JOHN F. KENNEDY MEMORIAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
According to WNO artistic director Francesca Zambello, roughly 40% of seats are now going unsold compared to pre-takeover numbers, with longtime patrons boycotting the venue outright. Donors, she says, don’t want their money confused with political endorsement and saying the building has been 'tainted.'”
Issa Rae: Canceled a sold-out show, citing values infringement.
Lin-Manuel Miranda/Hamilton: Canceled the musical's run, stating, "We're not going to be a part of it while it is the Trump Kennedy Center".
Low Cut Connie: Canceled a performance, stating they wouldn't perform until the Center returned to non-partisan programming.
Peter Wolf: Canceled a book event due to the administration's actions.
Amanda Rheaume: Canceled her April 5th appearance due to differing politics and values.
Balún: Canceled a scheduled performance, citing alignment issues with their safety and justice values.
Sir András Schiff: Canceled all US performances, including at the Kennedy Center, for 2025-2026.
Christian Tetzlaff: Canceled a US tour.
Artists/Personalities Who Resigned Roles:
Shonda Rhimes: Resigned as treasurer from the board.
Ben Folds: Resigned as artistic adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO).
Renee Fleming: Resigned as an artistic advisor.
These cancellations and resignations stem from a broad protest against Donald Trump's takeover and restructuring of the institution, which many artists felt violated the Center's historic mission of fostering art for all.
7 comments:
Trump, making America great again. LOL!
Just like his role models Hitler and Putin, Trump wants complete control of news organizations, the arts, education, and our national monuments, as he threatens war around the world.
We presume the place of the artists will be take by WWF wrestling. The secretary of Education has good connections with them.
Chris Redd the Christmas Eve performer, The Cookers, set for NY Eve and Kristy Lee, set for Jan 14th have also all canceled.
Remember, when Trump took over the Kennedy to devote his time to the arts, how he promised better ratings and that the place would be "hot".
Trump has politicized an American treasure and by putting his name on the building, which through Congressional action is, was and, absent another act of Congress, should be called the Kennedy Memorial Center, has broken the law.
Ratings are down and Americans are not watching what the bastardization of the Kennedy Center is providing. So apparently Trump was wrong about sky high ratings. Performers are choosing to cancel rather than perform in such a now openly political atmosphere. So maybe the center is not so "hot" after all.
We're left with one question... why did Trump insert himself in this? Was something so bad happening at the Kennedy Center, that the POTUS felt he had to take time away from protecting America and making us great again to fix?
I'm gobsmacked...
Here's how Mona Charon framed Trump's renaming of the Kennedy Center with a simple concept... respect.
"The second level of contempt arises from the knowledge—recognized by the whole world, Mr. Trump, except you—that your extravagant need for attention and praise is evidence of your emotional stuntedness. With every renaming of a building you are sending up a signal that screams “I am so insecure!” And here’s the truth: You cannot piggyback on the respect John F. Kennedy earned by slapping your name on the arts center that was named by statute to be his living memorial. Your name may be side by side with his on the marble for now, but in our hearts, we will never respect you. Quite the opposite—for all of your depredations and twice on Sunday for attempting to hijack someone else’s honor."
It really doesn't take a degree in psychiatry to understand the emotionally damaged Trump. I've seen better id control from 4-year-olds than what we've witnessed with this JFK Memorial Performing Arts debacle. Trump is a sick, sick man, and he will only become worse as he ages. We'll be watching his disintegration in real time over the next three years.
Trump's ego, his focus on the I Am is the force driving his unbridled narcissism.
America is perhaps beginning to see our nation's greatest disaster.
We hope.
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