THE WASHINGTON POST.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2019EZ14
From the Cover
BY FRITZ HAHN
M
ore than six years and
$250 million after the
Kennedy Center an-
nounced its ambitious
expansion plans, the sprawling
complex dubbed the Reach opens
to the public this weekend. Its intro-
duction to Washington is a free,
16-day festival of the arts, with a
packed schedule of hundreds of
events reflecting the Reach’s wide-
ranging cultural mission.
This Saturday alone, there are
around 40 items on the agenda:
master classes teaching Beyoncé’s
stage choreography, workshops
about making art with recycled ma-
terials, screenings of short films,
open rehearsals and performances
by the National Symphony Orches-
tra, the Kronos Quartet and the
Chuck Brown Band.
Over the next two weeks, there’s
probably something you’ll want to
see at the Reach. Here’s a guide to
experiencing Washington’s new-
est cultural hub.Remind me — what’s the Reach?
The sprawling complex, located
just to the south of the performing
arts center, provides additional re-
hearsal spaces for musicians and
dancers, as well as facilities for which
the Kennedy Center doesn’t have
room, such as hands-on classrooms
for visiting students. It’s designed to
offer behind-the-scenes access to the
public, who can watch rehearsals
from a balcony overlooking a dance
studio, for example. The studios and
rehearsal rooms can also be used as
intimate performance venues for
smaller productions.
In addition to 10 indoor spaces,
there’s a public plaza, slated for out-
door concerts and movie screen-
ings, a cafe and coffee bar, and a
pedestrian bridge over Rock Creek
Parkway that allows access to the
Kennedy Center from the Rock
Creek Trail along the Potomac River.So, how do I get into the festival?
Free, timed-entry tickets are re-
quired to enter the facility during the
opening festival. Three time slots are
available each day: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.,
1:30 to 5 p.m. and 5:30 to 10 p.m. (A
special 6 a.m. Daybreaker session on
Thursday offers sunrise yoga and a 7
a.m. dance party, but the last tickets
were snapped up earlier this week.)Tickets were released to the pub-
lic Aug. 7, and passes for the sessions
with the biggest draws — a block
party with hip-hop legends De La
Soul on Sept. 14, a National Dance
Day celebration hosted by choreog-
rapher Debbie Allen on Sept. 21,
comedy showcases with Patton Os-
walt and Rachel Dratch on Sept. 20
— “sold out” weeks ago. In fact, there
are no tickets left at all for this week-
end, or any Saturdays or Sundays
during the duration of the festival.But I really, really want to see an
artist that’s “Sold Out.” What are
the chances I can still get in?
Festival organizers know that
not everyone who wanted to hear
De La Soul or bring the kids to the
singalong “Muppet Movie” (Sept.
15) got tickets, and they’re aware
that not everyone who claimed
passes will actually show up.
That’s why ticketless visitors will
be sent to the Kennedy Center’s
Hall of Nations, where entrance to
the festival will be allowed on a
first-come, first-served basis.
“We expect and want to accom-
modate those who will be in the
standby line, and those who may
not have been part of the initial
rush” of tickets, says Michelle A.
Pendoley, the Kennedy Center’s
director of public relations.
“While we’re confident that some
in the standby line will be granted
entry for most time slots, it’s not
possible to predict how many will
get in for any given slot.”
If you’ve got your heart set on
seeing a certain performer, try to
arrive as early as possible and be
patient. The indoor, air-condi-
tioned waiting area should make
for a more pleasant experience.I got a pass for the time slot when
my favorite artist is performing.
How can I make sure I see them?
It’s important to note that your
ticket only guarantees that you can
enter the grounds of the Reach at
the time you reserved. There are
three entrances: two at the Kennedy
Center, and one via the bridge from
the Potomac. Organizers suggest
you arrive up to 30 minutes before
your ticketed time, to help get
through lines and security. You’ll be
free to roam around at your leisure,
taking in the new buildings — don’tThe Reach is
ready to open
its arms to D.C.
Kennedy Center expansion debuts with arts festival
A covered pathway connects the Kennedy Center’s main building to the new multiuse complex, the Reach — wh