Direct from Broadway, Mean Girls is the hilarious hit musical from an award-winning creative team, including book writer Tina Fey (30 Rock), composer Jeff Richmond (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), lyricist Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde), and director Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon).

New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo’s collection of folkloric poems comes to the stage with music.

Set today in the Shear Madness hairstyling salon, this record-breaking comedy is Washington's hilarious whodunit. After more than 13,500 performances, the show has stayed in great shape. Performances are ongoing.

Explore the world with music.

One of the shining stars of modern folk, Amos Lee creates the rare kind of music that’s emotionally raw yet touched with a certain magical quality. In his anticipated first collaboration with the NSO, the Philadelphia-born singer/songwriter intimately explores his real-world struggles through beautiful song—an outpouring born from deliberate self-examination.

Mahler 4 presages the emergence of jazz: the music riffs on itself throughout, replacing “classical” repetition of themes with constant variation. It feeds upon folk and dance tunes and rollicks with inner conflicts and contradictions, expressing Mahler’s own struggles. PCE premiers a new chamber version in which the symphony’s whirling scherzo becomes a concertino for bass trombone-a wicked showcase for one of the world’s great instrumentalists, David Taylor.

Education Artist-in-Residence Jacqueline Woodson’s simple yet powerful book comes to life with movement from choreographer and Kennedy Center Artistic Advisor for Dance Education Hope Boykin.

Takács Quartet returns to dazzle Kennedy Center audiences once again. Joined by guest Julien Labro on bandoneón, the ensemble performs two new commissions by Bryce Dessner and Clarice Assad for quintet. The program concludes with Ravel’s String Quartet from 1903, the only quartet he ever composed.

An immersive 30,000 square foot documentary photography exhibition at the REACH visualizing the climate crisis plus a six-week festival of performances, workshops, panel discussions, and educational programs.

Experience something extraordinary live from the Kennedy Center. Attend in person or watch our livestreams and explore a video archive from over 20 years of great performances.

From beat making to abstract portraiture and more, the Moonshot Studio offers activities for people of all ages to explore their artistry and learn something new. Each day features one activity for visitors and invites them to “give it shot!” Admission is free, but reservations are required for your group (2-4 people at a table) to collaborate and create with various materials, methods, and media, and leave with an original work of art.

Launched as a partnership between Mark Morris Dance Group and the Brooklyn Parkinson Group, this program offers internationally acclaimed dance classes for people with Parkinson’s Disease in more than 250 communities and 24 countries. 

This year-long free exhibit celebrates the Kennedy Center’s history through the people who have brought it to life. Engaging video and aural snippets, powerful visuals, and novel archival content tell the Center's story in the voices and memories of the leaders, staff, artists, donors, audiences, and larger community that make it a “living” memorial. 

Come visit the outdoor and indoor spaces of our expanded campus. Be inspired by the art and architecture, see upcoming events, and enjoy the views with a snack from our wine garden and café.

An immersive 30,000 square foot documentary photography exhibition at the REACH visualizing the climate crisis plus a six-week festival of performances, workshops, panel discussions, and educational programs.

In commemoration of World Water Day (March 22), the Kennedy Center, located on the banks of the Potomac, will display Nordic Swan by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. 

Cuban costume designer Celia Ledón discusses her work creating sustainable fashion using recycled materials with with Manuel Carmona Yebra, Counsellor for Environment and Oceans at the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. The evening will include conversation, videos, and a live demonstration of her technique.

Join us on Earth Day for a special evening of activities including a guided tour of the exhibition, a sustainable fashion demonstration, a poster awards presentation, and a special exhibition immersive soundtrack.

Education Artist-in-Residence Jacqueline Woodson’s simple yet powerful book comes to life with movement from choreographer and Kennedy Center Artistic Advisor for Dance Education Hope Boykin.

Hosted by Durand Bernarr, Road To Roots Picnic presents serpentwithfeet, Van Jess, and India Shawn in an inspired evening of live music and performance curated by The Roots. Part of #KenCenHipHop’s For the Culture Artist Residency program and The Bridge Concert Series.

Three-time Grammy®–winner Angélique Kidjo’s theatrical work makes its anticipated D.C. premiere.

Grammy-winner Cristian Măcelaru conducts Dvořák’s Symphony No. 6, a masterwork bursting with fiery Bohemian spirit. Also on the program: one of Rimsky-Korsakov’s most colorful suites and the NSO premiere of former Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence Mason Bates’ Philharmonia Fantastique.

