2015.
36. ^ "50th Ceremony Season | Kennedy Center". world wide web.kennedy-centre.org . Retrieved April 10, 2021.
37. ^ Boliek, Brooks (September 8, 1994). "Kennedy nods to Douglas, Gould". The Hollywood Reporter.
38. ^ Washington Performing Arts Lodge website
39. ^ Young Concert Artists of Washington website
40. ^ Darling, Lynn (Jan 1, 1977). "Bicentennial Hailed for Its Legacies". The Washington Post . Retrieved Nov 4, 2014.
41. ^ "Critics' Roundtable The Arts: Poised for 1977". The Washington Mail. January 2, 1977. Retrieved Nov iv, 2014.
42. ^ Kriegsman, Alan M. (January ii, 1977). "The New Nutcracker: An Artistic Insurrection". The Washington Post . Retrieved November 4, 2014.
43. ^ Quinn, Sally (January 12, 1977). "Rex Harrison: 'The Earth Was A Rather Different Place Then'". The Washington Postal service . Retrieved November 4, 2014.
44. ^ Kriegsman, Alan M. (April xi, 1977). "ABT'due south Last Weekend: Upbeat Performances". The Washington Post . Retrieved Nov 4, 2014.
45. ^ ^{a b} Smith, Tim (March 6, 2007). "Kennedy Center announces details of 2007–2008 flavor". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on March 24, 2007.
46. ^ Marsh, Kayla. "All Is Bright Again: Inside The Kennedy Heart's Star-Studded 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert", District Fray, September sixteen, 2021; and Hampton, Olivia. "Stars smooth for Kennedy Center 50th anniversary bear witness", DC Metro Theater Arts, September 16, 2021
47. ^ "Millennium Phase". Kennedy Center. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
48. ^ General Accounting Office (February 1993). "Kennedy Center: Information on the Capital Improvement Program" (PDF). p. 2.
49. ^ General Accounting Role (February 1993). "Kennedy Heart: Information on the Capital Comeback Program" (PDF). p. 3.
50. ^ Full general Bookkeeping Office (February 1993). "Kennedy Center: Information on the Majuscule Improvement Program" (PDF). GAO Study to Congress. p. iv.
51. ^ ^{a b} Government Accountability Office (April 2005). "Stronger Oversight of Fire Safe Issues, Construction Projects, and Financial Management Needed" (PDF). p. 1.
52. ^ Government Accountability Office (April 2005). "Stronger Oversight of Burn down Prophylactic Issues, Construction Projects, and Financial Management Needed" (PDF). p. 3.
53. ^ Authorities Accountability Office (April 2005). "Stronger Oversight of Burn Safety Problems, Construction Projects, and Financial Management Needed" (PDF). p. 4.
54. ^ Peggy McGlone, Completion of Kennedy Center expansion still more than than a yr away, Washington Mail (May 8, 2018).
55. ^ ^{a b c} "Expansion Projection". John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts.
56. ^ ^{a b} "KC firm BNIM volition help pattern $100 million expansion of Kennedy Center". Kansas Metropolis Star. April 4, 2013. Retrieved November iv, 2014.
57. ^ "The Attain at the [sic] The Kennedy Center". The Kennedy Centre. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
58. ^ "Welcome to the REACH | The Kennedy Eye | Kennedy Eye". world wide web.kennedy-center.org . Retrieved July 12, 2021.
59. ^ "Attain Opening Festival Announcement | Kennedy Heart". www.kennedy-middle.org . Retrieved July 12, 2021.
60. ^ "Kennedy Center celebrates latest expansion 'The Reach' with free opening festival". WTOP. September vii, 2019. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
61. ^ "Announcing the winners of the 2020 AN Best of Design Awards". The Architect's Newspaper. December 2, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
62. ^ "THE REACH". AIA New York . Retrieved July 12, 2021.
63. ^ Davis, Peter Thousand. (September 17, 1981). "Nov. iv Gala to Honor George London". The New York Times . Retrieved November 4, 2014.
64. ^ Robertson, Nan (February 1, 1968). "Rudel and Blair Accept Kennedy Arts Heart Jobs". The New York Times . Retrieved November 4, 2014.
65. ^ Taubman, Howard (August 30, 1971). "Rudel Logs a Hectic Day In Kennedy Center Roles". The New York Times . Retrieved November 4, 2014.
66. ^ Saxon, Wolfgang (February 7, 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 Go Kennedy Center's 3rd President". The Washington Post . Retrieved November four, 2014.
68. ^ "Kennedy Heart Creative Manager". Christian Science Monitor. Feb 29, 1980. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
69. ^ Cummings, Judith; Krebs, Albin (February 27, 1980). "The Kennedy Center Names a New Creative Director". The New York Times . Retrieved Nov four, 2014.
70. ^ ^{a b} Boyle, Katherine (January 23, 2013). "Kennedy Center Volition Begin Search to Supplant President Michael Chiliad. Kaiser". The Washington Postal service. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
71. ^ Pogrebin, Robin (December x, 2013). "Kennedy Centre Names New Main". The New York Times . Retrieved November 4, 2014.
72. ^ "Board of Trustees". Retrieved April thirteen, 2021.

External links [edit]

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

godfreysity1989.blogspot.com

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

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