KC Spotlight: Nutcracker, & Juliet, and more on sale now!

Coming up: a free REACH at 5 celebration, the annual Halloween Spooktacular, Fidelio, the inaugural Arts & Wellbeing season, and more! [View this email in your browser.]( [Kennedy Center]( [Kennedy Center]( [A group of eight cast members standing in two rows and looking apprehensively to the right. Maroon and silver swoops crisscross the image.]( Tickets on sale now for holiday shows! Dazzling musicals. Stunning dance. Fan-favorite jazz. There’s something for everybody! [GET TICKETS TODAY]( X [What’s On]( [Comedy]( [Headshot of Kanan Gill]( Kanan Gill: What Is This? World Tour 2024 Oct. 4 | Terrace Theater Having already asked Is This It? on his previous stand-up special, comedian Kanan Gill now asks an equally relevant and insightful question: What Is This? Recommended for mature audiences. [Get Tickets]( [John Oliver standing at a mic with his back to an empty auditorium except for one person]( John Oliver Dec. 27–31 | Concert Hall Celebrate the end of 2024 with Emmy and Writers Guild Award–winning writer and comedian John Oliver, who shares his warm, witty jokes in a new stand-up set. Recommended for mature audiences. [GET TICKETS]( [WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA]( [Image of Sinead Campbell Wallace running]( Fidelio Oct. 25–Nov. 4 | Opera House We launch our new season with Beethoven’s only opera, last staged by WNO in the Opera House more than 30 years ago. This new production marks the first WNO collaboration between Artistic Director Francesca Zambello and Music Director Designate Robert Spano, a four-time Grammy Award®–winning conductor. [Get Tickets]( [DANCE]( [Members of National Ballet of China wearing white tutus, striking a pose onstage]( National Ballet of China: Chinese New Year (A Ballet in Two Acts) Jan. 29–Feb. 2 | Opera House With its dazzling hybrid of western ballet and Chinese culture, National Ballet of China returns to thrill audiences with its luminous fusion of traditions, telling the story of a family’s Chinese New Year celebration—set to Tchaikovsky’s treasured Nutcracker score. [Get Tickets]( [THE REACH]( [Video Thumbnail | The Reach at 5]( Celebrate the REACH’s 5 Year Anniversary! Sep. 20–22 In September 2019, we gathered to celebrate the opening of a new type of arts campus—one where artists and audiences come together to explore the creativity found in all of us. This year, we invite you back to celebrate five years of the REACH. From September 20–22, join the celebration of all the REACH has made possible as a center of creativity, community, and innovation... and get excited for everything yet to come! [Learn More]( [Film poster of Coco]( Disney’s Coco Fri., Sep. 20 at Dusk | Reach Lawn Kick off the weekend with an enchanting outdoor movie night on the REACH Lawn! [Learn More]( [Headshots of the cast Spelling Bee]( National Dance Day Sat., Sep. 21, 10 a.m.–5:45 p.m. Find joy in the communities we create through dance! Join us for another exciting National Dance Day celebration with FREE classes, performances, and community conversations. [LEARN MORE]( [Orkestra Mendoza ]( Orkestra Mendoza Sat., Sep. 21, 6–7:45 p.m. | Reach Lawn Sergio Mendoza is a producer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and Latin music pioneer. Mendoza has successfully fashioned his own unique taste and existence into what we now experience as Orkesta Mendoza; a blend of indie rock and Latin music that has become a cornerstone of Tucson culture. Also featuring singer and percussionist Ozzy Acosta. [REGISTER]( [Headshot of 9th Wonder, Rich Medina, Jahsonic]( Reach @ 5 Block Party! Sat., Sep. 21, 8–11 p.m. Join us for a Block Party celebrating the 5th anniversary of the grand opening of the REACH. Featuring food trucks, music from 9th Wonder, Rich Medina, and Jahsonic, and fun for the whole family! [Learn More]( [Skylight Pavilion]( Chamber Music in the Skylight Pavilion Sun., Sep. 22, 12–2 p.m. Set against the backdrop of the Skylight Pavilion and lower lawn, this Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra concert offers a calm and reflective atmosphere where guests can enjoy the harmonious sounds of string quartets playing a mix of classical and contemporary