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Kennedy Center Education Performances for School Groups

Theater, music, and dance performances have the power to move us deeply—transform us. Explore our programs and performances designed for educators, preK-12 students, families, and audiences of all learning abilities. 

2024-2025 School Performances

Click “Register” for additional information about each program’s dates and times. Learning Guide resources are made available approximately two weeks before the event; they provide context, prompts, and educational support for the programs you will experience.

The registration form includes the “Get on the Bus” scholarship application. This program is for Title I schools to attend one Kennedy Center school performance by providing support, including tickets and transportation.

D.C. PREMIERE Spells of the Sea

October 8-18, 2024 (REGISTRATION CLOSED)

A young girl embarks on a quest to save her father after he’s struck by the “Big Bad Sickness of the Sea.” Come along on this enchanting musical journey about facing fears, embracing emotions, and believing in yourself.

Recommended for grades 1-6

On the left side of a vibrant blue water background is the program title, “Spells of the Sea: A New Coming-of-Age Musical Adventure.” On the right side of the image is an artistic rendering of a glass container. The inside of the container shows the back of a girl with long brown hair wearing a yellow raincoat and gray backpack over a bright blue hoodie. She looks at a ship with white sails on the sea. A black bar in the bottom right corner has white text that says "Learning Guide Available."

WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA Fidelio (Rehearsal)

October 23, 2024 (REGISTRATION CLOSED)

Enjoy an insider’s look at our companies as they prepare onstage for performance. Love fuels a revolution in Beethoven’s monumental, sole opera. If his “Ode to Joy” declares the universal triumph of peace over war, then his Fidelio is an inspiring ode to love’s transcendent power over tyranny.

Recommended for grades 9-12

Opera singer Sinead Campbell Wallace wears a brown guard costume with black boots and a black belt. She looks over shoulder while running against a moody backdrop that has a dark, vertical bar pattern. A black bar in the bottom right corner has white text that says "Learning Guide Available."

WORLD PREMIERE KENNEDY CENTER COMMISSION Doktor Kaboom: Under Pressure!

OCTOBER 24-NOVEMBER 1, 2024 (REGISTRATION CLOSED)

Equal parts interactive science, comedy, and personal empowerment messages, Doktor Kaboom returns to explore real-life mental and emotional pressures in a hilarious and educational new show.

Recommended for grades 3-6

Doktor Kaboom, a man with blonde hair and brown facial hair, wears black circular safety goggles, black-and-yellow work gloves, a black undershirt, and an orange lab coat with blue stitching that says “Doktor Kaboom, Man of Science.” He plugs his ears with his fingers and is in front of a white background. A black bar in the bottom right corner has white text that says "Learning Guide Available."

NSO COFFEE CONCERT Noseda conducts Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” | Alexei Ogrintchouk plays Raskatov’s Time’s River

NOVEMBER 1, 2024 (REGISTRATION CLOSED)

Tchaikovsky’s “Pathétique” Symphony is a force to be reckoned with; a veritable declaration of forbidden love shrouded in mystery. This impassioned program also features Prokofiev’s evocative Summer Night Suite and Time’s River, an NSO co-commission by Alexander Raskatov. Outstanding Moscow-born oboist Alexei Ogrintchouk takes center stage for Raskatov’s new concerto, described as “a hymn to nature in resonance with our time.”

Recommended for grades 7-12

A split screen image shows conductor Gianandrea Noseda on the left and oboist Alexei Ogrintchouk on the right. Noseda wears a black dress shirt against a dark background. He rests his head on top of his loosely clasped hands while looking off to the right. Ogrintchouk wears a dot-patterned dark dress shirt. He holds his oboe upright while smiling towards the camera.

CONCERTS FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES Uncle Devin

November 7-8, 2024 (REGISTRATION CLOSED)

Go on a magical journey through the Land of Percussion to see and hear different percussion instruments with D.C.-based musician Uncle Devin. Through this interactive musical experience, school children and educators will discover the history of percussion and move to the beat of funky drums, Go-Go, and more.

Recommended for grades K-5

Uncle Devin wears a blue shirt with a gray hat against a vibrant purple background. He holds percussive instruments while smiling. A black bar in the bottom right corner has white text that says "Learning Guide Available."

WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA Macbeth (Rehearsal)

November 11, 2024 (REGISTRATION CLOSED)

Enjoy an insider’s look at our companies as they prepare onstage for performance. Verdi meets Shakespeare for a bloody showdown of power and greed.

Recommended for grades 9-12

WNO performers portray Lady Macbeth and Macbeth while sitting onstage. Lady Macbeth wears a layered gray dress with her brown hair pulled back, holding onto Macbeth. Macbeth wears a gray shirt, suspenders, and black pants. His hands and face are covered in fake blood, and a bloody knife prop rests on the ground in front of them. A black bar in the bottom right corner has white text that says "Learning Guide Available."

WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA Macbeth (Opera Look-In)

November 18, 2024 (REGISTRATION CLOSED)

Learn how operas are made! This introduction to the art form combines excerpts of WNO’s production with information about music, theater, and the people and technology needed to bring operas to life. The Look-In script is written by Peter Michael Marino.

Recommended for grades 6-12

WNO performers portray Lady Macbeth and Macbeth while sitting onstage. Lady Macbeth wears a layered gray dress with her brown hair pulled back, holding onto Macbeth. Macbeth wears a gray shirt, suspenders, and black pants. His hands and face are covered in fake blood, and a bloody knife prop rests on the ground in front of them. A black bar in the bottom right corner has white text that says "Learning Guide Available."

Champions Of Magic

November 20, 2024 (REGISTRATION CLOSED)

Following a decade touring the world as one of the most successful magic shows in history, the Champions Of Magic team is back with an explosive all-new show featuring thrilling and mind-bending illusions. Combining their signature humor with groundbreaking magic, this team of illusionists presents a brand-new production unlike anything that has come before.

Recommended for grades 9-12

On the right of the image, four magicians with sunglasses run forward as a burst of multiple colors explodes behind them. Three of the magicians wear suits with white shirts, and one magician wears a black leather outfit. On the left of the image is the program title, “Champions Of Magic, Chasing the Unbelievable.” On the bottom of the image is a quote from Broadway World that reads “Dazzles audiences with a show like no other.”

WORLD PREMIERE KENNEDY CENTER COMMISSION Finn

November 21-December 20, 2024

From the creator of Doc McStuffins and Vampirina, Finn is filled with quirky sea creature characters and catchy tunes. Hilarious and heartwarming, this world premiere musical chronicles the coming-of-age journey of a young shark following his dreams.

Recommended for grades K-5

An illustrative graphic shows five rows of identical dark blue shark silhouettes swimming against a blue solid background. In the middle of the image is a playful yellow shark silhouette surrounded by sparkles, and the program title logo in yellow and white that reads “Finn The Musical.” A black bar in the bottom right corner has white text that says "Learning Guide Available."

NSO COFFEE CONCERT Lise de la Salle plays Schumann’s Piano Concerto Marek Janowski conducts Bruckner’s Fourth, “Romantic”

November 22, 2024 (REGISTRATION CLOSED)

French pianist Lise de la Salle—“a musical thinker of impressive weight with charm, imagination, and dazzling technique” (The Washington Post)—performs a Schumann masterwork, considered the ultimate romantic piano concerto. Marek Janowski, who in 2019 “conducted a truly memorable, exquisite rendition of Bruckner” with the NSO (Washington Classical Review), returns to lead the composer’s Symphony No. 4.

Recommended for grades 7-12

PHILADELPHIA BALLET George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® (Rehearsal)

November 27, 2024 (REGISTRATION CLOSED)

Full of warmth and holiday cheer, George Balanchine’s beloved classic The Nutcracker returns in a whimsical production from Philadelphia Ballet (formerly Pennsylvania Ballet). Marvel at the magic of swirling snowflakes, dancing candy canes, and enchanted toys.

Recommended for grades 6-12

In an image of the Philadelphia Ballet performing “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker,” a ballerina in a light pink long tutu outfit dances en pointe center stage. In a semi-circle behind her, six young girls stand while wearing full-length pink and gold dresses with white wings and gold crowns. The background includes candy-cane-striped columns and an illustrated fantasy land backdrop.

BalletX Open Rehearsal

DECEMBER 4, 2024 (REGISTRATION CLOSED)

BalletX is Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet lauded for producing nearly 130 world premiere ballets by over 70 choreographers from around the world. The acclaimed company returns with works by Justin Peck, Jodie Gates, Takehiro Ueyama, and Matthew Neenan.

