By Claire Leibowitz
The Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center sits in the Grand Foyer and offers free shows to appreciate the arts between Wednesdays and Saturdays at 6 pm.
The first-come, first-serve shows are packed; viewers fill rows and rows of seats and spill onto the red-carpeted stairs adjacent to the stage. Tickets can be reserved in advance or picked up at the box office. The Millennium Stage offers dance and music performances, highlighting various smaller cultural artists.
The Kennedy Center is a beautiful building that is only an eight-minute walk from campus. From free performances to exhibits to the scenery, the center offers a wide variety of events for students to take advantage of. It also serves to relieve stress and spend some time away from studying.
Junior Nora Weiss is a former dancer and has been seeking out student-friendly art offerings around campus. “It is so refreshing to see professional dance performances that are so accessible to the community!” she said.
The Kennedy Center was a product of The National Cultural Center Act, a bipartisan legislation passed in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The act aimed to present classical and contemporary performances and educate the public. Although Eisenhower passed the bill, President John F. Kennedy raised the funds and awareness for the center. The building opened to the public in September 1971.
According to The Kennedy Center website, James A. Johnson, the fourth chairman, envisioned a more inclusive art center that offered performances for visitors of all income levels. In an opportunity called the Performing Arts for Everyone initiative, Johnson endowed the Millennium Stage.
In the past, this opportunity has showcased artists like Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, and Norah Jones.
These free productions are also available online, serving as an offering to the worldwide community. Every day, the Kennedy Center displays these free performances for all.
Viewers must wear masks and be respectful towards the performers. The Center expects attendees to wear masks in all theaters and performance areas, but they are not necessary in public areas. The shows typically last under an hour, and each brings its own unique style and voice.
Upcoming shows can be found on the website. The diversity in productions appeals to a wide range of audiences. Descriptions of events highlight a unique array of musicians and styles, from Israeli-Ethiopian to a combination of roots, rock, R&B, and folk to classic chamber music from the National Symphony Orchestra.
After the show, viewers can walk around The Kennedy Center and take in the rest of the architecture.
The Kennedy Center Roof Terrace is open daily from 10 am to midnight. Its breathtaking 360º views display the Georgetown waterfront, Arlington, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Potomac River. Elevators are accessible from the Hall of States and the Hall of Nations on the first floor.
The grounds of the Center are beautiful on the ground, too. Massive, swaying willow trees surround the building. It offers a great alternative to studying in Gelman or the perfect destination for a walk or picnic.
The Millennium Stage offers opportunities for everyone to appreciate the arts, and its frequency and accessibility emphasize the true meaning of the Kennedy Center.
