Kennedy Center

Dear Kennedy Center Management:

We attended the Kennedy Center Student Music Program on Monday, May 19, 2025. It was so nice to see and hear so many talented young people being exposed to musical instruments, reading music and playing all kinds of music. Once entering the Millennium Section of the Kennedy Center, we were greeted by a very nice female usher. She explained the process and how the seating would be arranged for the different school. She was extremely professional. The performance started off great. However, towards the end of the students' performance, the Kennedy Center started having technical problems with the electricity causing the last two performance to be delayed by 10 minutes. Then a young, slim lady with a walkie talkie tells the Director of the students that they could only perform one piece, but the students were scheduled to perform two (2) selections. The lady with the walkie talkie didn't care. The Schools Director moved thru the first pieced and allowed the students to perform their last piece as well. We the students and parents were elated that they were able to see all of students perform at the Kennedy Center. Then as we were smiling thinking that everything turned out great. A woman with a gray suit on, with a walkie talkie came in earshot of me telling the nice usher who assisted us earlier that she had to get us out of the area now and she was disgusted that these people were still here. As we were being usher out like unwanted guest; another lanky, skinny tall African American male usher stands in the middle of the hall and states to the usher in the red jacket; "you better get all of these people the "Hell" out of here or you won't have lunch today." What happened to the professionalism? What happened to decorum? Where was the hospitality?
I was about to renew my membership for the Kennedy Center, but after being treated in this manner. I have decided to send my funds to the Ford Theatre.

As the New International Version of the Bible states in Hebrew 13:2 - Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to Anges without knowing it.

I would like to suggest that your Usher take a refresher course in treated people the way they would like to be treated. They need a "Kindness 101 Class."

Sincerely,

Mozella Boyd Johnson
Former Member

The Kennedy Center THE JOHN FKENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTSWASHINGTON, D.C20566-2024-16-F?? 416-JAN 1015January 4, 2016Dear [redacted] ,We received your letter in reference to a complaint which Revdex.com received and was submitted and assigned ID [redacted] – to remove a person's name and address from our mailing listAs of today, January 4, his record has been updated So that he will not receive any further correspondence.| Sincerely apology for any inconvenience this may have causedPlease assure him that we try to do our best to comply with request of this natureIf there is anything further that he may need, please do not hesitate to give him my name and phone number.We look forward to seeing him at future performances and hopes he takes advance of our email www.kennedy-center.org to get further information on upcoming eventsSincerely,Nancy G***Assistant to the Senior vice President Marketing and Sales Revdex.comK Street N.W., 10th FloorWashington, D.C20005-

December 15,2015Dear [redacted] ,We received your letter in reference to a complaint that Revdex.com received that was submitted and assigned ID [redacted] - to remove a person's name and address from our mailing listAs of today, December 15, his record has been updated so that he will not receive any further copies.I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused Please assure him that we try to do our best to comply with requests of this natureIf there is anything further that he may need, please do not hesitate to give him my name and phone numberWe look forward to seeing to him at future performances and hopes he takes advantage of our email www.kennedy-center.org to get further information on upcoming events.Sincerely,Nancy [redacted] G [redacted] Assistant to the Senior Vice President Marketing and Sales

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response If you wish, you may update it before sending it.] Revdex.com: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted] , and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me Regards, [redacted] ***

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the responseIf no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved] Complaint: [redacted] I am rejecting this response because:I continue to receive mailings from this business even after at least three contacts to them asking them to remove my name and address from their lists.To not receive any more of their mailingsThe ID: [redacted] is on the latest magazine sent to me.Regards, [redacted]

December 15,2015
Dear [redacted],
We  received your letter in reference to a complaint that Revdex.com received that was submitted and assigned ID [redacted]- to remove a person's name and address from our mailing list. As of today, December 15, his record has been updated so that he...

will not receive any further copies.I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.  Please assure him that we try to do our best to comply with requests of this nature. If there is anything further that he may need, please do not hesitate to give him my name and phone number.
We look  forward to seeing to him at  future performances and hopes he takes advantage of our email www.kennedy-center.org to get further information on upcoming events.Sincerely,
Nancy ** G[redacted]
Assistant to the Senior Vice President Marketing and Sales

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]
Complaint: [redacted]
I am rejecting this response because:I continue to receive mailings from this business even after at least three contacts to them asking them to remove my name and address from their lists.To not receive any more of their mailings. The ID: [redacted] is on the latest magazine sent to me.Regards,
[redacted]

The Kennedy Center THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTSWASHINGTON, D.C. 20566-0001 2024-16-8000 F?? 202 416-8205 JAN 0 7 1015January 4, 2016Dear [redacted],We received your letter in reference to a complaint which Revdex.com received and was submitted and assigned ID [redacted] – to remove a...

person's name and address from our mailing list. As of today, January 4, 2016 his record has been updated So that he will not receive any further correspondence.| Sincerely apology for any inconvenience this may have caused. Please assure him that we try to do our best to comply with request of this nature. If there is anything further that he may need, please do not hesitate to give him my name and phone number.We look forward to seeing him at future performances and hopes he takes advance of our email www.kennedy-center.org to get further information on upcoming events. Sincerely,Nancy G[redacted]Assistant to the Senior vice President Marketing and Sales Revdex.com1411 K Street N.W., 10th FloorWashington, D.C. 20005-13404

[A default letter is provided here which indicates your acceptance of the business's response.  If you wish, you may update it before sending it.]
Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me. 
Regards,
[redacted]

December 15,2015Dear [redacted],We  received your letter in reference to a complaint that Revdex.com received that was submitted and assigned ID [redacted]- to remove a person's name and address from our mailing list. As of today, December 15, his record has been updated so that he will not receive any...

further copies.I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.  Please assure him that we try to do our best to comply with requests of this nature. If there is anything further that he may need, please do not hesitate to give him my name and phone number. We look  forward to seeing to him at  future performances and hopes he takes advantage of our email www.kennedy-center.org to get further information on upcoming events.Sincerely,Nancy ** G[redacted] Assistant to the Senior Vice President Marketing and Sales

Review: Sadly, I'm writing to express anger and disappointment about the Kennedy Center's targeted marketing materials for the Magic Flute. The postcard mailing mentioned nothing about last weekend's free simulcast, which is how I would have opted to see this production, had I known about the option. Instead I ended up seeing tonight's performance only because I had been foolish enough to purchase a "final sale" ticket before learning about the simulcast. Couldn't enjoy at all tonight's production.

The larger issue is that potential/regular supporters of the arts deserve to be able to decide for themselves if, when, and how they can/want to do so. While the KC may earn more short-term profits from its deliberate ploy to withhold from likely purchasers information about a free performance, the reality and backblow is that some of those regular/long-term patrons (such as myself) will be insulted and alienated -- and never return.

My concerns were echoed tonight by another patron (total stranger), who wanted to write to the KC President. Another KC patron predicts that the KC will hear this complaint a lot -- and, sadly, won't care.

I'd rather miss my favorite artists -- than ever patronize the KC/WNO again.

I would appreciate the courtesy of written responses from both the Marketing Directors of the Kennedy Center and [redacted] Opera. Specfically, I'd like to know if/how they considered the tradeoff of selling a few extra tickets versus permanently alienating and offending its previously loyal patrons.Desired Settlement: Direct response from recipient of email and Director of Marketing.

Refund of charges of ticket -- that I wouldn't have purchased if direct-to-patron targeted marketing materials had disclosed that there would also be a free simulcast.