Not all Heroes Wear Capes - The Kennedy Center Insurgency

[rareboy]

There is more to come on cancellations and lawsuits and fallout from the illegal renaming of the Kennedy Centre...but not to be overlooked:



Please help support the website. It is a national treasure.

https://www.trumpkennedycenter.org/

 

[rareboy]

So... Schwartz will be a no-show. And fucking good news.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2026/01/02/wicked-composer-stephen-schwartz-says-hell-back-out-of-kennedy-center-hosting-gig/?utm_campaign=forbes&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky

 

[NotHardUp1]

What we'd like to see in 2026.

 

[rareboy]

"The Washington National Opera has approved a resolution to move its performances out of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, ending a relationship that has spanned more than five decades."

Washington National Opera Announces Plans to Leave the Kennedy Center

The Washington National Opera has approved a resolution to move its performances out of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, ending a relationship that has spanned more than five decades.

www.broadwayworld.com

This follows several more perfromers withdrawing from performing at the Center since Trump slapped his name on the revered memorial to John F. Kennedy.

This is what I have been waiting for. Or at least one of the major companies I have been waiting for to make the decision to leave the Kennedy Centre. That any major arts organization would remain housed at this
place is now increasingly anathema. I suspect that GrenellCo. and the TrumpCo. board will no doubt threaten or even launch lawsuits in an attempt to destroy the company, but it should be a wake-up call to the regime that they are hollowing out the programming and could just end up with a big empty hall most days of the year.

 

[rareboy]

On the side of the Opera Company, declining ticket sales and donations since Trump seized the Kennedy Center have resulted in financial hardship, which the Center is in no
position to offset. The court case here will be over the endowment.

In its stead?

 

[cityboy-stl]

The National Symphony Orchestra should leave next.

 

[rareboy]

Not likely to happen. I beleive that their board is dominated by Trumpists who support the coup.

The question is whether the public will continue to support the NSO or whether it will fall to the well heeled looking to buy favour with Trump who will end up having to foot the whole bill
and give away blocks of tickets to employees, friends and family to put bums in seats.

 

[Alistair]

On the side of the Opera Company, declining ticket sales and donations since Trump seized the Kennedy Center have resulted in financial hardship, which the Center is in no
position to offset. The court case here will be over the endowment.

In its stead?

They’d (the grand old opry) fit in much better with Trump

 

[rareboy]

I don't think that even the Opry headlines acts like Kid Rock...but the Kennedy Center Honors this year seemed to tilt toward C&W.

 

[Thad1527]

Nashville is a blue dot in a very red state.

 

[FrodoTX]

There are many nuances here. Yes fuck Trump, but the opera had to leave and the symphony cannot. The Opera is very dependent on corporate sponsorships (my $200 ticket is nothing). The new financial structure makes it impossible for this group to present the art they desire. The National Symphony has 3 concerts every week, there is no other venue in DC to handle that demand. I want to support the amazing artists in DC, but if I boycott, who am I hurting? Certainly not Trump who doesn't give a damn about anyone, but the musicians and performers!

 

[rareboy]

IF you buy a ticket to any event at the Keneedy Centre, you are not supporting the artists, you are giving a pass to Trump's fascist regime.

By leaving the theatres empty, it is a sign of resistance.

Don't worry about the performers or the musicians. Compared to the tens or even hundreds of thousands who are having their lives ruined by Trump across the country, a few hundred musicians
aren't the real focus here.