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***Visit www.wolftrap.org throughout the summer for updates and additions to the schedule.***

Contact: Chris Guerre, (703) 255-4096 or chrisg@wolftrap.org
Graham Binder, (703) 255-1917 or grahamb@wolftrap.org

Vienna, VA—Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts proudly presents nearly 170 performances during the 2009 Summer Season at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Highlights include the world premiere of the sixth installment in Wolf Trap’s groundbreaking Face of America series, Face of America: Glacier National Park, featuring The Sun Road, a new ballet by Trey McIntyre commissioned by Wolf Trap; the NSO@Wolf Trap, hosted by Festival Conductor Emil de Cou; new, full-scale productions by the Wolf Trap Opera Company at The Barns at Wolf Trap of Mozart’s Così fan tutte and Monteverdi’s The Return of Ulysses; and the Wolf Trap Opera Company’s new, multimedia concert of Puccini’s La bohème, with the NSO.

Although the 2009 summer schedule is nearly complete, there will be revisions and additions throughout the summer. For updated information, patrons are encouraged to visit www.wolftrap.org.

Continuing to present accessible and affordable arts and education experiences to the broadest possible audience, Wolf Trap offers tickets priced as low as $8 in 2009; continues to allow patrons to bring their own food and beverages to Filene Center shows, and provides public transportation and free parking for shows at the Filene Center. The annual and free Summer Blast-Off! performance by the United States Marine Band and spectacular fireworks display helps to usher in Wolf Trap’s 2009 Summer Season, which features:

Face of America: Glacier National Park

Wolf Trap continues its original multimedia artistic adventure series, Face of America with its sixth creation, Face of America: Glacier National Park. The world premiere of this latest installment in the series features The Sun Road, a new ballet by Trey McIntyre, commissioned by Wolf Trap specifically for Face of America. Designed to capture the rugged beauty, immense scale, and commanding presence of the Rocky Mountains at Glacier National Park, the live ballet on the Filene Center stage is set against a backdrop of high definition video captured on location in Montana. To help tell the story of Glacier National Park, Wolf Trap has assembled a stellar cast of world-class Montana artists including Blackfeet Indian singer-songwriter Jack Gladstone; cowboy singer Rob Quist; and Emmy Award-winning pianist Philip Aaberg.

Dance Debuts

Summer 2009 marks the Wolf Trap debut for Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance, showcasing Thomas’ energetic and highly entertaining blend of ballet, tango, hip-hop, and Broadway; the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, with their sophisticated and intricate style; and the Merce Cunningham Dance Company’s inimitable and progressive work.

(Please refer to individual Wolf Trap Dance and Face of America documents for more detail.)

Debuts

Wolf Trap is proud to welcome the Filene Center debut of Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jackson Browne, on tour in support of his new album Time the Conqueror, his first studio offering since 2002. Also debuting is pop-rock duo Loggins and Messina, touring in support of their recent reunion; and 80s pop-rock icon and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Pat Benatar, co-headlining a show with Blondie. Denver-based quartet DeVotchKa makes a special guest and first appearance; and for the first time, The RAT PACK is BACK!, a spirited tribute to Vegas’ four favorite sons; as well as Culture featuring Kenyatta Hill & Lenya Wilks; The Gabe Dixon Trio; Tab Benoit; conductor Jack Wall; Wang Chung, Cutting Crew, Heaven 17, and Terri Nunn & Berlin (on the Regeneration 2009 tour with ABC); The Contours, The Zodiacs, The Clovers, and all the legendary singing groups on The Ultimate Doo-Wop Show; and direct from Broadway, Cirque Dreams – Jungle Fantasy, inspired by nature’s unpredictable creations and brought to life by soaring aerialists, contortionists, acrobats, jugglers, and musicians.

Musical Theater

Also a Wolf Trap debut, Theatre of the Stars’ touring production of the Emmy Award-winning Disney’s High School Musical stops at the Filene Center for eight performances. Other musical theater offerings on this summer’s schedule include the enduringly popular The Pirates of Penzance from The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players; Tony Award-winning 42^nd Street; and the return of Riverdance for its record-breaking 12^th season at the Wolf Trap, still the only area venue to host the original phenomenon!

(Please refer to the individual Musical Theater document for more details.)

Opera & Symphony

One of the most highly regarded residency programs for our nation’s best emerging professional opera singers, the Wolf Trap Opera Company presents two new full-scale opera productions at The Barns at Wolf Trap: Così fan tutte, one of Mozart’s later comedies written just a year before his death; and Monteverdi’s The Return of Ulysses, a timeless story of lost love rediscovered, receiving its first treatment from the Company. At the Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, the Company presents a new, multimedia concert performance of Puccini’s La bohème, in collaboration with the National Symphony Orchestra.

The National Symphony Orchestra fills the summer with ten total evenings of NSO@Wolf Trap performances, including a show headlined by country-pop music star LeAnn Rimes; the scenic cantata Carmina Burana; and an evening with violin virtuoso Sarah Chang. Wolf Trap favorite, the legendary Marvin Hamlisch leads the NSO in his own music from A Chorus Line, The Way We Were, and more in Hamlisch Conducts Hamlisch. The entire NSO@Wolf Trap series is hosted by Wolf Trap Festival Conductor, Emil de Cou.

(Please refer to individual NSO@Wolf Trap and Wolf Trap Opera Company press releases for more details.)