Recommended for grades 6-12

A dancer in a lightly colored unitard balances on one leg in the foreground. In the background, a second dancer in complete shadowed silhouette poses against a matted blue-gray backdrop.

WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA Jungle Book (Rehearsal)

December 13, 2024 (REGISTRATION CLOSED)

Enjoy an insider’s look at our companies as they prepare onstage for performance. Our colorful family opera steps into the jungle to find courage and friendship.

Recommended for grades 4-6

A scared-looking Mowgli and a large Shere Khan tiger puppet interact with each other on stage for the WNO’s “Jungle Book” production. The background shows an illustrated jungle backdrop with vines and flowers. A black bar in the bottom right corner has white text that says "Learning Guide Available."

THE BEST OF BROADWAY & Juliet

December 18-19, 2024

Created by the Emmy Award®–winning writer from Schitt’s Creek, this hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told. & Juliet asks: What would happen next if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as she ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love—her way.

Recommended for grades 9-12

A neon sign says the program title, “& Juliet,” against a black backdrop with a pink glow bursting behind the sign. The “Juliet” part of the sign is yellow while the ampersand and underline treatment are pink.

THE BEST OF BROADWAY Life of Pi

December 19, 2024

Based on the novel that sold more than 15 million copies and became a worldwide phenomenon, Life of Pi is an epic story of perseverance and hope that speaks to every generation and “gives new life to Broadway” (The Today Show). After a shipwreck in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a 16-year-old boy named Pi survives on a lifeboat with four companions—a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Royal Bengal tiger.

Recommended for grades 9-12

On the left of the image, a boy raises an oar in the air as he and a life-size tiger puppet are in a boat on water. The background is a starry blue and purple sky reflected in the water. On the right is the program’s title, “Life of Pi”; the words “Life” and “Pi” are in yellow while the word “of” is in white.

Havana Hop: A Children’s Tale of Culture and Confidence!

January 8-10, 2025

Young Yeila dreams of being a superstar, but she struggles with awful stage fright. Watch as she begins to find her roots, gain confidence, and be her amazing self in this dynamic participation play written and performed by Paige Hernandez with music by Nick Tha 1da.

Recommended for grades K-5

An image of Paige Hernandez performing on stage with her arms outstretched. She wears a head microphone, a black graphic t-shirt, black eyeglasses hanging from a metallic-patterned scarf around her neck, and multicolored bracelets.

PRESENTED BY SHAPESHIFT OF MINNEAPOLIS, MN Grey Skies Blue

January 15-17, 2025

SHAPESHIFT presents powerful stories of friendship through interconnected vignettes, exploring themes of social injustice, sexual identity, addiction, and betrayal. Nine accomplished dancers combine hip hop with contemporary dance to illuminate the human experience.

Recommended for grades 4-12

Eight diverse dancers in individualized outfits pose playfully on a beige paper backdrop.

NSO COFFEE CONCERTS Carlos Miguel Prieto conducts Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances | Jorge Federico Osorio plays Beethoven

January 17, 2025

Outstanding Mexican artists treat the audience to timeless classics and stirring new music. Jorge Federico Osorio, hailed as “an imaginative interpreter with a powerful technique” (New York Times), takes on Beethoven’s intensely energetic Piano Concerto No. 3. Rachmaninoff’s lush and lively Symphonic Dances come alive under the baton of Carlos Miguel Prieto—who returns following his “revolutionary,” “high-octane” 2018 NSO debut (Washington Classical Review).

Recommended for grades 6-12

A split screen image shows conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto on the left and pianist Jorge Federico Osorio on the right. Prieto wears a light blue dress shirt and holds an open music sheet book. Osorio wears a black tux with a white bow tie while sitting next to a piano.

NSO MUSIC FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES Old MacDonald’s Symphony

January 21, 2025

The whole farmyard is getting ready for a hoedown—but it needs your help! Presented in collaboration with Teller Productions and developed specifically for toddlers, this immersive show features puppets, storytellers, and a string quartet from the National Symphony Orchestra.

Recommended for grades preK-2

An image of a performer in a brown checkered shirt, brown overalls, green printed necktie, and gloves holds the neck of a violin in one hand and carries a stylized cardboard pig under their other arm.

