Kennedy Center staff describe climate of fear as events drop from calendar

[cigaretteman]

The fallout from President Donald Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center’s board and purge of its leadership continued Thursday, as the center’s staff worried about the storied arts institution and shows began to disappear from its lineup.

Comedian, actress and Hollywood creator Issa Rae said on Instagram that she was pulling her sold-out show, “An Evening With Issa Rae,” from the slate of programming, becoming the first major artist to publicly cancel an upcoming show at the Kennedy Center.

“Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I’ve decided to cancel my appearance at this venue,” she wrote, adding that tickets will be refunded.

The cancellation comes the day after the new board of trustees installed Trump as its new chair, while also voting to terminate Deborah Rutter as president and making former acting director of national intelligence Richard Grenell interim president.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2025/02/13/kennedy-center-issa-rae-staff-fallout/

 

[franklinman]

They will just go silent for 4 years, not a problem.

 

[Aardvark86]

They will just go silent for 4 years, not a problem.

or, if markets do what they tend to do, ticket prices may become more affordable

also, i certainly give the kc an a for effort over the years, but the reality is that dc is largely a cultural wasteland and always will be, due to the moderating influence of government town dynamics which run at cross purposes to the innovation dynamic of the creative arts

 

[Scruddy]

"We're so scared!!!"

Just another day in leftist land tbh

 

[Titus Andronicus]

There must be something going on; are they solvent?

I checked today's lineup, and they are presenting "Crime and Punishment: the Ballet."

Tickets start at $27 and apparently are still available. Even in Las Vegas, Ballet tickets are well north of $!00 ... and that sounds like a great show. It is based on Dostoevsky's novel of the same name.

I bet Donald and Melania ... and most certainly Usha will be in attendance.

Of course, it might be a little highbrow for the DC crowd.

 

[The Tradition]

Good grief. What a bunch of snowflakes.

 

[uihawk82]

Trump just has to be in charge so he can wreck something else.

Does anyone know the deep grudge that trump has for the Center?

 

[Aardvark86]

Trump just has to be in charge so he can wreck something else.

Does anyone know the deep grudge that trump has for the Center?

It was with Rubinstein

 

[BioHawk]

Good grief. What a bunch of snowflakes.

You can either stand by and shrug your shoulders at authoritarian dictatorships, or you can find ways to fight in your own way. They've certainly done more than the so-called "We need our guns to fight tyranny!!" crowd.

 

[Hammerhead02]

or, if markets do what they tend to do, ticket prices may become more affordable

also, i certainly give the kc an a for effort over the years, but the reality is that dc is largely a cultural wasteland and always will be, due to the moderating influence of government town dynamics which run at cross purposes to the innovation dynamic of the creative arts

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

 

[Scruddy]

I imagine fear is a constant feeling for those people lol

 

[zappaa]

Meanwhile, every event Trump attends at a sold out massive venue filled with NORMAL Americans, he gets a thunderous ovation.
That would include any Hawkeye game.


Next stop Daytona 500

 

[Huey Grey]

Meanwhile, every event Trump attends at a sold out massive venue filled with NORMAL Americans, he gets a thunderous ovation.
That would include any Hawkeye event if he attended.
Next stop Daytona 500

Pretty sure the Superbowl would be sold out without Trump, genius.

 

[artradley]

or, if markets do what they tend to do, ticket prices may become more affordable

also, i certainly give the kc an a for effort over the years, but the reality is that dc is largely a cultural wasteland and always will be, due to the moderating influence of government town dynamics which run at cross purposes to the innovation dynamic of the creative arts

Gotta defend the indefensible.

 

[zappaa]

Pretty sure the Superbowl would be sold out without Trump, genius.

Ok Forest!
Quite the take

 

[artradley]

Good grief. What a bunch of snowflakes.

The snowflake in chief purged the staff to install himself because they have hurt his feelings over the years. The powerless are doing what they can to stand up to a psychotic bully.

Stop defending this lunatic.

 

[Tom Paris]

Good grief. What a bunch of snowflakes.

Projection.

 

[Huey Grey]

Ok Forest!

