KC Spotlight: Just announced! Ariana DeBose, Ben Folds & more in SONGS FOR HOPE

Plus FREE summer fun, Moulin Rouge!, Joshua Bell, Opera in the Outfield, Robert Glasper, Gavin Creel, and more! [View this email in your browser.]( [Kennedy Center]( [Kennedy Center]( Artists announced! Songs for Hope: A Concert Celebration of the 2023 Surgeon General’s Medallion Awardees for Health Songs for Hope: A Concert Celebration of the 2023 Surgeon General’s Medallion Awardees for Health Sep. 18 at 7 p.m. | Concert Hall | $25 TICKETS! At this exclusive concert event, Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy awards the Surgeon General’s Medallion to individuals or organizations that have exemplified extraordinary acts of compassion, innovative mental health efforts, and exceptional leadership during the pandemic and beyond. This special evening of joy features musical performances from Aloe Blacc, Ariana DeBose, Renée Fleming, Ben Folds, Joshua Henry, Jimmie Herrod, and The Lone Bellow. [GET TICKETS NOW]( [What’s On]( T H I S  W E E K Gavin Creel TOMORROW! Aug. 31 | Terrace Theater Enjoy an intimate evening with Tony winner Gavin Creel as he performs your favorite Broadway tunes, pop hits, and an exclusive preview of selections from his thrilling new theatrical concert Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice. [Get Tickets]( Moulin Rouge! The Musical FINAL WEEKS! Now thru Sep. 24 | Opera House Enter a world of splendor and romance! Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza! Moulin Rouge! The Musical is a theatrical celebration of Truth, Beauty, Freedom, and—above all—Love. [Get Tickets]( [Sunset Concert at the REACH]( F I N A L  W E E K E N D FREE summer fun at the REACH! Films ☀️ Chamber Concerts ☀️ Happy Hours ☀️ Family Fun ☀️ and more! Films ☀️ Concerts ☀️ Happy Hours ☀️ Family Fun ☀️ and more [Explore the series]( [Hip Hop]( Robert Glasper Black Radio: A Hip Hop 50 Celebration Sep. 9 | Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, VA 22182 Five-time Grammy winner Robert Glasper celebrates the 50th anniversary of hip hop through the lens of his genre-shattering brand Black Radio. This star-studded, one-night-only concert features Cordae, Common, Lupe Fiasco, T3, and Rapsody. [Get Tickets]( CULTURE TALKS From 1520 Sedgwick Avenue to the World—A Fireside Chat with DJ Kool Herc and Cindy Campbell Sep. 29 | Terrace Theater The father of hip hop, DJ Kool Herc, and the First Lady of hip hop, Cindy Campbell, discuss the evolution of the genre from its origins at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue to becoming a cultural movement that has transformed the world. [Get Tickets]( [Theater]( Love Letters JUST ANNOUNCED! Sep. 28 & 30 Terrace Theater Martin Sheen and Melissa Fitzgerald’s acclaimed virtual production—performed live for the first time! A unique and imaginative theater piece, Love Letters is composed of letters exchanged over a lifetime between two people who grew up together, went their separate ways, but continued to share confidences. [Get Tickets]( Broadway Center Stage:tick, tick... BOOM! ON SALE TOMORROW! Jan. 26–Feb. 4 Eisenhower Theater Before there was RENT… there was tick, tick… BOOM!, Jonathan Larson’s explosive musical about life, death, and the necessity of art. This intimate, semi-autobiographical show boasts unforgettable songs including “30/90,” “Johnny Can’t Decide,” and the Sondheim-inspired “Sunday.” [Get Tickets]( [Washington National Opera]( Opera in the Outfield La bohème Sep. 30 | Nationals Park 1500 S Capitol St. SE, Washington, D.C. 20003 Celebrate the 13th season of free WNO broadcasts at Nats Park! Gates open at 5 p.m. for pre-opera activities. Broadcast begins at 7 p.m. [FREE! Learn more »]( WORLD PREMIERE Grounded Oct. 28–Nov. 13 | Opera House In this much-anticipated world premiere, fighter-pilot Jess grapples with her own battle: the moral implications and psychological effects of virtual warfare. [Get Tickets]( National Dance Day is Sat., Sep. 16! FREE PERFORMANCES, CLASSES & MORE Celebrate hip hop’s 50th anniversary with free dance classes and concerts, Moonshot Studio activities, DJ dance parties, and Words Beats & Life’s Fine Lines Paint Jam and annual Freshest of All Time competition! [FREE! Learn more »]( [National Symphony Orchestra]( Jacob Collier The Orchestral DJESSE Show Sep. 5 & 6 | Concert Hall The one-and-only Jacob Collier brings his new world tour to D.C.! Experience genre-shattering magic as the five-time Grammy winner performs his greatest