KC Spotlight: salsa supergroup LA SONORA PONCEÑA make history!

Plus: FREE March events, Duke Ellington Orchestra + Lisa Fischer, Catalyst Quartet, Symphony Swing!, Jacqueline Woodson’s Block Party, Turandot [View this email in your browser.]( [Kennedy Center]( [Kennedy Center]( X ¡Venga a celebrar con nosotros el 70ta aniversario del icónico grupo musical! La Sonora Ponceña: 70th Anniversary with Charlie Cruz Mar. 29 | Concert Hall Witness one of today’s most legendary bands in this historic appearance at the Kennedy Center—featuring a special opening performance by Puerto Rican salsa star Charlie Cruz and host George Nenadich from SiriusXM’s Salsa Nation and La Jungla de Rumbon on channel 767! Paying tribute to its native Puerto Rico, La Sonora Ponceña has gained worldwide acclaim recording 32 albums over seven decades under the direction of Enrique “Quique” Lucca Caraballo and Papo Lucca Jr. Join us as we celebrate the iconic music group’s 70th Anniversary. [TICKETS FROM $49]( [What’s On]( [Washington National Opera]( Songbird Thru Mar. 23 | Eisenhower Theater NOW PLAYING! The carefree Parisian nightlife of Offenbach’s La Périchole finds its match—Prohibition-Era New Orleans—in this reimagined, jazz-infused comedy. “Soars into the Kennedy Center with slapstick and farce galore. A reimagined score… fuses the best of opera and jazz.” —DC Theater Arts In French & English with Projected English Titles [🚨 Limited Availability]( WORLD PREMIERE Turandot May 11–25 | Opera House Puccini’s final work mesmerizes with its sumptuous music, from the alluring overture to Prince Calà f’s passionate “Nessun dorma.” Grammy–winning composer and playwright Christopher Tin offers a compelling ending to this otherwise unfinished fantasy. In Italian with Projected English Titles [Get Tickets]( [The Club at Studio K]( Today’s hottest stars in comedy, hip hop, jazz, contemporary music, and more F I N A L  W E E K S FORTAS CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS Requiem for the Enslaved Thu., Mar. 14 7:30 p.m. [Get Tickets]( JAZZ Clarence Penn, Penn Station Sat., Mar. 16 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. SPECIAL OFFER: TIX FROM $15 FOR 9:30 SHOW [Get Tickets]( FORTAS CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS Catalyst Quartet Thu., Mar. 21 7:30 p.m. [Get Tickets]( CONTEMPORARY MUSIC The Amours Thu., Mar. 28 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. [Get Tickets]( [Explore the lineup]( ELLINGTON 125:THE PARTY STARTS THIS WEEKEND! [Explore All Events >]( Duke Ellington Orchestra featuring Lisa Fischer Mar. 15 | Terrace Theater Performing for more than 101 years under three generations of Ellington’s family, the Duke Ellington Orchestra has produced more jazz classics than any other band. Joined by the phenomenal Lisa Fischer, the supergroup presents an evening of music from the great Ellington songbook. [🚨 Limited Availability]( National Symphony Orchestra Symphony Swing! An Evening of Duke Ellington Mar. 15 & 16 | Concert Hall The NSO’s soulful, star-studded tribute features Bilal, Aloe Blacc, Sullivan Fortner, Grant Langford, and Alita Moses performing favorites like “Take the A Train,” “In a Sentimental Mood,” and more vibrant music from jazz’s golden era! [Get Tickets]( National Symphony Orchestra NSO Family Concert: Music of Duke Ellington Mar. 17 | Concert Hall Take the A-Train to a special afternoon of music paying tribute to Duke Ellington! Conducted by Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, this swinging session features the NSO, pianist Sullivan Fortner, and saxophonist Grant Langford. Most enjoyed by ages 5+ [Get Tickets]( Jason Moran— Solo Ellington Apr. 10 | Eisenhower Theater  Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz Jason Moran takes a solo piano climb up “Mount Ellington” in this celebration of the composer’s enduring legacy. Experience the timeless genius of Duke Ellington’s music, brilliantly reimagined by Moran and paired with iconic images of The Duke by legendary photographer Gordon Parks. [Get Tickets]( Robert Glasper— Black Radio: A Duke x Dilla Celebration Mar. 30 | Concert Hall Grammy winner Robert Glasper celebrates the legacies of Duke Ellington and hip hop legend J Dilla through his genre-shattering brand. Glasper is joined by De La Soul, the Black Radio Orchestra led by Derrick Hodge, and more. Also part of also part of [Hip Hop &...]( [Get Tickets]( Cyrus Chestnut: Duke Ellington Sacred Concert Apr. 29 | Concert Hall At this once-in-a-lifetime event, Cyrus Chestnut brings his epic interpretation of Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts to life. Don’t miss a rare performance of this joyful music embracing the gospel, jazz, blues, swing, and classical styles that defined The Duke’s work and spirituality. [Get Tickets]( AND MORE! [VIEW THE SCHEDULE »Â]( [National Symphony Orchestra]( Join the NSO for a week of FREE pop-up performances around D.C.! NSO In Your Neighborhood: Riverfront MARCH 18–24 [LEARN MORE & EXPLORE THE SCHEDULE]( More events are added every day, so make sure to check back! Events are free and open to the public with first-come, first-served seating unless otherwise noted. NEW RELEASE From the NSO & Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence CARLOS SIMON [Four Symphonic Works]( National Symphony Orchestra Conducted by NSO Music Director Gianandrea Noseda ▶ [PREVIEW: The Block]( [Explore the project »]( [Theater]( COMPANY NOW PLAYING! Thru Mar. 31 | Opera House Winner of five Tony Awards, Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s groundbreaking musical comedy is boldly sophisticated, deeply insightful, and downright hilarious.  