The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has announced that it will celebrate its 40th birthday on Monday with a Free Ticket Giveaway, which will do two things: provide two free tickets for every show presented or produced at the Kennedy Center in the 2011-2012 season; and herald in MyTix, a program created to increase access to performances for people ages 18 to 30, members of the armed forces, and the underserved. “The giveaway will include everything we’re doing this year,” said David Kitto, the Kennedy Center’s vice president of marketing and sales. “That means ‘Les Miserables,’ ‘Billy Elliot,’ the Washington National Opera, the Kennedy Center Honors, National Symphony Orchestra concerts, ballet, chamber music, everything. It’s all being underwritten by our chairman, David Rubenstein, and his wife, Alice.”
To be eligible for free tickets, you may enter online (see web address below), complete an entry form in person at the Kennedy Center box office, or call Instant-Charge at 202-467-4600. You will be asked to indicate a genre preference (theater, ballet, dance, jazz, NSO, NSO Pops, opera or family).
All who enter will also be eligible to win a Grand Prize: tickets to the Kennedy Center Honors, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and the NSO Season Opening Ball. Once the registration period closes, winners will be randomly selected and notified by email no later than Thursday.
MyTix is a different initiative, designed to increase access to expanded audiences. “This program has a subtitle called ‘Connect With the Arts,’ ” Kitto said. “We’re focusing on people 18 to 30 years old, active military, and underserved communities through social service organizations.
“We’ve created a website that will be introduced on Monday, and every week throughout the season we’ll be posting free giveaways and discounted offers. Almost every event will have free tickets. In addition, the discounted offers will be available for as long as tickets are available, on a first-come, first-served basis. Every two weeks we’ll be distributing a newsletter that talks about the program, highlights events, and talks about MyTix matters.”
As a benefit of being a member of MyTix, discounts on food and drink and at the Kennedy Center Gift Shop are also available. After registering at kennedy-center.org/mytix, you may build an online profile, indicate genre preferences and sign up for ticket alerts.
“We’re really trying to create community and find opportunities for these segments of the population to engage at the Kennedy Center and participate in the arts as audience members,” Kitto said. “We hope these programs evolve into something really special.”