hits and epic new arrangements backed by the raw power of the NSO. [Get Tickets]( NSO DECLASSIFIED Ben Folds Presents: Laufey & dodie Sep. 8 | Concert Hall NSO Artistic Advisor Ben Folds’ popular late-night concert series returns with more of today’s hottest artists: jazz/bedroom pop superstar Laufey and chart-topping English singer-songwriter dodie. Come early for drink specials, karaoke, and more! [SOLD OUT]( Joshua Bell returns with Bruch & Mendelssohn Sep. 15 & 16 | Concert Hall When Joshua Bell last conducted and performed with the NSO, he was “embraced with thunderous applause… the sold-out audience entirely entranced” (DC Theater Arts). Now, D.C. has another chance to witness the magic live! [Get Tickets]( Judy Collins & Madeleine Peyroux Sep. 20 | Concert Hall The NSO welcomes Grammy Award winner Judy Collins, “the wild ageless angel of pop” (The New York Times) to perform her legendary album Wildflowers in its entirety. Acclaimed jazz singer Madeleine Peyroux joins Collins on this unforgettable double bill of songs and stories. [Get Tickets]( NSO PRESENTS Ben Folds: What Matters Most Tour Sep. 21 | Concert Hall Indie superstar Ben Folds takes center stage at a rare solo performance! His first full-length studio album in eight years, What Matters Most embodies Ben’s signature style—cinematic, witty, and bittersweet. The NSO does not appear on this program. [Get Tickets]( NSO Season Opening Gala Concert Noseda conducts Carlos Simon & Pictures at an Exhibition Sep. 23 | Concert Hall The stage is set for a spectacular new season with Music Director Gianandrea Noseda! This glamorous evening begins with Rossini, Elgar, and Carlos Simon’s invigorating Fate Now Conquers. Then, music imitates art in Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. [Get Tickets]( Noseda conducts Rachmaninoff at 150 Denis Kozhukhin plays Piano Concerto No. 4 Sep. 28–30 | Concert Hall Celebrate the 150th birthday of Sergei Rachmaninoff with an evening of extravagant Russian drama! In this all-Rachmaninoff program, Noseda conducts the exquisite Piano Concerto No. 4, The Bells, and The Rock. [Get Tickets]( Celebrating the Eternal City Noseda conducts Respighi’s Roman Trilogy Oct. 5–7 | Concert Hall Noseda takes the audience on a vivid tour of Rome, the Eternal City! Respighi’s lavishly orchestrated triptych invokes a vibrant, sun-dappled Italy... moving from cinematic grandeur to seductive poetry. [Get Tickets]( VOTE FOR THE NSO AS GRAMOPHONE’S 2023 ORCHESTRA OF THE YEAR! » Visit [Gramophone’s online voting portal]( » Select the National Symphony Orchestra (USA) » Follow instructions to complete the voting process *Gramophone will never contact you with email alerts or online solicitations. [Learn more about our nomination »]( [CENTER magazine]( Introducing CENTER magazine! For 36 years of the Kennedy Center’s 51-year history, Kennedy Center News has been delivered to millions of households across the country. Now, we’re thrilled to introduce CENTER—our new, reimagined patron magazine. CENTER will continue to bring the arts into your home while offering more stories, more inspiration, and more fun from our community. [READ THE PREMIERE ISSUE >]( [Thank an Arts Teacher]( The Kennedy Center invites YOU to thank an Arts Teacher! Celebrate arts education by thanking an arts teacher who made a difference in your life. [Share your story »]( [The Kennedy Center Gift Shop]( [The Kennedy Center Gift Shop]( FOR THE DANCE + MUSIC LOVER [Silhouette Ballet Tote Bag]( [Silhouette Ballet Tote Bag]( [Hamilton Dancing Ladies T-Shirt]( [Hamilton Dancing Ladies T-Shirt]( [#DANCER LOGO BASEBALL CAP]( [#Dancer Logo Baseball Cap]( [#Musician Logo Baseball Cap]( [#Musician Logo Baseball Cap]( [Music Legends: 40 Inspiring Icons]( [Music Legends: 40 Inspiring Icons]( [Make Your Own Music T-Shirt]( [Make Your Own Music T-Shirt]( First Look: Kennedy Center Exclusive Holiday Ornaments [Shop the collection »]( NEW! [Kennedy Center Nutcracker Sugarplum Fairy Ornament]( [Kennedy Center Building Ornament]( [Kennedy Center Nutcracker Mouse King Ornament]( NEW & BEST-SELLING KC Branded gifts [Shop the collection »]( [Kennedy Center Theater Nerd Tote Bag]( [Kennedy Center Theater Nerd Mug]( [Kennedy Center Theater Nerd T-Shirt]( [Shop all >]( *$7 Flat Rate Ground Shipping for orders $65+ See you soon! 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Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 2700 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20566 Instant Charge (202) 467-4600