It’s Bobbie’s 35th birthday, and all her friends keep asking, why isn’t she married? Why can’t she find the right man, and isn’t it time to settle down and start a family? As Bobbie searches for answers, she discovers why being single, being married, and being alive in the 21st century could drive a person crazy. [Get Tickets]( Message In A Bottle Apr. 9–21 | Opera House The peaceful village of Bebko is alive with joyous celebrations. Suddenly, under attack, everything changes forever. Three siblings, Leto, Mati, and Tana, must embark on perilous journeys in order to survive. Message In A Bottle is a spectacular new dance-theatre show from five-time Olivier Award nominee Kate Prince, inspired by and set to the iconic hits of Kennedy Center Honoree and 17-time Grammy–winning artist Sting—including “Every Breath You Take,” “Roxanne,” “Walking on the Moon,” and more. [Get Tickets]( [Young Audiences]( Through the Sunken Lands NOW PLAYING! Thru Mar. 17 | Family Theater Tim J. Lord’s radio play transforms into a heartening world premiere musical following Artemis—a young girl who’s determined to fight to save her dying, flooded town with the help of Aunt Maggie… and a talking heron! Most enjoyed by ages 9+ [Get Tickets]( Jacqueline Woodson’s Block Party! Apr. 13 | REACH Plaza Music! Food! Fun! Join us for another Kennedy Center Block Party hosted by Education Artist-in-Residence and award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson! FREE performances, fun-filled games, and various activities with local artists will be programmed on the REACH grounds all afternoon. Reservations encouraged, but not required. [FREE! Reserve Tickets »]( [Hip Hop Culture]( T H I S  M O N T H Hip Hop Listening Sessions: We’ve Got the Jazz Wed., Mar. 27 The Club at Studio K [🚨 Limited Availability]( Igmar Thomas’s Revive Big Band Fri., Mar. 29 The Club at Studio K [Get Tickets]( A Duke x Dilla Afterparty Featuring Karriem Riggins Sat., Mar. 30 The Club at Studio K [get tickets]( The Rakim & DJ Jazzy Jeff & Ravi Coltrane Project Produced by Jill Newman Productions Fri., Apr. 19 The Club at Studio K [Get Tickets]( [EXPLORE HIP HOP &... FESTIVAL »]( [Comedy]( Alex Edelman’s Just for Us Mar. 21 & 22 | Eisenhower Theater In the wake of a string of anti-Semitic rhetoric pointed in his direction online, comedian Alex Edelman decides to go straight to the source: a White Nationalist meeting in Queens. Expertly crafted by one of today’s most distinct voices, this singular theatrical experience is an exploration of identity and our collective capacity for empathy—and it’s also “belly-laugh funny!” (The New York Times). [Get Tickets]( Literati: A Comedy Show About Books and the Idiots Who Write Them Mar. 22 | The Club at Studio K Colin O’Brien and Michael Wolf bring D.C. audiences Literati, their hit comedy about the greatest American novels never written! Catch hilarious fake authors—including comedians Karen Chee, Eugene Mirman, Josh Sharp, and Ikechukwu Ufomadu—discussing their distinguished (fake) works at this one-of-a-kind show. [Get Tickets]( [SOCIAL IMPACT]( Free on the [Millennium Stage]( Impactful Words: Joy-Ann Reid Mar. 22 | Millennium Stage (in-person & livestream) The host of MSNBC’s The ReidOut and New York Times bestselling author of The Man Who Sold America now traces the extraordinary lives and legacy of civil rights icons Medgar and Myrlie Evers, situating Medgar Evers’s assassination as a catalyzing moment in American history. [FREE! Reserve Tickets »]( David Wax Museum Mar. 23 | Millennium Stage (in-person & livestream) David Wax Museum blends the ancient and ever-relevant rhythms of traditional Mexican music with amber pop hues—their unabashed rock riffs emanating an air of AM radio circa 1975—all tethered together by seductive harmonies. [FREE! Reserve Tickets »]( [Dance]( Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo Apr. 4–6 | Opera House Look no further for top-notch ballet that’s also uproariously funny! The world’s foremost all-male comic ballet company, famed for performing en travesti and en pointe, is back to celebrate its 50th anniversary season by spoofing more of your favorite works including Swan Lake, Go for Barocco, Dying Swan, and Paquita. [Get Tickets]( Chronicles of Nina...What now? Apr. 12 & 13 | Terrace Theater Chronicles of Nina...What now? meshes street and modern-based movement styles to explore the process of living on in the wake of death and the longing to establish an everlasting connection with our ancestors. This new work is created by the collective Project ChArma, awardee of the 2023–24 Local Dance Commissioning Project. [Get Tickets]( [CENTER magazine]( CENTER magazine The new issue of CENTER magazine is here! Step into Duke Ellington’s D.C., laugh with comedians Karen Chee and Eugene Mirman, meet a Principal Tuba player with the NSO, and more in our latest issue. [EXPLORE THE NEW ISSUE »]( Protect your personal information and buy direct to avoid ticket scams! Fraudulent ticket resellers are on the rise. The only way to guarantee your tickets are legitimate is to buy directly from [Kennedy-Center.org](. If you buy from a secondary site, you may pay more and you could receive an invalid ticket that our customer service team cannot remedy. Protect your purchase by buying from Kennedy-Center.org, the only official website for the nation’s performing arts center. 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. [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