The Kennedy Center is set to present its first in-person show since it temporarily closed its doors six months ago due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A Time to Sing: An Evening with Renée Fleming and Vanessa Williams will be performed on Saturday, September 26 at 8 pm at the center’s Opera House.
The concert is “a very personal collection of songs to be performed by two of America’s most celebrated vocalists” and will aim to use the healing power of the performing arts by exploring emotions of our time such as isolation and harmony, fragility and resilience, oppression and hope, according to the center’s website.
Rob Mathes will be directing the show that features a new song written for the Kennedy Center event by Andrew Lippa, who was honored with a Tony Award nomination in 2010.
The On Stage at the Opera House series will continue with Musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra on October 2, Jazz Gallery All-Stars on October 8, The Dover Quartet and the Escher Quartet on October 20, Musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra on October 30.
The center has also taken a number of new safety measures against COVID-19, saying “The world has shifted, so we’ve shifted, too.”
All frequently touched surfaces (door handles, handrails, and armrest surfaces) are regularly cleaned, and the theaters and restrooms are sanitized.
The number of contact points are being reduced via mobile tickets, encouraging prepaid parking, and eliminating cash transactions.
All the employees at the center undergo health screening before reporting to work and wear a mask or face covering while at work.
There are also hand sanitizer stations throughout the area including all building entrances.