pieces. [LEARN MORE]( [Jamala]( Extraordinary Cinema: Jamala: Songs of Freedom Sun., Sep. 22, 3 p.m. | Justice Forum Join us for a FREE film screening in the Justice Forum at the REACH. Voice of America (VOA)’s new documentary Jamala: Songs of Freedom follows Ukrainian singer-songwriter Jamala in the early hours of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The film profiles her activism of raising money and awareness for her homeland. [REGISTER]( Help fund the future of the arts! This month, we’re celebrating the 5-year anniversary of the Kennedy Center’s REACH expansion by raising $50,000 in support of our artistic and educational programs. The REACH provides new, innovative ways for anyone to engage with the arts, no matter their age, background, or artistic ability. Help us share the magic of the arts with even more people by making your gift today, before the September 30 deadline! [Donate Now]( NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 24 FREE at the REACH! A monumental, multi-sensory sculpture celebrating Antonín Dvořák’s legacy [Dvořák Dreams beside preview image of the art installation]( [DvořákÂ]( An installation by Refik Anadol Now thru Sep. 24 on the REACH Plaza Mon.–Thu.: 4 p.m.–midnightFri.–Sun.: 12 p.m.–midnight Now thru Sep. 24 on the REACH PlazaMonday–Thursday: 4 p.m.–midnight Friday–Sunday: 12 p.m.–midnight Join the Kennedy Center and the OxCollection for the U.S. premiere of Dvořák Dreams by internationally renowned media artist Refik Anadol—the first artist to have his work displayed on the massive Sphere in Las Vegas. Dvořák Dreams is a monumental public artwork that blends contemporary art, music history, and cutting-edge technology. Anadol’s 32x32 feet immersive data sculpture utilizes artificial intelligence to transform the musical legacy of Czech composer Antonín Dvořák into a multisensory experience. Supported by Allwyn, the free installation will be displayed through September 24 on the REACH Plaza, as part of the fifth anniversary celebration of the REACH expansion. [⏯️ Click here to see Refik Anadol and more discuss the strange beauty of Dvořák Dreams.]( [Learn more]( [Theater]( [Graphic reading Clue Live on Stage!]( Clue Sep. 17–Oct. 6 | Opera House A mansion. A murder. A mystery. Based on the fan-favorite 1985 Paramount movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, Clue is the ultimate whodunit that will leave you dying of laughter and keep you guessing until the final twist. [Get Tickets]( [Headshots of the cast Spelling Bee]( Broadway Center Stage: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Oct. 11–20 | Eisenhower Theater The Tony Award–winning favorite! The Kennedy Center’s acclaimed Broadway Center Stage series enters its sixth season with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee! This charmingly witty and touching musical has entertained audiences since its debut. Featuring Beanie Feldstein (Booksmart), Noah Galvin (Dear Evan Hansen), Taran Killam (Spamalot), Kevin McHale (Glee), Bonnie Milligan (Kimberly Akimbo), and more! [Get Tickets]( [NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA]( [Headshots of Eugene Rogers, Morris Robinson, Jessie Montgomery, and Carlos Simon]( Echoes of America Music of Carlos Simon, Aaron Copland & Jessie Montgomery Sep. 14 | Concert Hall Enjoy rousing songs and stories that celebrate and challenge the American narrative. The NSO proudly presents a new commission by composer Carlos Simon and librettist Dan Harder written to honor Paul Robeson. Bass-baritone Morris Robinson and The Washington Chorus join us for this symphonic exploration of the ideals we strive for as a country and community, united by hope. [GET 25% TICKETS*]( [Mo Willems]( NSO Family Concert: Mo @ the NSO Sep. 21 & 22 | Concert Hall Four performances! With the help of the National Symphony Orchestra and all-star guests, New York Times best-selling author/illustrator Mo Willems introduces fun musical ideas, explores big emotions, and invites viewers to listen, play, and create in this world premiere concert for families. [Get Tickets]( [Halloween Spooktacular]( NSO Family Concert: Halloween Spooktacular! Oct. 27 at 2 & 4 p.m. | Concert Hall An annual tradition! The Concert Hall transforms