From May 9-23, 2005, the Washington, D.C. theatre will present A Century of American Musical Theater, a lecture-demonstration series featuring a host of special guests. The series kicks off Monday, May 9 with "Part 1: The Roots of the American Musical (1905-1943)." The 6-7:30 PM evening will focus on the transition from operetta to the Broadway musical with a spotlight on the groundbreaking Kern-Hammerstein musical Show Boat. The May 16 lecture is entitled "The Golden Age (1943-1969)" and will focus on such musicals as Oklahoma!; Kiss Me, Kate; Guys and Dolls; and Hello, Dolly!. Jerry Herman will be the evening's special guest. Herman, of course, is the composer of Dolly, Mame, Mack & Mabel, The Grand Tour and La Cage aux Folles.

The final lecture on May 23 will boast special guest Stephen Schwartz, currently represented on Broadway with the hit musical Wicked. The last entry in the series is titled "The Contemporaries (1970-present)" and will spotlight such musicals as Company, Cats and Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Tickets to the series are available by calling (202) 416-8500. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is located at 2700 F. Street, NW in Washington, D.C. For more information visit www.kennedy-center.org.