The Opera House marks its grand re-opening with an encore performance of Bernstein's MASS, as well as the gala event, the Kennedy Center Honors.

On September 8, 1971, the Kennedy Center opened its doors to the public with MASS, an epic musical work composed by Leonard Bernstein at the request of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. The Kennedy Center has since developed into the nation's premier destination for the performing arts. On November 19, 2003 to celebrate the grand re-opening of the Kennedy Center Opera House, students and faculty of the Catholic University Orchestra and Chorus, and featuring Harolyn Blackwell and Douglas Webster, with Murry Sidlin conducting, perform excerpts from Bernstein's MASS. The program—a free, but ticketed Millennium Stage event in partnership with VSA arts—also includes excerpts from the Deaf West production of Big River in association with the Mark Taper Forum and Roundabout Theater where it is currently enjoying a critically acclaimed Broadway run. In addition, dancer Homer Avila will perform Solo, choreographed by Victoria Marks. Solo was created as a "choreo-portrait" for Avila, a New York-based virtuoso dancer who lost his leg and hip to cancer two years ago. Solo articulates the urgency of a life on the line.

On December 7, 2003 in the Opera House, the 26th annual Kennedy Center Honors will award five performing arts legends for their lifetime contributions to American culture. The 2003 Honorees-—soul and funk singer James Brown, comedian and actress Carol Burnett, country music singer Loretta Lynn, film and theater director Mike Nichols, and violinist Itzhak Perlman-—will be saluted by stars from the world of the performing arts at an invitation-only gala performance. The Honors Gala will be attended by President of the United States George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, and will be broadcast on CBS as a two-hour prime-time special in December (check local listings).

Performances in the Opera House continue in December with the return of the Kirov Ballet and Opera as part of the Center-wide Tchaikovsky Festival. The renovations to the Opera House, which closed last December for yearlong remodeling, improved accessibility on all levels of the theater, upgraded the sound system, improved the lighting and environmental controls, replaced the orchestra-level floor, and added an additional house elevator serving all lobby levels. These improvements will make for an enhanced theater experience for all patrons.

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The Washington Post
Sunday, November 16, 2003
"After an 11-month renovation, the Opera House at the Kennedy Center will reopen this week, with improved access for all its patrons. "
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