KC Spotlight: 4 WORLD PREMIERES! Today’s finest join WNO this weekend

PLUS: the magic of Riverdance, Go-go music for families, the return of Mo Willems’ Lunch Doodles + more! [View this email in your browser.]( [Kennedy Center]( [Kennedy Center]( WATCH NOW ▶️ [J’Nai Bridges performs “Laurel’s Prayer” from Written in Stone]( [Washington National Opera]( Opens this weekend! The WNO is back with four unmissable world premieres: Written in Stone March 5–25 | Eisenhower Theater Written in Stone March 5–25 Eisenhower Theater [✨ Special Offer ✨ Tickets from $39!]( Offer valid for select Orchestra seats on 3/9, 3/21, and 3/25* Inspired by Washington D.C.’s iconic monuments and the ideals embodied by President Kennedy, Written in Stone is a series of interwoven short works presented together in a single evening. Creative teams Jason Moran and Alicia Hall Moran, Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang, Kamala Sankaram and A.M. Homes, and Carlos Simon and Marc Bamuthi Joseph offer intimate stories that celebrate diversity and acknowledge the struggles of today’s America. This evening of captivating melody and story will feature performances from opera stars J’Nai Bridges, Rod Gilfry, and more, led by renowned conductor Robert Spano in his WNO debut! Dive deeper into Written in Stone! [A Monumental Conversation: Elevating Diverse Voices on the National Mall with WNO]( A Monumental Conversation: Elevating Diverse Voices on the National Mall with WNO Mar. 3 | Virtual (Zoom) [📧 RSVP here!]( Mar. 3 | Virtual (Zoom) | [📧 RSVP here!]( Join the Trust for the National Mall for a Monumental Conversation with WNO featuring a performance and conversation about how we memorialize and commemorate and how to elevate diverse stories and inclusive voices on the National Mall. The program will feature Written in Stone artists, composers, and creators, including J’Nai Bridges, Carlos Simon, Marc Bamuthi Joseph, and Francesca Zambello. More WNO Coming soon: Everyone cheats in the game of hearts.... Così fan tutte Mar. 12–26 Eisenhower Theater [Get Tickets]( What’s On at the Kennedy Center [Theater]( Jesus Christ Superstar 50th Anniversary Tour Now thru Mar. 13 | Opera House Save 20% on weekday & Sun. evening performances! [GET TICKETS]( [Riverdance 25th Anniversary Show]( Riverdance25th Anniversary Show Mar. 15–27 | Opera House Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the Kennedy Center! [GET TICKETS]( [National Symphony Orchestra]( Noseda conducts a new Carlos Simon work James Ehnes plays Beethoven Mar. 3–5 | Concert Hall Noseda conducts a new Carlos Simon work | James Ehnes plays Beethoven Mar. 3–5 | Concert Hall [Get Tickets]( James Ehnes As part of the Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary celebration, NSO Music Director Gianandrea Noseda conducts Tales - A Folklore Symphony by new Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon. Then, delight in Beethoven’s only Violin Concerto, a dramatic, vivacious treasure performed by Grammy-winning violinist James Ehnes. NSO Music for Young Audiences I Dream of the Moon & Xavier’s New Friends I Dream of the Moon & Xavier’s New Friends Mar. 5 & 6 Concert Hall [Get Tickets]( Discover the range of percussion instruments through two imaginative stories featuring assistant principal timpanist of the National Symphony Orchestra, Scott Christian. Most enjoyed by 5+ [Performances for Young Audiences]( Celebrate D.C.’s indigenous music at this high-energy Go-go concert for families! “Sweet” Cherie Mitchell-Agurs Mar. 11 | Family Theater Mar. 11 | Family Theater [Get Tickets]( “Sweet” Cherie Mitchel-Agurs presents a performance for young people and families combining high-energy concert style presentation and dynamic musicianship. Mitchell-Agurs is Music Director of Washington D.C.’s own exciting all-female Go-go group, the Be’la Dona Band, and a six-time “Instrumentalist of the Year” for the Washington Area Music Association. Most enjoyed by ages 8+ The Club at Studio K Today’s hottest acts in COMEDY, HIP HOP, and JAZZ perform in our new cabaret-style lounge! [See what’s coming >]( [See what’s coming >]( RIOT! Funny Women Stand Up Ben Williams, I AM A MAN Story District: Funnier Than Fiction: Real Hot Girl Sh*t [Kennedy Center Education]( NOW STREAMING! LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems! Variant Edition As we approach the second anniversary of the LUNCH DOODLES videos, Mo Willems returns to the studio to unveil his FUN ART THING EMITTER. Will you join him and be an art maker? The Variant Edition Episode is now released on the [MO KC]( page and is available to stream anytime! [Get ready to doodle!]