Harmony in the Park

Southern Living, May 2004 by Vanhooser, Cassandra M

Pack a picnic, and head to this national park dedicated to the performing arts.

A evening descends on Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Virginia, just outside the D.C. Beltway, ribbons of crimson, lavender, and rose swirl across the sky. This colorful display, a gift from Mother Nature, sets the stage for a perfect night of food, friends, and music.

"People enjoy the atmosphere as much as the performance," explains Terrence Jones, president and CEO of Wolf Trap Foundation. "This is an experience you can't get anywhere else, and that's what we love about it."

Some Enchanted Evening

Melissa Smith and her friends, Ling, Brenda, and Annebeth, have been planning this night at Wolf Trap for months. As they recline on their quilt, the four munch on chocolate chip cannoli and toast the event with Champagne.

I love it here," Melissa says, raising her glass. "I love the outdoors, and I love Lyle Lovett. He puts on a great snow.

The Filene Center hosts more than 100 world-class performers from May through September. Here, ticket holders witness the best from the world of music, theater, and dance. The 2004 season will included Lynyrd Skynrd, Linda Ronstadt, George Benson, and Sandy Duncan in The King and I.

While Wolf Trap may not fit our traditional view of a national park, this outdoor concert hall celebrates nature as beautifully as any geological wonder. A soaring architectural marvel constructed of Douglas fir and Southern yellow pine, it features open sides that frame the towering hardwoods and rolling hills of northern Virginia like a priceless canvas.

The Arts Year-round

The Wolf Trap Foundation, though, offers much more than a pleasant summer evening. Of the 388 national parks across the country, Wolf Trap is the only one dedicated solely to excellence and innovation in the performing arts.

From October through May, visitors can watch performances at The Barns at Wolf Trap, a 352-seat venue perfect for intimate performances. The Wolf Trap Opera Company nurtures the talents of young divas and dons with its residency program. Wolf Trap also touches lives with its vast education programs, which include master classes, an institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, and internships.

"When people have had a bad day, they come here, and it is truly an escape," Terrence muses. "It is a way for them to enjoy themselves and become human again. That's what the arts do. They make us human."

CASSANDRA M. VANHOOSER

Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts: 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, VA 22182; (703) 255-1900 or www.wolftrap.org. Tickets: (703) 218-6500.