Hamilton is the story of America then, told by America now. Featuring a score that blends hip hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, Hamilton has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre—a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education.

Patrick Ness’s piercing novel A Monster Calls is brought to the stage in a powerful new adaptation by visionary director Sally Cookson.

Go behind the music and inside the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons in the Tony Award-winning true-life musical phenomenon. From the streets of New Jersey to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this is the musical that’s just too good to be true.

All rise for Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning masterwork. The New York Times Critic’s Pick To Kill A Mockingbird is “the most successful American play in Broadway history” (60 Minutes).

The critically acclaimed smash-hit Broadway musical The Band’s Visit is the winner of 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, making it one of the most Tony-winning musicals in history.

More than 35 million people around the world have experienced the smash hit phenomenon that is Blue Man Group, and now it’s your turn! It’s everything you know and love about Blue Man Group—signature drumming, colorful moments of creativity, and quirky comedy—the men are still blue but the rest is all new!

Following his recent trip to space, legendary actor and musician William Shatner joins NSO Artistic Advisor Ben Folds for a special concert presented as part of Ben’s casual, late-night DECLASSIFIED^® series. This unique “part concert, part party” series defies the traditional symphony experience with exciting guest artists, pre-show activities, and more. It’s classical music, DECLASSIFIED!

Join us in honoring the life and work of the “first lady of jazz,” legendary pianist and composer Mary Lou Williams. This special 25th Silver Anniversary of the Kennedy Center’s Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival features exciting performances from Allison Miller, Derrick Hodge, Terri Lyne Carrington + Social Science, Artemis, and others.

Harnessing his encyclopedic knowledge of popular music and American history, award-winning musician, producer, director, and best-selling author Questlove returns to the Kennedy Center for another intimate, insightful discussion on his latest book MUSIC IS HISTORY with a special guest!

A free spirit comes at a price in Bizet’s blockbuster tragedy. An incredible cast performs this vibrant D.C. premiere production directed by Francesca Zambello and conducted by Evan Rogister.

Renée Fleming, Lalah Hathaway, Aoife O’Donovan, and Moses Sumney gather for a heartfelt tribute to folk music legend Joni Mitchell. This special evening will be led by Vince Mendoza—who won Grammys for his arrangement of “Both Sides Now,” from Mitchell’s album of the same name, and “Woodstock” from Travelogue.

The legendary pianist and composer returns to the Concert Hall for an unmissable one-night-only performance! A true icon of modern music, 2013 Kennedy Center Honoree Herbie Hancock has transcended limitations and genres while maintaining his unmistakable voice. With a celebrated career spanning six decades and 14 Grammy Awards, he continues to amaze audiences across the globe.

Education Artist-in-Residence Jacqueline Woodson’s simple yet powerful book comes to life with movement from choreographer and Kennedy Center Artistic Advisor for Dance Education Hope Boykin.

The company marks its first Kennedy Center full engagement with the highly anticipated D.C. premiere of Abraham’s newest evening-length work.

New York City Ballet returns with Balanchine’s radiant take on William Shakespeare’s cherished A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Thursday through Sunday) and a program of new works by Sidra Bell, Jamar Roberts, and Justin Peck (Tuesday & Wednesday).

The history of Black dancers in ballet is rich—but many voices and many stories have remained untold and unheard. It’s time to reframe the narrative.

Comedian Sarah Sherman, aka Sarah Squirm, brings her hilarious stand-up.

Created by comedian/actress/producer Amanda Seales (HBO Insecure), Smart Funny & Black brings your favorite funny folks to the “Hall of Flava” to compete in a head to head battle of wits that tests their knowledge of Black history, Black culture, and the Black experience. 

Your favorite truth teller, comedian Amanda Seales, drops gems with Small Doses, a weekly podcast that brings you potent truths for everyday use.

Comedian and creative visionary Amanda Seales returns to keep audiences laughing, thinking, and living in their truth.

On the heels of his hugely successful world tour and comedy special, Nemr is back with a brand new show, The Future is NOW!

Hannah Gadsby, world class, award-winning funny person, has a brand new live show—Body of Work—hitting stages across North America. 

The Prize will be awarded at a gala performance featuring some of the biggest names in comedy. Commenting on the prize, Stewart said, “I am truly honored to receive this award. I have long admired and been influenced by the work of Mark Twain, or, as he was known by his given name, Samuel Leibowitz.”

Standup comedian and podcast star Marc Maron returns to the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.