NewsPHOTO CALL: Sutton Foster, Kelli O'Hara, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald and More at the Kennedy Center HonorsThe John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts honored Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Yo-Yo Ma, Sonny Rollins and Meryl Streep at the 2011 Kennedy Center Honors Dec. 4.
By
Joseph Marzullo
December 21, 2011
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Sutton Foster, Kelli O'Hara, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald and More at the Kennedy Center Honors
Sutton Foster, Kelli O'Hara, Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald and More at the Kennedy Center Honors
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts honored Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Yo-Yo Ma, Sonny Rollins and Meryl Streep at the 2011 Kennedy Center Honors Dec. 4. Read the Playbill.com story.
32 PHOTOS
Clockwise: Yo-Yo Ma, Meryl Streep, Neil Diamond, Barbara Cook and Sonny Rollins
Sarah Jessica Parker, Laura Osnes, Kelli O'Hara, Glenn Close, Audra McDonald, Patti LuPone, Sutton Foster, Rebecca Luker, Anna Christy and Matthew Broderick
“This year, the Kennedy Center celebrates its 40th anniversary by selecting five extraordinary individuals whose collective artistry has contributed significantly to the cultural life of our nation and the world,” said Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein in a statement. “With her sublime voice and rich performances, Barbara Cook has defined all that is best and brightest in the Great American Songbook. Neil Diamond’s songwriting genius has created one of the most enduring catalogs of American popular music and his live performances have captivated audiences for five decades. Yo-Yo Ma’s sterling musicianship makes him one of the most versatile and popular classical music performers in the world and his Silk Road Project has inspired students across the world to love and honor music. Saxophonist Sonny Rollins’ masterful improvisation and powerful presence have infused the truly American art form of jazz with passion and energy. The sheer brilliance and breadth of Meryl Streep’s performances count as one of the most exhilarating cultural spectacles of our time.”
On Dec. 4, in a star-studded celebration on the Kennedy Center Opera House stage, the 2011 Honorees were saluted by great performers from New York, Hollywood, and the arts capitals of the world. Seated with the President of the United States and Mrs. Obama, the Honorees accepted the thanks of their peers and fans through performances and heartfelt tributes.
The Kennedy Center Honors medallions were presented Dec. 3, the night before the gala, at a State Department dinner hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Honors Gala was recorded for broadcast on the CBS Network for the 34th consecutive year as a two-hour primetime special on Dec. 27 at 9 PM ET.
For more information, visit www.kennedy-center.org.
The queer-themed short plays will be made available for free to non-profit theatres, schools, and community organizations to support fundraising for LGBTQIA+ groups.
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