WASHINGTON D.C. - THE KENNEDY CENTER

The Kennedy Center, located on the banks of the Potomac River, opened to the public in September 1971. But its roots date back to 1958, when President Eisenhower signed legislation creating a National Cultural Center. To honor Eisenhower's vision, one of the Kennedy Center's three theaters (the other two being a Concert Hall and an Opera House) is named for him, and that's where we perform. It's unlike any other theatre complex in the country in that the government pays for the rent and upkeep of the building, while the Center artistic staff takes care of the programming- the way it should be if you ask me, there should be similar centers in Chicago and Los Angeles, but I digress...

President Kennedy was a strong advocate of the arts, and took the lead in raising funds for the complex while in office. Two months after his assassination, the national cultural center was dedicated as a living memorial to his memory and the outside walls bear several of his quotes regarding the importance of the arts. For example:

"There is a connection, hard to explain logically but easy to feel, between achievement in public life and progress in the arts. The age of Pericles was also the age of Phidias. The age of Lorenzo de Medici was also the age of Leonardo da Vinci. The age of Elizabeth also the age of Shakespeare. And the New Frontier for which I campaign in public life, can also be a New Frontier for American art."

Exhilarating, but sad. Exhilarating in his felicity of expression as well as the in notion that our President could actually feel this way, and sad when put in the perspective of our current leader's grammar and general outlook.

It is a thrill to perform at the Kennedy Center, and you can sense it every night when we arrive at the theatre. I don't know how to express it, but it's evident in how early the cast arrives and how late they stay, in the green room banter and the backstage preshow whispers. It's fun, and it doesn't hurt that we sold out almost the entire three weeks here. V. good.

I have to say, however, that while the outside of the Kennedy Center is monumentally inspiring, the interior is rather firmly entrenched in the 70's. The red carpet is nice, but the chandeliers and lighting fixtures are awkward and unappealing. I imagine it was lovely at the time, but that was an unfortunate decade for, well, most things, and it's a shame that this treasure reflects as much. Not that they should change it, mind you, it's just a shame. If you look at the picture below (though it's small) you'll see what I mean. You'll say "Oh that's pretty", then you'll look again and say "but I kind of see what he means, though the lighting is nice", and finally "Those lights are pretty dreadful."