kennedy center

Kevin Hart has been named winner of the 25th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Hart will be celebrated/roasted by fellow jokesters at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in March.

Arts

Kevin Hart will receive the Mark Twain Prize — humor's highest honor

4:19pm November 15, 2023

by Elizabeth Blair

The 25th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor will go to comedian, actor, writer and entrepreneur Kevin Hart. Past recipients include George Carlin, Eddie Murphy, Carol Burnett and Adam Sandler.

The award-winning young playwrights of Enough! take a bow at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in November 2023.

Arts

Teens wrote plays about gun violence — now they are being staged around the U.S.

5:08pm November 13, 2023

by Neda Ulaby

Around 250 young playwrights wrote and submitted work as part of the annual contest, Enough! Plays to End Gun Violence. Six were chosen as finalists and had their work performed.

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Gladys Knight arrives to attend the Kennedy Center honorees reception at the White House in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022.

Arts

Gladys Knight, Amy Grant and U2 are among the honorees at the Kennedy Center

2:12am December 05, 2022

by The Associated Press

Gladys Knight, George Clooney, Amy Grant, Tania León and U2 were all celebrated at the Kennedy Center, which annually honors a group of people for their artistic influences on American culture.

Jon Stewart accepts the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Arts

Jon Stewart says the 'fragility of leaders' is the real threat to humor

4:44am April 25, 2022

by Elizabeth Blair

Jon Stewart is honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center. The former host of The Daily Show was praised for revitalizing political satire and for his activism.

Charles Mingus is often regarded as one of the greatest jazz composers of the 20th century.

How the late jazz great Charles Mingus is being remembered 100 years later

11:09am April 21, 2022

by Tom Vitale

Regarded as one of the most important figures in jazz, tributes are planned across the world to honor the legacy of bassist, bandleader and pioneer Charles Mingus.

The Kennedy Center is building a new space for artistic projects that it's calling The REACH. Completion is planned for September 2019.

Arts

Kennedy Center Unveils Progress On New Extension For Artistic Projects

11:36pm June 05, 2018

by Elizabeth Blair

President Deborah Rutter hopes people will come to The REACH for "the artistic experience," but also to be together on the green roof and walking paths.

Misty Copeland (left) and Brooklyn Mack play Odette/Odile and Prince Siegfried in this year's Washington Ballet production of Swan Lake. It is the first time that two black dancers star in Swan Lake in a major American production.

Who Gets To Dance In 'Swan Lake'? The Answer Is Changing

2:34pm April 13, 2015

by Elizabeth Blair

For the first time, two black dancers will star in a major American production of Swan Lake. NPR's Elizabeth Blair peeks behind the curtain to see why it has been so hard for ballet to diversify.

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