Kennedy Center Honors 2015

The annual Kennedy Center awards are given to people in the performing arts who have made an impact on American culture. Usually there are 5 recipients per year, but this year, there are 6  (Sources: Rolling Stone.com, Washington Post), a welcome change, I think; I'm sure there is a large backlog of worthy recipients - why not open it to 10?

This year's  honorees include:

George Lucas, creator of Star Wars and Indiana Jones. A filmmaker receiving a Kennedy Center distinction is rare; in the past 40 years, only a handful have been selected: Steven Spielberg, Billy Wilder, and Martin Scorsese are among the few.

Rita Moreno, a consummate performer who has excelled on the stage and screen for over 60 years. (Oscar-winner for West Side Story).

Cicely Tyson, another consummate actor of stage and screen for over 60 years, with a legacy of legendary film (Sounder) and television performances  (The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Roots, King, A Woman Called Moses)

Also honored: from the field of popular music: The Eagles and Carol King, and the field of classic music: conductor Seiji Ozawa.

The Kennedy Center televisions specials are always some of the most entertaining and classy shows on television. Not only do you get to learn about the career of a lesser-known performer from those influenced by them, but you also get to enjoy a variety of performances in one program: where else can you see a ballet performance, a classical piece, a Broadway performance, a soliloquy or monologue from a play, and a rock performance in on program?