Image courtesy of Wolf Trap
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts joins the national celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States with a series of pre-performance discussions. These talks explore America’s rich cultural heritage through music and performance at America’s only National Park for the Performing Arts.
All America250 performances, and select additional shows, feature free pre-performance discussions and activations that examine the historical impact of the evening’s music.
These conversations invite audiences to engage more deeply with the stories behind America’s musical traditions from jazz and blues to contemporary American composition and more! These discussions take place on Wolf Trap’s Farmhouse Lawn before each performance, and feature historians, musicians, educators, and cultural leaders highlighting the sounds and moments that have shaped America's rich cultural tapestry.
Join Wolf Trap at pre-performance discussions at the following shows:
- Harry Connick, Jr. in Concert (July 3) with Duke Ellington School of the Arts Assistant Principal Chair of Instrumental Music Isaac Daniel and WAMU’s Jackson Sinneberg
- NSO Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert (July 9) with National Air and Space Museum Curator and Department Chair Margaret A. Weitekamp (PhD), National Museum of American History’s Entertainment Curator Ryan Lintelman, and Objects Conservator Dawn Wallace*
- The Beach Boys (July 23) with DC Public Library’s Music Librarian Karen I. B. McCool, George Washington University Professor of Music for Corcoran School of Arts & Design Dr. Lauren Onkey, and President of Northeastern Digital Dr. Toby Mountain
- Wolf Trap Opera’s Tosca (Aug 7) with Emmy Award-winning radio host Mary Jo Heath*
- NSO Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (Aug 14) with NSO Music Director Giandrea Noseda, Host James Jacobs, and The Washington Chorus’ Artistic Director Eugene Rogers
- NSO Gershwin, Bernstein & American Mosaic (Aug 15) with WETA Host John Banther, American Mosaic’s composer Peter Boyer and American Mosaic’s photo historian Joe Sohm
- Tedeschi Trucks Band (Aug 28) with Co-Creator and Host of NPR’s Alt. Latino Felix Contreras
- Philadelphia Ballet (Sep 10) with DC Dance Network Founder Jane Raleigh, the Philadelphia Ballet’s Artistic Director Angel Corella and Rehearsal Director Charles Askegard
- NSO Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (Sep 12) with The Washington Jazz Arts Institute Co-Founder and Artistic Director Davey S. Yarborough and Tony Award-winning playwright and lyricist (Ain't Misbehavin') and Host at WAMU's The Big Broadcast Murray Horwitz
*Not part of the America250 series at Wolf Trap
All pre-performance discussion lineups and programs are subject to change. For a full list of attendees, discussion start times, and more please visit Celebrating America250.
Whether packing a family picnic, gathering with friends, or introducing children to a live performance for the first time, Wolf Trap continues to strive to make the arts available to audiences of all ages. Wolf Trap offers one of the best values for families and concert goers in the region. Guests attending performances at the Filene Center can enjoy FREE parking and the flexibility to bring their own food and beverages (including alcohol), creating an affordable night out under the stars.
Attendees are encouraged to take advantage of the Wolf Trap Shuttle, which provides roundtrip service from the McLean Metro Station (Silver Line) to the Filene Center. The shuttle operates every 20 minutes, starting two hours before showtime. For those driving, free parking is available at the Filene Center, but spaces are limited. Carpooling or arriving early is encouraged for all sold-out performances.
Patrons are encouraged to sign up for Wolf Trap’s email newsletter to receive advance notice of upcoming performances, exclusive discounts, special offers, and more! Subscribers are often the first to learn about limited-time promotions.
The 2026 Filene Center season is made possible through a public/private partnership between the nonprofit Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts and the National Park Service.
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