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Tag: kennedy center awards

  • Tom Hanks, Sting and Lily Tomlin to Receive Kennedy Center Honors

    Actor-director Tom Hanks, British singer Sting, comedian Lily Tomlin, R&B singer Al Green and ballerina Patricia McBride are the five recipients of this year’s Kennedy Center Honors, the center announced Thursday.

    “The Kennedy Center celebrates five extraordinary individuals who have spent their lives elevating the cultural vibrancy of our nation and the world,” said Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein.

    “Al Green’s iconic voice stirs our souls in a style that is all his own; Tom Hanks has a versatility that ranks him among the greatest actors of any generation; one of the world’s greatest ballerinas, Patricia McBride continues to carry forward her legacy for future generations; Sting’s unique voice and memorable songwriting have entertained audiences for decades; and from the days of her early television and theatrical appearances, Lily Tomlin has made us laugh and continues to amaze us with her acting talent and quick wit,” said Rubenstein.

    The honorees of this year’s gala will be seated with President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, and will “accept the thanks of their peers through performances and tributes.”

    The awards gala, the 37th annual national celebration of the arts, is scheduled to be held Dec. 7 and recorded for broadcast on CBS on Dec. 30.

    According to the Kennedy Center website, the five honorees will be received at the White House prior to the performance and will enjoy a supper dance in the Grand Foyer following the gala evening.

    Last year, the Kennedy Center honored Shirley MacLaine, Carlos Santana, Martina Arroyo, Herbie Hancock and Billy Joel.

  • Jay Leno to Receive Prestigious Comedy Award

    The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts this week announced that Jay Leno will be awarded this year’s Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. A ceremony to award Leno the prize will be held on October 19 at Kennedy Center Concert Hall in Washington D.C.

    The Mark Twain Prize is an annual award given to comedians who have impacted American society in a similar way to 19th century satirist Mark Twain. Twain is best known for novels such as Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. Twain’s novels provided both an accurate portrait and a scathing, humorous critique of post-Civil War America.

    “What an honor! I’m a big fan of Mark Twain’s,” said Leno. “In fact, A Tale of Two Cities is one of my favorite books!”

    Leno is best known as the host of the The Tonight Show, having taken over the show’s hosting duties from Johnny Carson in 1992.

    Leno will be the 17th comedian to be awarded the Mark Twain Prize. Past recipients of the award include comedy legends such as Carol Burnett, Bill Cosby, George Carlin, Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin, Bob Newhart, and the recently deceased Jonathan Winters. Contemporary comedians such as Ellen DeGeneres, Will Ferrell, and Tina Fey have also been awarded the prize. The first recipient of the Mark Twain Prize in 1998 was Richard Pryor.

    Mark Twain Prize ceremonies typically feature other famous comedians who gather to praise the recipient’s work and life. The ceremony also serves as a fundraiser for the Kennedy Center. “Sponsorship” packages for this year’s event are available from anywhere between $1,000 to $50,000 and include perks such as admission to a rehearsal brunch, a pre-ceremony dinner, and a post-ceremony reception with Leno and other comedians.

    Tickets for this year’s ceremony will be available for Kennedy Center Members starting July 28 and for the general public starting August 6. The ceremony will also be taped for a PBS broadcast on November 23.

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  • Shirley MacLaine, Billy Joel Party With Obama

    Shirley MacLaine and Billy Joel were among a select group of artists celebrated by President Obama at the Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday night, and MacLaine, for one, said the award couldn’t come soon enough.

    “It’s about time,” she said.

    The prestigious award is given to the country’s best actors and musicians, and President Obama was on hand to toast this year’s group, which also included singer Santana, opera star Martina Arroyo, and musician Herbie Hancock.

    “The diverse group of extraordinary individuals we honour today haven’t just proven themselves to be the best of the best,” Obama said. “Despite all their success, all their fame, they’ve remained true to themselves – and inspired the rest of us to do the same.”

    Musicians Snoop Dogg and Garth Brooks took the stage to pay tribute to Herbie Hancock and Billy Joel, and the show ended with a version of “Piano Man” which had the audience singing along. As for MacLaine, she was the only actor to be celebrated this year and said the award was so special because it paid tribute to her entire career, rather than just one film or show.

    “I thought it was terrific. I thought it was about time. I thought it was a tribute what I’ve done, but also it’s a welcome home. It’s more about my life and my past and my background and my home and my parents and dancing and work ethic,” she said. “This is squaring the circle of living here.”