Not that any of this matters. If he had the midas touch artists would be scrambling to get in. Instead the venue circles the drain. You can make excuses, but you know it's true. Everything he touches goes to shit.

 

[Aardvark86]

Gotta defend the indefensible.

Not defending anything.

Dc is and has always been a cultural wasteland, with the exception of chuck brown and Eva Cassidy

 

[gojojo]

I seem to recall learing about another powerful leader who took control of what art his nation could view in history class in hs.

 

[zappaa]

I seem to recall learing about another powerful leader who took control of what art his nation could view in history class in hs.

Porno?

 

[mnole03]

Dc is and has always been a cultural wasteland, with the exception of chuck brown and Eva Cassidy

This is nonsense. It’s not New York, but nowhere else is.

DC has some of the best museums in the world and the Kennedy Center had great theater. The National Symphony Orchestra is top ten in the United States. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is also excellent.

You’re speaking like DC is Miami. Trust me, it isn’t.

 

[Aardvark86]

This is nonsense. It’s not New York, but nowhere else is.

DC has some of the best museums in the world and the Kennedy Center had great theater. The National Symphony Orchestra is top ten in the United States. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is also excellent.

You’re speaking like DC is Miami. Trust me, it isn’t.

I think you’ve missed the point. There is almost no innovation which is sorta what it’s about. On that front Dc probably ranks below Bristol.

Btw no self respecting dmv person cites Baltimore for anything

 

[mnole03]

Btw no self respecting dmv person cites Baltimore for anything

Half of their schedule is in Bethesda and College Park.

 

[artradley]

Not defending anything.

Dc is and has always been a cultural wasteland, with the exception of chuck brown and Eva Cassidy

Yes, you are. You always do. Usually by deflecting, as you are continuing to do here. Enablers like you are a big part of the problem.

 

[NoWokeBloke]

I imagine fear is a constant feeling for those people lol

Which is caused by their stupidity

 

[lucas80]

Yes, you are. You always do. Usually by deflecting, as you are continuing to do here. Enablers like you are a big part of the problem.

He’s approaching a Susan Collins level of concern.

 

[RicoSuave102954]

The fallout from President Donald Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center’s board and purge of its leadership continued Thursday, as the center’s staff worried about the storied arts institution and shows began to disappear from its lineup.

Comedian, actress and Hollywood creator Issa Rae said on Instagram that she was pulling her sold-out show, “An Evening With Issa Rae,” from the slate of programming, becoming the first major artist to publicly cancel an upcoming show at the Kennedy Center.

“Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I’ve decided to cancel my appearance at this venue,” she wrote, adding that tickets will be refunded.

The cancellation comes the day after the new board of trustees installed Trump as its new chair, while also voting to terminate Deborah Rutter as president and making former acting director of national intelligence Richard Grenell interim president.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2025/02/13/kennedy-center-issa-rae-staff-fallout/

 

[bcherod]

I totally

or, if markets do what they tend to do, ticket prices may become more affordable

also, i certainly give the kc an a for effort over the years, but the reality is that dc is largely a cultural wasteland and always will be, due to the moderating influence of government town dynamics which run at cross purposes to the innovation dynamic of the creative arts

disagree.

The Smithsonian, the National Archives, LOC, DAR, Zoo, and multiple music and arts museums hardly make it cultural wasteland.

The art that I have seen rivals New York and Paris. I traveled down to see the Hokusai exhibit, but I’m betting you don’t know who that is.

 

[bhawk24bob]

I think you’ve missed the point. There is almost no innovation which is sorta what it’s about. On that front Dc probably ranks below Bristol.

Btw no self respecting dmv person cites Baltimore for anything

I think the feeling is mutual

 

[ft254]

I think you’ve missed the point. There is almost no innovation which is sorta what it’s about. On that front Dc probably ranks below Bristol.

Btw no self respecting dmv person cites Baltimore for anything

Tell us the dates you've spent in Baltimore. Or are you simply echoing right-wing trash.

 

[ft254]

Tell us the dates you've spent in Baltimore. Or are you simply echoing right-wing trash.

Bumping my own post. LoL emojis. Imagine this. Worldly MAGA red necks with no doubt tons of urban experience berating Baltimore.