Wolf Trap Announces 2008 Season, Including World Premiere Dance Commission; Wolf Trap Opera Company's D.C. Premiere of Verdi's King for a Day; 10 Nights with the National Symphony Orchestra including Eric Idle's Not the Messiah!; Face of America: Hawa`i Revisited; and Debut by James Taylor

Wolf Trap Announces 2008 Season, Including World Premiere Dance Commission; Wolf Trap Opera Company's D.C. Premiere of Verdi's King for a Day; 10 Nights with the National Symphony Orchestra including Eric Idle's Not the Messiah!; Face of America: Hawa`i Revisited; and Debut by James Taylor

VIENNA, Va., March 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, direct from the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts' President and CEO Terrence Jones proudly announced Wolf Trap's 2008 summer season and discussed The 21st Century Matrix - Connectivity Through the Arts. Mr. Jones was joined by award-winning composer, National Symphony Orchestra Principal Pops Conductor and Wolf Trap Board Member, Marvin Hamlisch. Commencing at noon, the sold-out event welcomed cultural and political leaders from throughout the region and many distinguished guests including the Honorable Norman Mineta, former Secretary of Transportation and current Chairman of Wolf Trap's National Advisory Council on the Arts and Environment.

(PHOTO: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080317/DC16865)

During his speech, Mr. Jones asked the audience "to reconsider the role of the arts in addressing the challenges we face and setting the stage for this nation's continued success" and gave highlights of nearly 180 performances scheduled at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts and The Barns at Wolf Trap. He also announced WNET/Thirteen New York's Great Performances premiere of "Wolf Trap's Face of America" on PBS, April 21, 2008; Wolf Trap's 2008 National Arts and Environment Summit to be held July 13 - 14; future plans for Wolf Trap's groundbreaking multimedia artistic performance series, Face of America; and that when the season begins on May 23, 2008, patrons at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts will enjoy $4 million worth of enhancements to the facilities, currently being completed by the National Park Service. Mr. Hamlisch presented his heartfelt and insightful thoughts on the importance of the arts and education, played a few bars on the piano, and both Jones and Hamlisch took excited questions from attendees to close.

Wolf Trap's 2008 Summer Season highlights include:

-- World premiere of a Wolf Trap-commissioned work by Noche Flamenca

-- Three new opera productions by Wolf Trap Opera Company including Washington, D.C.-area debut of Verdi's King for a Day, all featuring 20 of the nation's most talented young singers

-- Face of America: Hawai`i Revisited, a replay of the sold-out 2006 world premiere

-- The return of National Symphony Orchestra @ Wolf Trap Festival Conductor, Emil de Cou

-- 10 nights with the National Symphony Orchestra, including the Washington, D.C.-area debut of Not the Messiah! starring Eric Idle -- a comic oratorio inspired by Monty Python's Life of Brian.

-- This Way to Broadway with Marvin Hamlisch and the National Symphony Orchestra

-- An Evening with Kiri Te Kanawa and the National Symphony Orchestra
-- 2008 Album of the Year Grammy Award winner, Herbie Hancock***

-- Wolf Trap debuts, including one of Broadway's longest running shows, Les Miserables; an icon of American popular music, Gladys Knight; and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James Taylor.

-- An eco-inspired performance schedule at the Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods

-- Paul Taylor Dance Company
-- Pilobolus
-- Rent
-- Wolf Trap's 19th Annual Louisiana Swamp Romp
-- The Thunder Tour, with Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller, and Victor Wooten

-- Al Green, Mark Knopfler, B.B. King, Smokey Robinson, Crosby, Stills & Nash

-- Ticket prices as low as $8 to $10; furthering Wolf Trap's commitment to presenting accessible and affordable arts experiences to the broadest possible audience.

DETAILS, PRESS RELEASES, PHOTOS, MORE INFORMATION AT www.wolftrap.org and http://wolftrap.org/Home/Media_and_Newsroom.aspx

***Herbie Hancock's performance, although mentioned above, will not appear on Wolf Trap's website until April 7; and will not go on sale to the general public until April 12 at noon.***

Tickets for Wolf Trap's 2008 performances can be purchased via the Wolf Trap Box Office located at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts at 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Virginia; by calling 1(877) WOLFTRAP; or online at www.wolftrap.org. For more information, please call Wolf Trap at (703) 255-1868.

Note: Tickets for Wolf Trap's 2008 musical theater performances; A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor; Pilobolus; and the Paul Taylor Company have been on sale since December 2007.

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Photo:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080317/DC16865
AP Archive:

http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts

CONTACT: Chris Guerre, +1-703-255-4096, chrisg@wolftrap.org; or Graham
Binder, +1-703-255-1917, grahamb@wolftrap.org; both of Wolf Trap Foundation
for the Performing Arts

Web Site:

http://www.wolftrap.org/

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