Tag Archives: Kennedy Center

The New York Times reports: Richard Grenell, whom President Trump installed as the president of the Kennedy Center, claimed Monday night that the center’s deferred maintenance and its deficit — two things commonly found at nonprofit arts organizations — were “criminal.” He said he would refer the matter to federal prosecutors. Speaking to Mr. Trump and a group of board …

“Any performer who isn’t professional enough to perform for patrons of all backgrounds, regardless of political affiliation, won’t be welcomed. In fact, we think it would be important to out those vapid and intolerant artists to ensure producers know who they shouldn’t hire — and that the public knows which shows have political litmus tests to sit in the audience. …

The Daily Beast reports: President and full-time Kennedy Center chairman Donald Trump has spoken about his quest to remake the historic Washington, D.C. venue in his own image. His team now wants his $20 billion lawsuit with CBS to pay for it, according to The Atlantic. Trump allies have been plotting ways to raise money for the venue, including hosting …

“Shame on you, American Idol. Inviting Lin Manuel to be a mentor to young people 3 weeks after Lin pulled his show from the Kennedy Center because he can’t work with Republicans is an obvious move to support political intolerance. We need performers who perform for everyone. Not radicals who litmus test the audience’s voting history. Dumb move, ABC.” – …

The Associated Press reports: Organizers and the Kennedy Center have canceled a week’s worth of events celebrating LGBTQ+ rights for this summer’s World Pride festival in Washington, D.C. The events at the center had been planned for June 5 to 8. Multiple artists and producers involved in the center’s Tapestry of Pride schedule told The Associated Press that their events …

Deadline reports: The composer and lyricist of Fellow Travelers, an opera based on Thomas Mallon’s 2007 novel about the anti-gay lavender scare of the 1950s, have withdrawn the work from the 2025-26 season of the Washington National Opera at The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., citing concern over Donald Trump’s takeover of the institution’s leadership. In a letter to the …

The Daily Beast reports: President Donald Trump wants to introduce non-woke musicals like “Cats,” honor dead stars from sports to business and even renovate the Kennedy Center, according to a leaked board meeting recording. He even reportedly name-checked casino mogul Steve Wynn as a potential recipient. He is a major Republican donor and husband of Trump-appointed board member Andrea Hissom …

Bernardo Sim reports at Out Magazine: Playwright, actor, and live performer Harvey Fierstein revealed that he’s been banned from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. — otherwise known as the Kennedy Center — through a new statement in which the theater legend criticized President Donald Trump’s takeover of the national cultural center and issued …

The New York Times reports: President Trump visited the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on Monday for the first time since he stunned the cultural and political establishment nearly five weeks ago by taking over the institution. He had some thoughts about programming. “I never liked ‘Hamilton’ very much,” he said, taking a poke at …

The New York Times reports: When President Trump was criticized by some of the artists who were recognized at the annual Kennedy Center Honors program during his first term, he responded by boycotting the show, breaking with decades of precedent. Now, as he leads a sweeping takeover of the Kennedy Center in his second term, Mr. Trump is seeking changes …

“This video should challenge us all to commit to making the Kennedy Center a place where everyone is welcomed. It troubles me to see that so many in the audience appear to be white and intolerant of diverse political views. Diversity is our strength. We must do better. We must welcome EVERYONE. We will not allow the Kennedy Center to be …

The Washington Post reports: When Vice President JD Vance took his seat Thursday night at the Kennedy Center in Washington, he was met with a chorus of boos from the packed concert hall. Vance and the second lady, Usha Vance, were attending a performance by the National Symphony Orchestra, which was already seated onstage when the crowd spotted the pair …

“We can have a fashion show with Valentino, the top designer in the world, in honor of Jacqueline Kennedy. That would be very glamorous. You can seat a couple thousand people for a gala, who pay $200 a ticket, and people will go, and the center will make money. “We can franchise the Kennedy Center’s name in Europe and Asia …

The Hill reports: President Trump announced Friday he’s appointing Fox News hosts Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo to the board of the Kennedy Center, after naming himself chair of the performing arts center last month. “I am thrilled to announce that Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo will be joining our Kennedy Center Board – This completes our selection,” Trump wrote …

“Let’s be clear on the facts. [Jeffrey] Seller and Lin Manuel first went to the New York Times before they came to the Kennedy Center with their announcement that they can’t be in the same room with Republicans. This is a publicity stunt that will backfire. The Arts are for everyone – not just for the people who Lin likes …

The New York Times reports: “Hamilton,” the musical theater juggernaut about the birth of American democracy, is canceling plans to perform next year at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, citing President Trump’s moves to impose his ideological and cultural values on the long-cherished venue. The musical had been slated to be part of the …

The Washington Post reports: In the Truth Social post announcing his intentions to take over the storied arts institution, Trump had promised to make the center “GREAT AGAIN,” adding, “The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation.” The implication was clear: The performers previously booked at the …

GScene Magazine reports: A performance from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC on May 21 has been pulled from the program of events at the Kennedy Center. The Gay Men’s Chorus was set to perform at this year’s World Pride Washington DC, which brings together a program of events to “celebrate, educate, support and inspire”. Writing on social media, Jeffrey …

Christopher Wiggins reports at The Advocate: The Kennedy Center has quietly removed a highly anticipated National Symphony Orchestra concert celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride from its website, intensifying fears that federally affiliated cultural institutions could be the next battleground in President Donald Trump’s war on the LGBTQ+ community. The event, “A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride,” was scheduled for …

JAKE TAPPER: “Well, the votes to make Donald Trump the chairman of the Kennedy Senator Kennedy Center was not unanimous as he said it was. There were some votes that were abstentions. There were some votes against. President Trump called in in the middle of the call. The first was to get rid of the current director, Deborah Rutter, who …