NATIONAL BALLET OF CHINA Chinese New Year (A Ballet in Two Acts) (Rehearsal)

January 29, 2025

With its dazzling hybrid of western ballet and Chinese culture, National Ballet of China returns to thrill audiences with its luminous fusion of traditions, telling the story of a family’s Chinese New Year celebration—set to Tchaikovsky’s treasured Nutcracker score.

Recommended for grades 6-12

Sixteen ballerinas in matching white outfits and red head attires pose while onstage against a starry blue backdrop.

NSO MUSIC FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES M2 = (Math x Music)

JANUARY 31 & FEBRUARY 3, 2025

Comprised of National Symphony Orchestra musicians, the Last Stand Quartet performs a lively program linking the ways in which math is present in all music-making, creating music to move to and engage with on a deeper level.

Recommended for grades K-5

Four National Symphony Orchestra musicians sit and stand in front of a mint green background on which there are fun shapes and numbers with cartoon eyes. The musicians each wear a black top and different shades of dark blue jeans, and they each hold a string instrument and its bow.

PERFORMANCE/DEMONSTRATION Nite Bjuti

JANUARY 31, 2025

Nite Bjuti (pronounced “night beauty”) is a woman-led improvisatory trio of vocalist Candice Hoyes, Grammy®–winning sound chemist Val Jeanty, and bassist Mimi Jones. Their improvised electro acoustic performances move through grooves into freedom. According to the New York Times, “spirit, conjure, necromancy, and memory seem to be some of the grounding ideas behind Nite Bjuti’s stunning, fully improvised sound.”

Recommended for grades 8-12

Three Black female musicians pose in front of a colorful abstract background. The standing musician on the left wears an all-black outfit and holds an instrument low. The standing musician on the right wears a light-colored top and holds a bass upright. The sitting musician wears a light-colored top and looks at the camera.

SCHOOL-TIME MINI PERFORMANCE Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

February 7, 2025

For its annual Kennedy Center engagement, the beloved company presents Ailey classics and new works, including Ailey’s signature Revelations.

Recommended for grades 4-8

An image of dancer James Gilmer wearing a sleeveless dark brown outfit under lighting that contrasts him against the black background. The dancer poses mid-air with arms outstretched on either side; one leg is straight in front of him with toes pointed towards the ground, and the other leg bens at the knee behind him.

NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA NSO Pops Open Rehearsal and Q&A Session: Cody Fry & Friends featuring LANY and Sleeping At Last

FEBRUARY 11, 2025

This National Symphony Orchestra rehearsal will give students a glimpse into the life of orchestral musicians and provide the opportunity to hear great music as it is being rehearsed for opening night. This special concert features Cody Fry’s genre-bending fusion of pop and cinematic symphonic music, pop-rock group LANY, and indie band Sleeping At Last.

Recommended for grades 7-12

Three images of artists are spliced together. On the left, a person with brown hair and a black top stands near a red curtain with gold tassels. In the middle, a person with black eyeglasses wears a black t-shirt while looking down, resting his hand rests against his face. On the right, two people in black shirts glance towards the right; one person has pink hair with brown facial hair and wears a chain necklace while the other person has dark hair and white bandages wrapped around the ring fingers.

AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE Crime & Punishment (Rehearsal)

February 12, 2025

Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel Crime and Punishment is a devastatingly modern psychological thriller that provided choreographer Helen Pickett and director James Bonas with a startling source for a ballet. Watch as striking movement depicts a young man’s journey towards redemption.

Recommended for grades 6-12

An image of American Ballet Theatre dancers Devon Teuscher and James Whiteside as they pose close to each other, leaning back with outstretched arms, in lighting that casts them as silhouettes against a dimly lit background. There is a chair in the bottom right corner of the image.

WORLD PREMIERE KENNEDY CENTER COMMISSION The Other Children of the Sun

February 20-March 6, 2025

This whimsical superhero adventure, based on Navajo creation legend, follows the journey of celestial siblings. Writer and co-director Rhiana Yazzie and co-director Steven Paul Judd offer a funny and thought-provoking world premiere play that challenges us to look at heroism through a new lens.

Recommended for grades 2-6

In a colorful illustration, two Native American children in colorful outfits (the one on the left in turquoise, the one on the right in purple) grin as they fly through a blue sky while holding superhero poses. Under them is the sun with closed eyes and a straight-lined mouth; the sun is partially obscured by a big white cloud from which a red, yellow, and light blue rainbow with patterned edges follows their flying path. The program’s title, “The Other Children of the Sun,” is in capitalized orange font on the right side of the image.

NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Working Rehearsal and Q&A Session

March 6, 2025

Enjoy an insider’s look at our National Symphony Orchestra and Music Director, Gianandrea Noseda as they prepare onstage for performance. Discover Debussy’s delightful Images for orchestra; and Ravel’s sultry slow-burn Boléro, with its sensuously hypnotic theme building to volcanic climax. Also on the program: Rota’s lively Trombone Concerto—performed by NSO Principal Trombone Craig Mulcahy—and Decisamente allegro by Nicola Campogrande.

Recommended for grades 8-12

An image of Kennedy Center Music Director and conductor Gianandrea Noseda. Noseda wears a black dress shirt against a dark background. He rests his head on top of his loosely clasped hands while looking off to the right.

RIVERDANCE 30 – The New Generation

March 13, 2025

Since Riverdance first emerged onto the world stage, its Grammy Award®–winning fusion of Irish and international dance and music has captured the hearts of millions. Now the show is embarking on a special anniversary tour, bringing its magic to audiences worldwide.

Recommended for grades 6-12

In a dance line, over 20 Irish dancers hold hands and step in sync while wearing silver, green, and purple shimmery dance costumes and matching black shoes. All but two of the dancers look forward; the central pair of dancers look at each other.

CONCERTS FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band

March 13-14, 2025

Bring the whole family to enjoy smart, crafty lyrics with irresistibly fresh pop beats. Performing in Spanish and English, the award-winning Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band is on the pulse of all things kids’ music.

Recommended for grades K-5

The husband-and-wife duo of Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band stand together while wear matching brightly patterned shirts. The husband holds a pink guitar with stickers of their faces on the instrument’s head. Behind the musicians is a building with bright green, pink, orange, and yellow stripes, as well as piñatas strung above their heads.

NSO COFFEE CONCERTS Noseda conducts Stravinsky’s Petrushka | Leonidas Kavakos plays Shostakovich

March 14, 2025

Critics call Leonidas Kavakos’ interpretations of Shostakovich “utterly compelling.” Witness the magic live as the superstar Greek violinist returns to perform Shostakovich’s explosive, unpredictable Violin Concerto No. 2. To close, Stravinsky’s striking ballet score Petrushka dazzles with vivid colors, irresistible rhythms, incandescent brass and winds…a rich bouquet of assorted, ear-rousing moments!

Recommended for grades 6-12

A split screen image shows conductor Gianandrea Noseda on the left and violinist Leonidas Kavakos on the right. Noseda wears a black dress shirt against a dark background. He rests his head on top of his loosely clasped hands while looking off to the right. Kavakos wears a dark blue shirt and black eyeglasses while holding a violin.

D.C. PREMIERE | KENNEDY CENTER COMMISSION WITH MANUAL CINEMA OF CHICAGO, IL Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster

March 26-April 4, 2025

Watch what happens when a terrible, not-so-scary monster meets the most scaredy-cat kid. Using hundreds of illustrated paper puppets, book pages, two-dimensional props, furry monster puppets, and songs, Manual Cinema brings Mo Willems’ books to life.

Recommended for grades K-6

A behind-the-scenes image of four performers of “Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster.” Two kneeling performers operate purple and green monster puppets while two standing performers engage with the puppets. Standing lights and a table with a camera, monitor, and props are in the foreground while a light blue backdrop is behind the performers.

Earth to Space Festival Dance – Speak: Performance Demonstration by Malavika Sarukkai

April 9-10, 2025

Through this dance educative session, a younger audience will get a unique opportunity to see in real time Malavika Sarukkai, one of the legends of Indian classical dance, perform and speak. The artist will present with two performing musicians on stage excerpts from the production BEEJA - EARTH SEED, to be premiered as a full production at the Kennedy Center as part of the festival.

Recommended for grades 8-12

Indian classical dancer Malavika Sarukkai wears a traditional red and orange outfit with gold accented jewelry. She poses barefoot in a deep stretch position facing the camera with her arms outstretched towards the sky. She is nestled amongst several very tall trees in a forest.

EARTH to SPACE Festival Earth From Space: Weather Watchers Unite!

