Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

130 Free Events to Celebrate Opening of The Kimmel Center
The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts Opens in 20 Days
November 26, 2001


Jon A. Boscia, Chairman and CEO of Lincoln Financial Group is joined on stage by performers scheduled to appear during The Kimmel Center's Opening Celebration, including members of the Philadelphia Chinese Opera Society
In just 20 days, The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts will open its doors. The spectacular building with its 150-foot glass vault ceiling will be open to the public every day. Great artists from around the world will take the stage every night. And now there's another reason to visit Philadelphia's newest landmark: More than 130 free events and performances.

Leaders of the Regional Performing Arts Center (RPAC) today unveiled the schedule of events for The Kimmel Center's two-week Opening Celebration. The Celebration features free lunchtime concerts, happy hour entertainment, post-concert jam sessions, dancing, cabaret, workshops, storytelling, holiday caroling, art exhibits and building tours, all designed to entice the public to come in and take a look. The variety of events and times - day and night, weekdays and weekends - virtually guarantees that everyone can take part in The Kimmel Center's Opening.

"This is what The Kimmel Center is all about," said RPAC President Leslie Anne Miller. "We want the performing arts to be accessible to everyone. We want everyone to feel welcome here. This magnificent building will be home to some of the greatest performers in the world, yes, but it will also be a home for this community."

The Opening Celebration is being underwritten by Lincoln Financial Group, a financial services company headquartered in Philadelphia. Donations from the company have supported both the capital campaign to build The Kimmel Center and programming for the inaugural season.

"We are very proud to be sponsoring the Opening Celebration, Children's Program, and the Jazz Festival at The Kimmel Center in 2002. Lincoln has a long history of supporting the communities in which we have operations and Philadelphia is now the home of our Corporate Center. This partnership is another step in Lincoln's engagement in Greater Philadelphia and represents our support for the important role that the arts play in our community," said Jon A. Boscia, Chairman and CEO of Lincoln Financial Group.

"We can't thank Lincoln Financial Group enough," said RPAC Chairman Willard Rouse III. "It is through the generosity of our donors that the Regional Performing Arts Center will be able to reach out to all residents of this city and the region, while also serving the traditional arts community."

The Kimmel Center's Opening Celebration begins with a ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. on Sunday, December 16th and continues through December 31st. RPAC officials announced the lineup surrounded by many of the artists who will perform during those two weeks, including the Philadelphia Chinese Opera Society, Kulu Mele African American Dance Ensemble, dancers from Pennsylvania Ballet's The Nutcracker, Hoh Daiko Japanese Drumming Ensemble, and students from the Girard Academic Music Program. Throughout the two weeks, RPAC's resident companies will hold workshops for children. On December 20th a special event for the Philadelphia School District will bring nearly 2,500 students to an interactive concert with jazz musician Branford Marsalis.

The Regional Performing Arts Center's commitment to free community programming will continue well beyond the Opening Celebration. Plans are already in the works for a full schedule of lunchtime, happy hour, and post-concert events throughout The Kimmel Center's inaugural season.

Beginning December 16th The Kimmel Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day and for extended hours on evenings with performances. Visitors can dine at the Cadence Restaurant or grab a bite for lunch at the PECO Café, shop at The Kimmel Center gift shop Intermission, or simply enjoy the view from the Rooftop Garden.

In addition to the free events, there are also ticketed performances almost every day of the Opening Celebration. Tony-winner Audra McDonald brings Broadway to Verizon Hall. Latin artist Jimmy Bosch will heat up Perelman Theater with his salsa dura. Get into the holiday spirit with Canadian Brass or The Vienna Choir Boys. See the stage frozen when the St. Petersburg State Ballet presents Sleeping Beauty on Ice. Tickets for these and all other performances at The Kimmel Center and the Academy of Music are on sale now. For information call Ticket Philadelphia at 215-893-1999.

The Regional Performing Arts Center
The Regional Performing Arts Center (RPAC) was founded in Philadelphia in 1996 to build and operate state-of-the-art performing arts facilities for local arts groups and to present special events and concerts featuring performers from around the world.

On December 16, 2001, RPAC will open The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts at Broad and Spruce Streets on Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts. RPAC also operates the historic Academy of Music. These two venues combined make the Regional Performing Arts Center one of the nation's largest performing arts complexes. The Kimmel Center and the Academy of Music will be home to eight of Philadelphia's premier performing arts groups: The Philadelphia Orchestra, Pennsylvania Ballet, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, American Theater Arts for Youth, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, PHILADANCO, and The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society.

> index of news releases
> For more information, and to request high resolution images for press use, please send us a message online.