Kay Shouse Great Performances

The Kay Shouse Great Performance Series honors Wolf Trap's founder and her vision for artistic excellence. When we celebrate the late Catherine Filene ('Kay') Shouse, we are recognizing more than the Filene Center or the National Park oasis set in an increasingly urban environment. We also celebrate the special evenings and amazing performing arts moments that she so loved. Each year, Wolf Trap presents a performance that reflects the adventurous artistic spirit of our founder.


2007: Bizet's Carmen
Wolf Trap Opera Company
National Symphony Orchestra

On June 28, 2007,  world-renowned mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves and acclaimed tenor Simon O'Neill—both alumni of the Wolf Trap Opera Company—joined WTOC artists, conductor Stephen Lord and the National Symphony Orchestra in Bizet's passionate tale of lust and betrayal.

2006: The Marriage of Figaro
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolf Trap Opera Company

Wolf Trap presented The Marriage of Figaro on Friday, August 18 and Saturday, August 19, 2006 featuring the Wolf Trap Opera Company. The Marriage of Figaro features a newly-married couple, a philandering husband and his beautiful wife, a lovesick teenage boy, and a collection of long-lost relatives in this story full of heartache, love, and laughter.

2005: The Bolshoi Ballet and Orchestra
Don Quixote

Wolf Trap presented the legendary Russian Bolshoi Ballet performing Don Quixote on Friday, August 5 and Saturday, August 6, 2005. The lavish, full-scale production of this classic complete with live orchestra dazzled audiences with the exuberance and Spanish charm of this entertaining ballet. The Chicago Sun-Times declares The Bolshoi Ballet "unmatched in the dance world."

2004: La bohème in concert

Wolf Trap presented La bohème in concert on Friday, July 30, 2004, featuring the critically acclaimed Wolf Trap Opera Company and the National Symphony Orchestra. This Wolf Trap Opera premiere was an unforgettable concert presentation of one of the world's most romantic operas: Puccini's gloriously bittersweet story of young love and heartbreak.

2003: Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Wolf Trap was delighted to present the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as 2003's Kay Shouse Great Performance on Saturday, July 5, 2003. Comprised of 360 voices, the Choir has been inspiring audiences for over 150 years. Having received numerous awards and honors, including a Grammy Award for its signature version of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has produced over 150 recordings and appeared at five presidential inaugurations. The Choir gave a stirring performance that included hymns, sacred choral works, folk songs, and traditional patriotic pieces.

2002: The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess

In 2002, we proudly presented the second performance in the series, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, at the Filene Center on Wednesday, June 12. This classic in the American repertoire has a demanding score and challenging production needs. It is rarely staged, usually no more than once every generation. This production of Porgy and Bess was fully cast with African-American performers and had the complete endorsement of the Gershwin Estate.

2001: Pilobolus

For the first offering in the Kay Shouse Great Performance Series, Wolf Trap commissioned an original dance piece by contemporary dance masters Pilobolus in 2001. The performance included the world premiere of Monkey and the Bone Demon, a work choreographed by Pilobolus Artistic Director Alison Chase. A phantasmagoric experience based loosely on the classic Chinese saga of magic and danger, the dance is two parts beauty, one part breathtaking high-risk adventure, and a healthy dose of lighthearted fun.


The trustees of the Catherine Filene Shouse Foundation have assured that "Kay Shouse moments" will continue well into the future. With a $3 million contribution to The Campaign for Wolf Trap, they have established the Kay Shouse Great Performance Fund as part of Wolf Trap's endowment.