Washington National Opera moves spring performances to George Washington University

The Washington National Opera will stage two operas this spring at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium after parting ways with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts this month. The company got its start at George Washington University nearly 70 years ago.

The 70th season will continue on March 7 at Lisner with the world premiere of a new version of Scott Joplin’s "Treemonisha," and performances of Robert Ward’s "The Crucible" will begin at Lisner on March 21. The venue and dates for Leonard Bernstein’s "West Side Story," conducted by Marin Alsop, have yet to be announced.

The opera said its annual gala location has not been announced and will be hosted by "Wicked" composer Stephen Schwartz, who had recently said he would not set foot inside the Kennedy Center. Performances associated with the American Opera Initiative have been postponed. "For this moment, returning to Lisner Auditorium is both a homecoming and renewal," Timothy O’Leary, the opera’s general director, said in a statement.

The opera said it received an influx of donations from more than 500 donors after announcing it would seek a new home amid clashes with the Trump administration and its allies, who have sought to rename the Kennedy Center in honor of President Trump. Roma Daravi, a spokeswoman for the Kennedy Center, attributed the breakup to financial struggles, saying, "After careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to part ways with the W.N.O.

Key Topics

Culture, Washington National Opera, George Washington University, Lisner Auditorium, Kennedy Center, Treemonisha