into a ghostly sight when ghoulishly attired National Symphony Orchestra musicians celebrate Halloween with fa-boo-lous new works and spooky old classics. [Get Tickets]( [ARTS & WELLBEING]( [Headshots of Priya Krishna, Joan Nathan, and Erika Council]( Comfort Food in Conversation Oct. 16 | Terrace Theater In partnership with Bold Fork Books, join a special panel conversation with writers Priya Krishna, Joan Nathan, and Erika Council about food’s power to comfort our bodies and minds. [Get TICKETS]( [Headshot of Alex Prud'homme]( Breaking Bread: A Conversation on Gastro-Diplomacy with Alex Prud’homme Oct. 19, 2024 Terrace Theater In a special event by journalist and author Alex Prud’homme, explore the impact of food and its uses in cultural diplomacy across history and into the present. Moderated by gastrodiplomacy expert Johanna Mendelson Forman. [Get Tickets]( [SOCIAL IMPACT]( [Capoeira Barro Vermelho]( Dance Sanctuaries curated by Capoeira Barro Vermelho USA and the Brazilian American Cultural Center Sep. 14 | Studio F FREE events! Learn movement from Capoeira Barro Vermelho as they teaches classes for every one of every age, size, and origin to “play” capoeira with them and become a part of this dynamic and diverse community. [Reserve Tickets]( [JAZZ]( [Members of National Ballet of China wearing white tutus, striking a pose onstage]( Freedom Now Suite: Celebrating Max Roach Centennial Oct. 12 | Concert Hall #maxroach100 The revolutionary 1960 album We Insist!: Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite explored issues of social justice and racial inequality through the lens of jazz and poetry. In celebration of the centennial of Max Roach—drummer, bebop pioneer, and civil rights activist—this landmark work is reimagined for today’s world by Musical Director Nasheet Waits, vocalist Cassandra Wilson, poets Sonia Sanchez and Saul Williams, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, pianist David Virelles, and bassist Rashaan Carter. [Get Tickets]( Call for submissions! CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS! [The Promise of US - Our Nation at 250 text surrounded by unique self-portrait art]( Portraits of US As part of the Kennedy Center’s 2026 [The Promise of US]( programming, the public is invited to submit an artistic self-portrait to be part of a virtual wall of faces expressing the myriad diversity of America’s peoples and the promise of America’s future. This ever-expanding mosaic will be featured on the Center’s website and social channels. [SUBMIT YOUR PORTRAIT]( [CENTER magazine cover with featured image of blue block man sculpture at the REACH]( CENTER magazine The new issue of CENTER magazine is here! Celebrate five years of the REACH, solve a performing arts-themed crossword puzzle, indulge in a Kennedy Center chef’s favorite family recipe, and more in our latest issue. [EXPLORE THE NEW ISSUE »]( See you soon! There’s something for everyone at the Kennedy Center! See [what’s on]( or explore [FREE]( events and more. For tickets and information, call us at 202-467-4600. Masks are optional but welcomed in all Kennedy Center spaces for visitors and staff. We ask that you respect others’ choices and alert a staff member if you have any concerns. The Kennedy Center is open to the public Mon.–Sun., 10 a.m.–midnight. The Hall of States Box Office is open Mon.–Sat., 10 a.m.–9 p.m. and Sun. 12–9 p.m. *Mention offer number “585731” by phone or at the Box Office. *25% off ticket offer valid on all Concert Hall seats. Offer subject to availability. Not valid in combination with any other offer. Not valid on previously purchased tickets. Offer may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Service fees may apply. [facebook logo]( logo]( logo]( [The Kennedy Center welcomes guests with disabilities.]( [View email in browser.]( | [Forward this email.]( You are receiving this email based on your preferences. [Edit preferences.]( | [Unsubscribe.]( Please do not reply to this email. Add info@kennedy-center.org to your address book or safe list to ensure delivery. We respect our patrons’ privacy. [Read our privacy policy.]( [Contact center & FAQs.]( The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566 Instant Charge (202) 467-4600