Donald Trump Takes Over the Kennedy Center- Page 17

[MezzA101]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 6:20pm

Lawsuit Against Humanities Endowment Offers Details on DOGE

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/02/arts/humanities-endowment-doge-grants.html?unlocked_article_code=1.EE8.WCid.PAnrBarFLhSi&smid=nytcore-android-share

[Dom P]

Posted: 5/2/25 at 7:02pm

nmartin said: "Kevin said, "It's a non-profit. Who cares?"

I should hope someone in a position of authority at the Kennedy Center cares.

Forty million dollars in debt is inexcusable."

That figure seems to be grossly exaggerated

 

 

 

[MezzA101]

Posted: 5/8/25 at 1:25pm

Kennedy Center Official Slams 'Les Miz' Actors And 'American Idol'

Kennedy Center’s Richard Grenell Slams “Vapid And Intolerant” ‘Les Miz’ Actors, Says “Shame” On ‘American Idol’ For Hiring Lin-Manuel Miranda

https://deadline.com/2025/05/kennedy-center-les-miserables-american-idol-1236389966/

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/8/25 at 2:51pm

Maybe this bitch should try running the Kennedy Center instead of wondering why everyone hates his self-loathing ass?

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 5/8/25 at 2:54pm

TheatreFan4 said: "Maybe this bitch should try running the Kennedy Center instead of wondering why everyone hates his self-loathingass?"

They can't - endless whining is the core sacrament of modern conservatism, right up there with racism and transphobia.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 5/9/25 at 3:35pm

DEAD OUTLAW cancels planned performance at Library of Congress following Trump's firing of Dr. Carla Hayden

[MezzA101]

Posted: 5/9/25 at 3:54pm

Trump’s Broadway dreams get second act with Kennedy Center takeover

https://wapo.st/3EVPSWE

[MezzA101]

Posted: 5/14/25 at 2:46pm

Invited, then uninvited: How Trump’s Kennedy Center is policing art

You’ve probably heard about the big-name cancellations. The touring production of “Hamilton” scrapped its D.C. visit in protest of the Trump putsch. The center’s dwindling staff had to scramble to fill next season’s calendar because some artists refuse to play the venue. But probably the most searing impact of the takeover has been the exclusion of small, local groups for whom the Kennedy Center gig was the pinnacle of success, welcome recognition of the good they’ve done for people who live here.

https://wapo.st/4kgO75h

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 5/14/25 at 3:01pm

"Uninvited? They'll consider it odd..."

(Thankyou, Countess Charlotte.)

[MezzA101]

Posted: 5/15/25 at 5:09pm

Kennedy Center employees announce plans to unionize

https://wapo.st/43avnip

[MezzA101]

Posted: 5/19/25 at 8:48pm

Kennedy Center To Include Non-Equity Theater Following Trump Complaints

Two non-Equity national theatrical tours – Mrs. Doubtfire and Chicago – are on the 2026 schedule of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., marking a major shift in Kennedy Center policy that comes just two months after President Donald Trump complained about union costs.

https://deadline.com/2025/05/kennedy-center-actors-equity-donald-trump-broadway-1236405063/

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 5/19/25 at 10:10pm

Interesting that Mrs. Doubtfire and Chicago both feature male actors in drag. Doesn’t seem in line with administration values. 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/19/25 at 10:35pm

Menken Fan said: "Interesting that Mrs. Doubtfire and Chicago both feature male actors in drag. Doesn’t seem in line with administration values."

These are not sincerely held beliefs. They do not care and they do not care that they appear as hypocrites. The administration doesn’t have any values, that is the whole damn point. They're there to have their palms greased. They are literally only there for money. There is no other reason.

We gotta stop with this gotcha **** like it actually plays to anyone. 

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 5/20/25 at 9:39am

I agree 100%, and my observation wasn’t meant to be any kind of effective takedown of a group that has no commitment to consistency. I guess I’m more disappointed that these shows, plus the equity tours on the schedule, chose to play the venue under current circumstances. 

[whatever2]

Posted: 5/20/25 at 10:05am

TheatreFan4 said: These are not sincerely held beliefs. They do not care and they do not care that they appear as hypocrites. The administration doesn’t have any values, that is the whole damn point. They're there to have their palms greased. They are literally only there for money. There is no other reason.
 

i disagree somewhat. Def you've nailed it wrt the Orange Monster, but there are many people in the administration whose transphobia (for example) is as sincere as it is ignorant.

