A spokesperson for the Center confirmed that the Kennedy Center "has decided not to participate in this production," which was scheduled to play the D.C. theatre in December 2004. A replacement show for the Kennedy Center's schedule is expected shortly.

The City Center Encores! series is currently presenting a version of Bye Bye Birdie through May 10. Bye Bye Birdie debuted on Broadway April 14, 1960, at the Martin Beck Theatre, running 607 performances on The Great White Way before closing Oct. 7, 1961. Gower Champion directed and choreographed the production starring Chita Rivera and Dick Van Dyke. The show won the 1961 Tony Award for Best Musical as well as Featured Actor (Van Dyke), Producer (Edward Padula), Director, Choreographer and Author. Best Score had not yet been introduced in the Tonys, but Strouse and Adams received Tonys by association for the Best Musical win.

The upcoming season at the Washington, DC, institution begins with James Earl Jones and Diahann Carroll in a staged reading of Ernest Thompson's On Golden Pond at the Eisenhower Theatre in fall 2004. Jones will play Norman Thayer, a retired professor, and Carroll is his wife Ethel in the well-known story of marriage, family and aging. The engagement marks a rare stage performance for Jones, who, since winning a Tony for Fences in the '80s, has devoted much of his energy to film, television and Verizon commercials. Carroll won her Tony for the musical for No Strings.

Also on the agenda are a concert production of Regina starring Patti LuPone in February 2005 ; a new production of the military comedy Mister Roberts in March 2005 ( also part of "A New America: The 1940s and the Arts"), directed by Robert Longbottom; and a visit from the Broadway smash Hairspray in July 2005.

For more information about the Kennedy Center, visit www.kennedy center.org.