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

The second film of Peter Jackson’s blockbuster Lord of the Rings trilogy receives special treatment this summer, being shown in its entirety on each of two consecutive nights. Live orchestra, chorus, and soloists will perform Howard Shore’s masterful score as The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is displayed in its entirety on huge HD screens.

Wolf Trap Favorites

The 2009 summer season kicks off with two nights of one of the hottest tickets in town, A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. From Ed Sullivan to Abbey Road, RAIN – A Tribute to The Beatles also returns for two nights after last year’s sellout performance; and Wolf Trap proudly presents blues guitar legend B.B. King; American entertainment icon Bill Cosby; folk rock favorites the Indigo Girls; pop and jazz music legend Tony Bennett; America’s band The Beach Boys; hit makers Huey Lewis & The News; legendary folk music and social activists Peter, Paul & Mary; a tribute to one of the most successful pop acts of all time ABBA the Tour; consummate entertainer Chris Isaak; Gladys Knight; The Temptations & The Four Tops; the Doobie Brothers; Crosby, Stills & Nash; and Smokey Robinson.

With a little help from his friends, Joe Cocker will rock the night away when he returns to the Wolf Trap after more than 15 years. The summer will also re-welcome classic rockers Steve Miller Band; American songwriting and folk music legend John Prine with special guest Steve Earle; new wave pop pioneers The B-52s; Celtic rockers Great Big Sea; the blue-eyed soul of Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs, and Daryl Hall & John Oates; the legendary Johnny Mathis; Buddy Guy and Susan Tedeschi on a double-bill; the ever evolving sounds of the great Tom Jones; singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot; and hot on the heels of her new album, Quiet Nights, Diana Krall.

World Music Favorites

Wolf Trap welcomes back the PBS and live performance sensation that is Celtic Woman; as well as the eclectic and infectious international sounds of Pink Martini; and on two nights, world music sensations The Gipsy Kings.

Multi-group Festivals

Wolf Trap’s 20^th Annual Louisiana Swamp Romp, the longest running local celebration of music from the Bayou State, stirs up a deliciously potent medley of zydeco, blues, and Cajun music in the spirit of Mardi Gras; and this year, features the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Tab Benoit, Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, and Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie.

The Ultimate Doo-Wop Show, sure to have everyone singing along from their seats, stars The Drifters; Jimmy Beaumont & The Skyliners; The Contours featuring Sylvester Potts, Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs; The Clovers featuring Harold Winley, Randy & the Rainbows featuring Randy Safuto; The Marcels; The Edsels; and The Blue Suede Orchestra.

The Regeneration Tour returns to Wolf Trap, regenerated for 2009 to include ABC, Terri Nunn & Berlin, Wang Chung, Heaven 17, and Cutting Crew.

Crowd favorite Hippiefest: A Concert for Peace & Love, is also back and features Leslie West & Corky Laing; Chuck Negron formerly of Three Dog Night; Flo & Eddie of the Turtles; Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals; and Badfinger featuring Joey Molland.

Beres Hammond, Culture featuring Kenyatta Hill & Lenya Wilks, the Harmony House Singers, and Harmony House Musicians set the rhythm in motion for A Moment in Time Reggae 2009!

Special Collaborations

Longtime musical collaborators, Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, and Shawn Colvin join forces with

Buddy Miller for Three Girls & Their Buddy, a night of graceful songs and stories from their memorable careers.

Elvis Costello is back with brand new sounds by Elvis Costello and the Sugarcanes—featuring music from an exciting new album by Grammy Award-winning producer T-Bone Burnett, live on-stage with Jerry Douglas,

Jim Lauderdale, Stuart Duncan, Mike Compton, Dennis Crouch, and Jeff Taylor

Thirty years after the former Talking Head’s first collaboration with Brian Eno, David Byrne showcases music from the duo’s 2008 critically praised second album, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. (Please note, Brian Eno will not be appearing with David Byrne.)

And Wolf Trappers will have “something to talk about” after a night of blues and rock ’n’ roll with Bonnie Raitt and the acoustic blues of Taj Mahal & The Phantom Blues Band, Alone and Together.

Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods

Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods presents 68 family oriented performances Tuesdays through Saturdays, from June 23 through August 8 at 10 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Tucked away among the trees, surrounded by 117 rolling acres, the Theatre-in-the-Woods offers live performances ranging from dance to puppetry, including the Grammy-nominated Dinorock; Parent’s Choice Gold Award winner Steve Roslonek; Bob Brown Puppets’ Clowning Around; and eco-inspired performances throughout the summer. A venue loved by teachers, parents, and children alike, Theatre-in-the-Woods performances are recommended for children between kindergarten and sixth grade.

(Please refer to the individual Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods document for more details.)

EDITOR’S NOTES:

Tickets to A Prairie Home Companion; The Pirates of Penzance; the 20^th Annual Louisiana Swamp Romp; Celtic Woman; Pink Martini; Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance; RAIN – A Tribute to the Beatles; Riverdance; Aspen Santa Fe Ballet; 42^nd Street; Gordon Lightfoot; Face of America: Glacier National Park; Peter, Paul & Mary; The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers; and Disney’s High School Musical have been on sale since November, 2008.

And although listed in this release, the following eight performances will not appear on Wolf Trap’s Web site until April 6; and will not go on-sale to the general public until April 10, 2009:

The RAT PACK is BACK!; Cirque Dreams – Jungle Fantasy; Doobie Brothers; Gladys Knight; A Moment in Time, Reggae 2009!; Chris Isaak; Smokey Robinson; An Evening with Crosby, Stills & Nash

Tickets for Wolf Trap’s 2009 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.

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