 

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 5/20/25 at 10:52am

i disagree somewhat. Def you've nailed it wrt the Orange Monster, but there are many people in the administration whose transphobia (for example) is as sincere as it is ignorant.

I also disagree to an extent, because dismissing people pointing out hypocrisy as "gotcha ****" comes from the same place as the mainstream media whose response to Republicans doing everything they've claimed to condemn Democrats over tends to be to wave it off as "Trump being Trump". For one, immoral behavior should always be identified as immoral behavior. For another, the audience for those condemnations isn't the Republicans themselves, but the swing/soft R voters who would be embarrassed by it or feel they were "fooled" by them into voting that way.

American voters are stupid, but they're also fickle, so giving them a reason to turn on Republicans is always a good idea. Throwing up your hands at their hypocrisy and saying "well, what're ya gonna do?" Is not that.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/20/25 at 12:05pm

And you think going "Ta ta ta, Mrs. Doubtfire is about Drag..." as if they don't know that and as if they didn't grow up with it or were adults when it came out is a motivating factor to turn on him? Or that bringing up the elements of Drag he likes is going to make him seem undesirable as if where they'd turn after that would be somewhere better?

It's silly...

[BentleyB]

Posted: 5/20/25 at 12:52pm

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 members at a dinner in the White House’s State Dining Room, Mr. Grenell said that officials who looked at the center’s budgets for the last two years had “found $26 million in phantom revenue, fake revenue.”

[Back Row]

Posted: 5/20/25 at 1:24pm

BentleyB said: "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 members at a dinner in the White House’s State Dining Room, Mr. Grenell said that officials who looked at the center’s budgets for the last two years had “found $26 million in phantom revenue, fake revenue.”"

The default response to any claims made by Trump or his representatives should always be “they’re lying their ass off”, because the record shows that with the overwhelming majority of claims, that is the case. 
 

I have no idea what the truth is regarding the physical or financial condition of the Kennedy Center, but I do know that the absolute last place I would look for the truth is from Trump and his cronies. 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 5/20/25 at 2:31pm

He was just on TV yapping about ‘inappropriate’ programming, including a Lesbian Shakespeare and a dance for queer & transgender youth….the latter which the demented dictator let slip, “might be good for some people”. I wonder if his supporters will be upset at that comment or completely ignore it. 

[kdogg36]

Posted: 5/20/25 at 8:56pm

TheatreFan4 said: "It's silly..."

I respect the point you're making, but I think it would be best if we saved our pointed or dismissive (rather than respectful) criticism for Trumpers.

[kdogg36]

Posted: 5/20/25 at 9:03pm

Does the lack of mention of any Broadway Center Stage productions mean that this program has been cancelled? I don't know whether or not those shows have typically been announced with the rest of the theater season. I'm a local who won't be going to Trump's Kennedy Center anyhow; I'm just curious.

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 5/20/25 at 9:38pm

kdogg36 said: "Does the lack of mention of any Broadway Center Stage productions mean that this program has been cancelled? I don't know whether or notthose shows have typically been announced with the rest of the theater season. I'm a local who won't be going to Trump's Kennedy Center anyhow; I'm just curious."

Last year’s season, including the Broadway Center Stage shows, was announced on May 7. So you may be onto something  

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 5/20/25 at 10:00pm

Menken Fan said: "kdogg36 said: "Does the lack of mention of any Broadway Center Stage productions mean that this program has been cancelled? I don't know whether or notthose shows have typically been announced with the rest of the theater season. I'm a local who won't be going to Trump's Kennedy Center anyhow; I'm just curious."

Last year’s season, including the Broadway Center Stage shows, was announced on May 7. So you may be onto something"

Is this the program that the recent Spelling Bee and Spamalot revivals came from? That Legally Blonde was supposed to play?

[Menken Fan]

Posted: 5/20/25 at 10:10pm

GottaGetAGimmick420 said: "Menken Fan said: "kdogg36 said: "Does the lack of mention of any Broadway Center Stage productions mean that this program has been cancelled? I don't know whether or notthose shows have typically been announced with the rest of the theater season. I'm a local who won't be going to Trump's Kennedy Center anyhow; I'm just curious."

Last year’s season, including the Broadway Center Stage shows, was announced on May 7. So you may be onto something"

Is this the program that the recent Spelling Bee and Spamalot revivals came from? That Legally Blonde was supposed to play?"

Yes, those three were announced as part of Broadway Center Stage last year.