April 10, 2025

Students will enjoy a dynamic presentation by 5th grade students from different parts of the world who spent the past year becoming “mission experts” on NASA’s Earth-observing missions. Learn how they used technology in space to make observations about our earth’s climate and weather and how they exchanged their research findings across continents.

Recommended for grade 5

An exterior photo of the REACH campus centers on the REACH buildings with a mowed bright green lawn in the foreground and the main Kennedy Center building in the background, peeking between the two REACH buildings.

Earth to Space Festival Starry Night: A Voyage Across Space and Time

April 10-11, 2025

Seeing our species within this grand landscape—a brief but brilliant moment in the cosmic unfolding—instills a deep appreciation for all we’ve accomplished so far, as well as a renewed sense of unity and excitement as we contemplate the future. Starry Night: A Voyage Across Space and Time is a dramatic and paradigm-shifting journey across the cosmos.

Recommended for grades 7-12

Physics and mathematics expert Brian Greene raises his hand. Various equations float in the space behind his hand and body. He wears a blue jacket, blue button-down shirt, and white undershirt.

SPRING 2025 NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA’S YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERT Let’s Build an Orchestra! featuring Philharmonia Fantastique

April 22, 2025

Dynamic concerto meets animated film! Follow a magical Sprite as it embarks on a musical journey through the inner workings of an orchestra—all set to live music from members of the NSO.

Recommended for grades 3-6

A still image of an animation scene shows a character named Sprite in a multi-colored outfit with a red pointy hat against a black background. Sprite walks along the top of a blue wireframe-stylized wind instrument, moving with arms raised for balance and eyes looking down at their steps. The colors and design of Sprite’s outfit represent the instrument families of the woodwind family, brass family, orchestra family, string family, and percussion family. The title "Philharmonia Fantastique" is shown in the bottom left corner, and the words “Learning Guide Available” are shown in the bottom right corner.

CONCERTS FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES Falu

April 24-25, 2025

Grammy Award®–winning and internationally recognized artist Falu introduces children to the wonders of the world. Her “ethereal and transcendent” (Billboard) songs take families on musical journeys through South Asia and the day-to-day of a child’s wonder.

Recommended for grades K-5

In a headshot, artist Falu smiles at the camera while in front of a yellow background. She wears gold earrings with colorful details and red lipstick.

WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs (Rehearsal)

April 30, 2025

Enjoy an insider’s look at our companies as they prepare onstage for performance. The Grammy®–winning opera explores the life, death, and obsession of an innovator.

Recommended for grades 9-12

Opera singer John Moore performs the role of Steve Jobs onstage. He wears a black turtleneck shirt, blue jeans, and eyeglasses. The background shows a projection of four rows of Apple product icons.

PRESENTED BY ALEX AND OLMSTED OF BALTIMORE, MD Marooned! A Space Comedy

April 30-May 2, 2025

Help a stranded astronaut find her way home in this innovative new puppet show. Internationally acclaimed company Alex and Olmsted presents this Jim Henson Foundation grant-awarded production with music from the Voyager Golden Record.

Recommended for grades 2-12

An image of a performer in an astronaut costume floating in dark space with a small puppet floating between their arms.

NSO COFFEE CONCERTS Noseda conducts Shostakovich’s Fourth | Lisa Batiashvili plays Schnittke

May 2, 2025

With Noseda at the helm, Lisa Batiashvili’s performances of Schnittke’s postmodern, genre-defying Violin Concerto No. 1 are “full of fire, imbued with the spirit of discovery…” evoking “the sense that anything could happen.” Now, D.C. audiences have a chance to experience the “fantasy and fury… a performance to cherish” (Classical Explorer). To close, Shostakovich’s revolutionary Symphony No. 4 unleashes a wild, riveting, glorious assault on the senses.

Recommended for grades 6-12

A split screen image shows conductor Gianandrea Noseda on the left and violinist Lisa Batiashvili on the right. Noseda wears a black dress shirt against a dark background. He rests his head on top of his loosely clasped hands while looking off to the right. Batiashvili wears a black top and poses with one hand pressed against a gray wall and the other hand holding a violin.

The Paper Escaper

May 8, 2025

What happens when a book character won’t stay in their place? Come find out in this fun and exciting nonverbal puppet show by Terrapin Puppet Theatre from Tasmania. With striking visuals, brilliant puppetry, dynamic music, and playful sound effects, Terrapin weaves a heartwarming tale of determination, friendship, and the courage to follow your own path.

