Michael M. Kaiser News

David M. Rubenstein, Chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, today announced the selection of Deborah F. Rutter as the next Kennedy Center president. Ms. Rutter currently serves as the President of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association and will assume her Kennedy Center duties on September 1, 2014. She will serve as the Kennedy Center's third president, following Michael M. Kaiser who will step down from the position on August 31, 2014.

Leading Arts Administrator Michael M. Kaiser to Join UMD as Professor of the Practice COLLEGE PARK, Md., Nov. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ The DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the Kennedy Center, a premier organization for training and supporting arts leadership, is moving to the University of Maryland. Michael M. Kaiser, a foremost expert in arts management, together with the current director Brett Egan, will lead the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the University of Maryland when the change becomes effective September 1, 2014.

Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's beloved musical GIGI will play a pre-Broadway engagement in the Eisenhower Theater atThe John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (David M. Rubenstein, chairman, Michael M. Kaiser, president) in Washington, D.C. in January 2015.

The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) today announced the participants of the second cycle of the BAM Professional Development Program (BAM PDP), led by BAM and the DeVos Institute of Arts Management at the Kennedy Center. The companies for this session are of mixed disciplines ranging from opera to theater to dance. Chosen by the BAM panel, the organizations taking part in this session are American Opera Projects, The Civilians, Kate Weare Company, Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance, and WHITE WAVE DANCE. As with the inaugural session, the DeVos Institute extended invitations to a group of organizations to apply for the training portion of the BAM PDP-expanding the program's reach beyond Brooklyn-based companies. These additional organizations taking part in the program are Clubbed Thumb, Girl Be Heard, National Black Theatre, Ripe Time, and VisionIntoArt.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg will become the first Supreme Court justice to officiate a same-sex wedding today, August 31, when she weds Kennedy Center President Michael M. Kaiser and economist John Roberts at the arts center in Washington, D.C.

As reported by the Washington Post on Thursday, The Kennedy Center has announced revisions to its selection process for the Kennedy Center Honors, after last year's criticisms from Hispanic advocacy groups that Latinos had long been excluded. These changes come after a seven-month review, during which a committee heard from many leaders of the Hispanic community.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced it will produce the world premiere original musical production of Little Dancer featuring book and lyrics by Tony Award winner Lynn Ahrens, music by Tony Award winner Stephen Flaherty, and direction and choreography by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman. The musical will begin performances in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater in October 2014. Casting and additional details about Little Dancer will be announced at a later date.

The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) will honor director and choreographer Debbie Allen, violinist Joshua Bell and actor and alumnus Adrian Grenier at An Affair of the Arts Performance and Gala tonight, January 12, 2013, held in Downtown Miami at the Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts and the Historic Alfred I. DuPont Building. The evening will bring together prominent artists, community leaders, philanthropists and celebrities to applaud the participants in the 2013 edition of YoungArts' signature program, YoungArts Week, which provides 150 of the nation's most outstanding young talents in the visual, literary and performing arts with life-changing experiences, including master classes, workshops, inter-disciplinary activities, performances and exhibitions.

Bluesman Buddy Guy, actor Dustin Hoffman, comedian and television host David Letterman, ballerina Natalia Makarova and rock band Led Zeppelin will receive honors for 2012 on THE 35TH ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, to be broadcast tonight, Dec. 26 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. The special has been broadcast on CBS each year since its debut.

The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) will honor director and choreographer Debbie Allen, violinist Joshua Bell and actor and alumnus Adrian Grenier at An Affair of the Arts Performance and Gala on Saturday, January 12, 2013, held in Downtown Miami at the Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts and the Historic Alfred I. DuPont Building. The evening will bring together prominent artists, community leaders, philanthropists and celebrities to applaud the participants in the 2013 edition of YoungArts' signature program, YoungArts Week, which provides 150 of the nation's most outstanding young talents in the visual, literary and performing arts with life-changing experiences, including master classes, workshops, inter-disciplinary activities, performances and exhibitions.

Washington National Opera (WNO) today named Francesca Zambello as its Artistic Director, effective January 1, 2013. She has served as the company's Artistic Advisor since June 2011.

Bluesman Buddy Guy, actor Dustin Hoffman, comedian and television host David Letterman, ballerina Natalia Makarova and rock band Led Zeppelin will receive honors for 2012 on THE 35TH ANNUAL KENNEDY CENTER HONORS, to be broadcast Wednesday, Dec. 26 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Washington National Opera (WNO) today announced Christina Scheppelmann, WNO's Director of Artistic Operations, will step down effective November 30, 2012.

James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim's Follies, which was just nominated for eight Tony Awards, opened last night, May 9 at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Performances of the exclusive Los Angeles engagement of the Kennedy Center's critically acclaimed Broadway production of Follies will continue through June 9, 2012. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the opening night festivities below!

Avi Scher & Dancers presents its third New York Season, unveiling three World Premieres, from April 7-9, 2012 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 W. 55th Street, NYC (at Ninth Avenue). Performances: Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm, Monday at 8pm. Tickets are $29 ($16 for students) and are available at www.smarttix.com or by phone at 212-868-4444.

Avi Scher & Dancers presents its third New York Season, unveiling three World Premieres, from April 7-9, 2012 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 W. 55th Street, NYC (at Ninth Avenue). Performances: Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm, Monday at 8pm. Tickets are $29 ($16 for students) and are available at www.smarttix.com or by phone at 212-868-4444.

Avi Scher & Dancers presents its third New York Season, unveiling three World Premieres, from April 7-9, 2012 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 W. 55th Street, NYC (at Ninth Avenue). Performances: Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm, Monday at 8pm. Tickets are $29 ($16 for students) and are available starting March 7, 2012 at www.smarttix.com or by phone at 212-868-4444.

Avi Scher & Dancers presents its third New York Season, unveiling three World Premieres, from April 7-9, 2012 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 W. 55th Street, NYC (at Ninth Avenue). Performances: Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 3pm, Monday at 8pm. Tickets are $29 ($16 for students) and are available at www.smarttix.com or by phone at 212-868-4444.