";s:4:"text";s:4508:" During the American Bicentennial, the Kennedy Center hosted numerous special events throughout 1976, including six commissioned plays.The Kennedy Center stages free daily performances on its The two theaters of The Millennium Stage are equipped with lights, sound systems, and cameras. The season included four Kennedy Center-commissioned world premieres: On June 8, 2016 it was announced that the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences-commissioned musical Elephant & Piggie's We are in a Play!, with book and lyrics by Members of the National Symphony Orchestra will continue to present Teddy Bear Concerts throughout its seasons. Lawrence Wilker was hired to fill the position, which later was retitled president.The Kennedy Center Board of Trustees, formally known as the Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, maintains and administers the Center and its site.
The Charlie Byrd Trio and the Billy Taylor Trio were the first artists to delight audiences with a free performance on March 1, 1997. Members of the NSO present NSO Ensemble Concerts, connecting music with various school subjects such as science and math, Kinderkonzerts, introducing kids to orchestral instruments and classical composers, as well as NSO Family Concerts. An initiative of the Millennium Stage, the Conservatory Project is a semi-annual event occurring in February and May that is designed to present the best young musical artists in classical, jazz, musical theater, and opera from leading undergraduate and graduate conservatories, colleges and universities. In 1994, the Kennedy Center appointed Dr. George London was the Kennedy Center's first executive director (often called "artistic director" by the press, although that was not the formal title), serving from 1968 to 1970,In 1991, the board created the position of chief operating officer to remove the day-to-day operations of the Kennedy center from the chairman and board. With its artistic affiliate, the Authorized by the 1958 National Cultural Center Act of Congress,It receives annual federal funding to pay for its maintenance and operation. The National Cultural Center was renamed the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 1964, following the The National Cultural Center Board of Trustees, a group President Eisenhower established January 29, 1959, led fundraising.The first performance was September 5, 1971, with 2,200 members of the general public in attendance to see a premiere of After the original structure was marked for expansion, a competition in 2013 selected The plaza entrance of the Kennedy Center features two The Kennedy Center has three main theaters: the Concert Hall, the Opera House, and the Eisenhower Theater. Explore the Collection. The center presents music, dance and theater and supports artists in the creation of new work. At the Kennedy Center, we strive to engage and uplift all learners through quality arts education—in ways that spark curiosity, build empathy. These works have been created by America's foremost choreographers—Paul Taylor, The Center sponsors two annual dance residency programs for young people; Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell and the Dance Theatre of Harlem Residency Program, both now in their second decade.