Recommended for grades K-3

A white monochrome puppet that looks like an older man with messy hair wears a jacket, vest, dress shirt, bow tie, and reading glasses. The puppet raises both of his arms up with bent elbows. In front of the puppet is a 3D-designed field of multicolored plants and flowers with a yellow caterpillar inching up a small hill. The production company’s name, Terrapin, is in stylized red letters in the upper left corner. The program’s logo, “The Paper Escaper by Gita Bezard,” is in white lettering next to the puppet; a small paper doll-like figure with orange hair and a yellow shirt peeks out from the word “Paper.”

Minty Fresh Circus

May 8, 2025

With an Afro-futuristic vibe and a steam-punk look, Minty Fresh Circus celebrates the power of Black music and movement. Witness a range of spectacular circus and dance skills sourced from the African Diaspora, including vernacular dance, Lindy, hip hop, and more.

Recommended for all ages

An image of the Minty Fresh Circus logo on a patterned background with Afro Futuristic colors.

WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA Porgy and Bess (Rehearsal)

May 21, 2025

Enjoy an insider’s look at our companies as they prepare onstage for performance. Gershwin’s “Great American Opera” marries jazz, blues, and gospel.

Recommended for grades 10-12

Several chorus performers of a “Porgy and Bess” production dance in pairs onstage during a picnic scene. They wear light-colored celebration outfits, such as long dresses, pants and buttoned-down shirts, and straw hats.

Digital Resources Library

Interested in other teaching and learning materials?

Check out the Kennedy Center’s extensive Digital Resources Library for art-related classroom lessons, media, and activities.

Also at the Kennedy Center Moonshot Studio

Check Ahead for Availability

The Moonshot Studio at the REACH offers activities for people of all ages to explore their artistry, share their creative voice, and learn something new.

Also at the Kennedy Center Art & Ideals: President John F. Kennedy

Open Daily, Free Admission

An immersive new permanent exhibit on President John F. Kennedy, his connection to the arts, and the national cultural center that would bear his name. 

Portrait of John F. Kennedy (1967) by Jamie Wyeth

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Kennedy Center Education In Your Community

We bring the performing arts to you—traveling to communities, schools and pop-up stages of all kinds, even the outfield! The name of the game is accessibility—meeting learners where they are in meaningful ways.

Arts Across America

Arts Across America aims to celebrate, connect, and energize communities and, over time, weave a national story about the power of the arts in communities across our country.

Opera in the Outfield

Celebrate another season of free opera broadcasts by joining Washington National Opera at Nationals Park for Puccini’s Turandot on Saturday, August 24 at 6:30 p.m. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. for pre-opera activities!

NSO In-School Ensembles

Through the NSO In-School Ensemble program, musicians from the National Symphony Orchestra, Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, area youth ensembles and others—provide interactive performances and coaching for students K-12 at schools in the metro Washington, D.C. area.

Instrument Playspaces

Hands-on fun with instruments! Children (and their parents) have the chance to get up close and personal with the orchestral instruments they will see professionally played on stage.

NSO In Your Neighborhood

The National Symphony Orchestra aims to reach a wide audience through its classical subscription series, pops concerts, and one of the country's most extensive educational programs.

Kennedy Center Education

 

The Vice President of Education is generously endowed by the

A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation.

Generous support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Gifts and grants to educational programs at the Kennedy Center are provided by The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation; Bank of America; Capital One; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Carnegie Corporation of New York; The Ednah Root Foundation; Harman Family Foundation; William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust; the Kimsey Endowment; The Kiplinger Foundation; Laird Norton Family Foundation; Lois and Richard England Family Foundation; Dr. Gary Mather and Ms. Christina Co Mather; The Markow Totevy Foundation; Dr. Gerald and Paula McNichols Foundation; The Morningstar Foundation; Myra and Leura Younker Endowment Fund; The Irene Pollin Audience Development and Community Engagement Initiatives;

Prince Charitable Trusts; Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr. Jan A. J. Stolwijk; Rosemary Kennedy Education Fund; The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates; The Victory Foundation; The Volgenau Foundation; Volkswagen Group of America; Jackie Washington; GRoW @ Annenberg and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Family; Wells Fargo; and generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas. Additional support is provided by the National Committee for the Performing Arts..

The content of these programs may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal government.

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