Love Letters to TKC

July 4, 2026

Dear KC,

Gosh it’s been a long time. Rich and I have been wanting to write for a while now, but as you might imagine, we’ve been busy. However, we heard that you have been experiencing some challenges lately and wanted to let you know you are in our thoughts.

Hearing about your recent troubles has resulted in our reminiscing about how the three of us met and how our relationship grew to be as strong as it is now. Goodness, it was so long ago. I was an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Maryland. Rich had recently marked his first year in the Navy, stationed in Norfolk, VA and you had just moved into the DC neighborhood when you invited us to your new home. At that time Rich and I had been dating for about a year.

We first learned about you when you opened your home to the community in September, 1971. Rich and I have squabbled about when we all met. He and I agree that we laid eyes on you in late October. You had enticed us and others into your opera house where we were entertained by a revival of Candide. However, Rich thinks we met you again that autumn to witness your phenomenal “Theatrical Pageant” created by Leonard Bernstein at the request of your namesake’s widow.  Actually, AI says it was in 1972 when you dazzled us with what became one of our favorite theatrical experiences. To be honest, time at this stage of our lives becomes less and less important. Fall 1971 or summer 1972, is irrelevant. It is our memories of an early budding relationship with you filled with awe, magic, and happiness is what we cherish.

From the moment you opened your doors to us, we were charmed by you. I have always thought you elegant yet sleek in appearance. You had me that first evening in the grand foyer with your vast red carpet, 60-foot-high mirrors reflecting the outside patio and river from the matching windows on the opposite wall.  Your slender floor to ceiling columns, that I only recently learned were designed to bring to mind the strings of musical instruments, both sturdy and graceful. But it was your opera house with what I thought were giant lacy snowflake chandeliers suspended from above that took my breath away that night.  Neither Rich nor I had ever experienced such a magical space.  

It wasn’t just your structure itself that brought us back through the years. It was also your guests. You introduced us to many people we came to admire. From the beginning we became acquainted with Ben Vereen and John Rubenstein (Artur’s son) from Pippin, Alan Titus, the Alvin Ailey Dancers including Judith Jameson in the Mass, Sirs John Gielgud and Ralph Richards as they waited for Godot and so many more.  

I think it was when you allowed us to join those looking out at the audience in the Concert Hall, rather than being in the audience that enhanced our affection for you.  Remember when Rich and I sang with the University of Maryland chorus with Antal Doráti conducting the National Symphony Orchestra in Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana?  What an exhilarating concert. Rich has fond memories of singing a Bach concert, and I truly enjoyed singing PDQ Bach’s The Seasonings” as a member of the University of Maryland’s Madrigal ensemble, with Professor Peter Schickele conducting. We were even part of the official Bicentennial recording in 1976. Such good memories.

You, Rich and I were so close then. Your home felt like our home. So, you can imagine how thrilled we were, forty years later, when one of our sons became a “Fellow” in your education department: the first fight choreographer. He worked on several of the Washington National Opera productions as a choreographer and non-singing performer. 

I hope you don’t mind our walking down memory lane. Honestly, we just wanted to let you know that we are thinking about you.  We have loved you since we first met, some 55 years now.  Remember, we are only two of a vast number of people who love you.  Whatever challenges you are currently experiencing, we have no doubt that you will come out of it healthy and strong.  

Anyone with any sense knows that the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts is a name to be honored. Of course, those of us who feel like family just call you (the) Kennedy Center.  

Hope we can meet again soon. Be well, KC.

Love,

Gail and Rich

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September 22, 2026

Dear KC,

OMG, when we last wrote in July, we knew you were having challenges, but never expected this. The idea of your beautiful home being infested with vermin is horrible. We heard that a group of rats and weasels had taken over and now spend much of their time, ruining your precious home.

So many of us who love you, are despairing that those in charge of your welfare are

failing miserably at their job. We understand that at this moment, a particularly powerful weasel family along with a colony of rats have been unleashing ever destructive mischief. How can this be? The idea of your beautiful, welcoming, cherished home with its dazzling “houses” being violated in such an unsavory manner is beyond the pale.

We’ve done a little research regarding how to rid yourself of this disgusting invasion. What do you think of moving the rodents out to other locations that fit their natural habitat? Perhaps herding them down the Potomac to a distant marshland. AI claims that rats are widespread and active in Florida. Perhaps the encroachers could be relocated to the Sunshine state.

As for the weasels, the internet describes them as sneaky, cunning and treacherous. We are actually confused as to how these two vermin families are sharing the same space. If given the chance, the weasels known as “strict” carnivores, will eat, among other things, rats. Gosh, maybe they could join in on the deportation to Florida.

We were heartened to hear that friends in your neighborhood had come to stand-up and speak out on your behalf. Very courageous, but it seems that much more is

needed to keep you safe and healthy. How can we help? What do you need? I only

wish that we could be there to help prevent any further destruction. It is unfathomable, how a small but ornery group of undesirables can be so hurtful toward you.

As we have said before KC, we love you. You and your namesake will never be

usurped by rats, weasels or any other vermin. Hold tight. Help will come.

Your faithful friends,

Gail and Rich