( [Get ready to doodle!]( ✏️ Today’s episode is best watched with two different-colored markers, paper, and [this episode’s activity pages]( Shop online for the [Mo Willems Doodle Pad & Pencil Set]( & more! The original 15 episodes (and bonus Episode 00) and their downloadable activities can be watched from [the archive](. Let the doodling continue! Please tag your artwork on social media with #MoLunchDoodles so that we can all see it! Praise for Lunch Doodles: [CBS News]( [USA Today]( [Entertainment Weekly]( [New York Observer]( [PopSugar]( [Boston Herald]( [Hartford Courant](. ❗ Attention young Jazz musicians ❗ Apply to study with Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz [Jason Moran]( this spring! Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead This two-week residency program identifies outstanding, emerging jazz artist-composers, bringing them together under the tutelage of experienced artist-instructors who coach and counsel them, helping to polish their performance, composing, and arranging skills. Program runs August 1–12, 2022 Open to jazz musicians 25 & under Application Deadline April 15 Program runs August 1–12, 2022 | Open to jazz musicians 25 & under Application Deadline: April 15 [Learn More & Apply >]( [Kennedy Center 50th Anniversary Season >]( [Kennedy Center 50th Anniversary Season >]( A celebration 50 years in the making! Explore special events, exhibits, and experiences commemorating our 50-year milestone! IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The lobbies of the Eisenhower Theater, Opera House, and Concert Hall form a giant scrapbook of nearly 100 images of significant performances that have graced our stages over five decades. The theater entrance ramps display more than 36 other performance highlights from the Millennium Stage, Terrace Theater, Grand Foyer, and other spaces on campus. [LEARN MORE >]( [🎉 Celebrate with us]( [The Kennedy Center Gift Shop]( NEW – Exclusive Theater Nerd products! [Theater Nerd Kennedy Center T-Shirt]( [Theater Nerd Kennedy Center Mug]( [Theater Nerd Kennedy Center Tote]( Warming trends: it’s Cherry Blossom Season! [Cherry Blossom Apron]( [Cherry Blossom Sakura Necklace]( [Cherry Blossom Varieties Mug]( [Shop the Cherry Blossom Collection]( [Shop the Cherry Blossom Collection]( NEW: Mo Willems’ Beethoven Symphonies Abstracted collection [Mo Willems / Beethoven Symphony No. 8 Scarf]( [Mo Willems / Beethoven Boxed Notecards]( [Mo Willems / Beethoven Symphony No. 1 Mug]( [SHOP THE MO WILLEMS COLLECTION]( [SHOP THE MO WILLEMS COLLECTION]( Commemorate our 50th Anniversary with limited-edition gifts! [Kennedy Center 50th Anniversary Mug]( [Kennedy Center 50th Anniversary Baseball Cap]( [Kennedy Center 50th Anniversary T-shirt]( [Shop the Kennedy Center Collection]( [Shop the Kennedy Center Collection]( Kennedy Center exclusive face masks SPECIAL OFFER: Select face masks up to 15% OFF! [Shop Face Masks]( [Shop All >]( *$6 Flat Rate Ground Shipping for orders $65+ * Applies to ground shipping in the continental U.S. Keeping you safe Proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 is required to attend all indoor performances and events at the Kennedy Center. Masks are required at all times for all patrons and visitors regardless of vaccination status in all indoor spaces. To learn more about our vaccination policy and safety protocols, please visit our [website](. See you soon! There’s something for everyone at the Kennedy Center! See [what’s on now]( For tickets and information, call us at 202-467-4600. 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 “457110” by phone or at the Box Office. *Tickets from $29 offer valid on all seats except Box Tier for Written in Stone on 3/5, 3/9, 3/13, 3/19 & 3/21. 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]( [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