Nearly all performances scheduled will go on during the partial shutdown of the federal government, which went into effect today.
Specifically:
All productions at the Kennedy Center , including Million Dollar Quartet and Shear Madness, will be performed as scheduled, although at least 50 personnel operating on federal contracts will be furloughed, and the Kennedy Center’s hours will be curtailed. The facility opens today at 5pm.
Likewise, all performances at Ford’s Theatre remain open, including tonight’s opening of The Laramie Project, Lincoln Legacy program, and the walking tour: Investigation: Detective McDevitt. The Center for Education and Leadership remains open for daytime visits. The historic site (Ford’s Theatre Museum and Petersen House) will be closed.
The 19 Smithsonian museums and zoo, will be closed. This impacts the only theatre company forced to shut down, the Smithsonian’s Theatre for Young Audiences, Discovery Theater. Museum closures also include the National Gallery of Art.
Not all museums are closed. This might be a good time to visit The Newseum and two museums, The National Museum of Women in the Arts and The National Geographic Museum, which are offering free admission to federal employees, according to a handy list of discounts and freebies for furloughed federal workers compiled by DCist . Their list also shows how restaurants and bars are fighting back with free burgers (Z Burger), pulled pork sandwiches (Pork Barrel BBQ) and lots of drinks specials and extended Happy Hours. Thanks, DCist!
At National Geo you can even pick up veggies at the farmer’s market today before you head back home. Or, if you don’t have to make that early morning commute, catch an extra show or two. Here’s what’s playing. And here are some ticket deals.
