skip navigation | text only | accessibility | site map

Map of Building
[ ]
Virtual Tour
[ ]
Concert Hall
[ ]
Eisenhower Theater
[ ]
Family Theater
[ ]
KC Jazz Club
[ ]
Opera House
[ ]
Terrace Theater
[ ]
Theater Lab
[ ]
Hall of States
[ ]
Hall of Nations
[ ]
North Grand Foyer
[ ]
South Grand Foyer
[ ]
JFK Bust
[ ]
JFK Quotes on the Arts
[ ]
River Terrace
[ ]
States Gallery
[ ]
Nations Gallery
[ ]
East Terrace (Roof)
[ ]
West Terrace (Roof)
[ ]
Golden Circles Lounge
[ ]
Israeli Lounge
[ ]
African Lounge
[ ]
African Lounge West
[ ]
KC Café
[ ]
Gift Shop (level A)
[ ]
Opera House
[Kennedy Center Virtual Tour.]
Click on the icon in the picture to go to the next stop on the tour.
Hold the mouse down and move the cursor on the picture above to see a 360 degree view.

The Opera House is the second-largest theater in the Center, with 2,300 seats. It was designed for ballet, opera, and musical theater. Over the years, the Opera House has welcomed dozens of the world's great dance and opera companies and has hosted some of the most important artistic events of the last quarter century. With its distinctive red and gold silk curtain, a gift from Japan, and the exquisite Lobmeyr crystal chandelier, a gift from Austria, the Opera House makes an elegant setting for the annual Kennedy Center Honors, the nations highest award for lifetime achievement in the arts.


View the Opera House Gifts]

Now performing in the Opera House :

No image available for <i>The Color Purple</i>

The Color Purple

Description:

Oprah Winfrey Presents
The Color Purple
The Musical about Love
Starring Fantasia
 
"Fantasia is a hit! Her performance is a must-see…it's almost too beautiful for words!"
--The Daily News
 
"A BIG HIT! A really stirring, inspiring show"
--The Chicago Tribune
 
"SOARING AND JOYFUL"
--Time Magazine
 
Adapted for the stage by Marsha Norman
from the novel by Alice Walker
and the film by Steven Spielberg
Music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray
Choreography by Donald Byrd
Costume design by Paul Tazewell
Set design by John Lee Beatty
Directed by Gary Griffin
 
American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino made her Broadway debut in The Color Purple in 2007. Now she reprises her starring role of Celie in the National Tour of the Broadway smash hit. The New York Post exclaimed, "Four cheers for Fantasia! If you haven't seen The Color Purple, see it now; if you have seen it, see it again."
 
Nominated for eleven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, The Color Purple ran on Broadway for more than two record-breaking years. From the classic Pulitzer Prize–winning novel by Alice Walker, and the moving film by Steven Spielberg, comes a soul-stirring new musical and landmark event. The Color Purple is an inspiring family saga that tells the unforgettable story of a woman named Celie who--through love--finds the strength to triumph over adversity and discover her unique voice in the world. Set to a joyous score featuring jazz, ragtime, gospel, and blues, The Color Purple is a story of hope, a testament to the healing power of love and a celebration of life. Directed by Gary Griffin, The Color Purple is adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Marsha Norman, with music and lyrics by Grammy Award winners Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray, and choreography by Donald Byrd.
Performance Time:  2 hours, 43 minutes.  Act I - 75 min.; Intermission - 18 min.; Act II - 70 min.
Please Note:  This performance is recommended for age 10 and up.

 
Casting Notice:  Please note that Fantasia will not perform on the following dates:  All Sunday matinee performances; Friday evening, Jul. 31; Saturday matinee, Aug. 1.  In these performances, the role of Celie will be played by Phyre Hawkins or Brandi Massey.

Notice: There are a limited number of $25 tickets available for this engagement. They are available for purchase in-person only at the Kennedy Center Box Office with a limit of two (2) tickets per person. Prior to coming to the Kennedy Center, please call (202) 467-4600 to check availability.