Washington, D.C.’s arts group continues to be reeling from modifications made to management on the John F. Kennedy Middle for the Performing Arts.
Lower than 24 hours after the announcement that President Donald Trump had been voted as chair of the board of trustees, the Kennedy Middle is seeing fallout from featured performers and a few of the remaining board members.
“I really don’t want to see any changes. I like it how it is,” mentioned one girl who attended a costume rehearsal efficiency on the Kennedy Middle on Wednesday.
The humanities venue and monument to JFK, lengthy a bipartisan establishment within the District, eliminated billionaire David Rubenstein as chair of the board of trustees and changed him with Trump. The board — that includes 14 new members appointed by the president after he eliminated 18 Democratic appointees — additionally eliminated longtime president Deborah Rutter.
Posting on his personal social media app, TruthSocial, after the vote, Trump mentioned, “It is a Great Honor to be Chairman of The Kennedy Center, especially with this amazing Board of Trustees. We will make The Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place!”
President Trump is formally the brand new chair of the Kennedy Middle. News4 has response from viewers members, performers and the Kennedy household.
The takeover has already created ripple results.
Shonda Rhimes, Emmy-winning creator of TV reveals together with “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Bridgerton,” resigned from her place because the board’s treasurer late Wednesday night time. Rhimes was appointed by former President Barack Obama.
Author and actor Issa Rae, who was scheduled to headline an occasion on the Kennedy Middle in March, introduced on Instagram that she is pulling her present.
“Hey D.C. Fam,” she started the publish to her Instagram story. “Thank you so much for selling out the Kennedy Center for “An Night With [Me].” 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.”
Rae added that every one tickets to the canceled occasion could be refunded.
Some D.C. residents who’ve given cash to grow to be members of the Kennedy Middle at the moment are rethinking their patronage. Rod Divelbiss, who has been a member for the previous two years, now believes his cash may very well be higher spent elsewhere.
“I’m happy to donate to a nonprofit that helps artists, whether they’re at the Kennedy Center or otherwise, but I am very — we are very reluctant to have anything to do [with something] that is headed by Donald J. Trump,” he mentioned.
“Why would he do it? Other than he’s a bully and he can,” Divelbiss mentioned.
President Donald Trump has fired then Kennedy Middle board and named himself as chair. News4’s Dominique Moody has the newest.
The triple risk of artists pulling out, donors ending donations and management criticizing the programming means performers like Rebecca Herron are nervous concerning the Kennedy Middle’s future.
“It’s, it’s hard to comprehend that it’s real, and it’s hard to know what it will mean,” Herron mentioned. “I mean, how long has it been? Less than 24 hours.”
Herron, one of many founders of Greatest Medication Rep Theatre Firm in Gaithersburg, Maryland, has carried out on the Kennedy Middle many occasions. She’s additionally a frequent patron.
She has tickets to a present in July, however now, she’s questioning if that efficiency will likely be pulled, too.
“It’s specifically on a POC-centric view about how there has been whitewashing in films,” Herron mentioned. “And I worry that that show in July might not happen.”
“Bold” and “fearless” describes drag performer Tara Hoot, who has up to now accomplished a drag story time — a studying for youngsters — at one of many Kennedy Middle’s smaller venues.
“The Kennedy Center is one of those places that you just dream of performing in, or just walking into,” Tara Hoot mentioned. “It just takes your breath away when you walk in.”
In a social media publish, Trump criticized the Kennedy Middle for having “featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth,” linking the 18 trustee terminations to one in all his central objectives of shutting down range, fairness and inclusion programming — generally known as DEI.
DEI stands for range, fairness and inclusion and focuses on fostering equitable environments in companies and faculties, significantly for traditionally marginalized communities.
“It’s a place where art is created, and art is beautiful, and it’s gorgeous, and it’s thought provoking, and it’s diverse,” Tara Hoot mentioned of the Kennedy Middle. “And it’s just a place where I feel celebrated and love walking in those doors.”
Tara Hoot’s official Instagram account has introduced a tongue-in-cheek marketing campaign for Kennedy Middle board chair, and an in-person protest — a “Queer and Trans Dance Party” was scheduled to happen Thursday night.
“If Trump says he doesn’t want drag happening at the Kennedy Center, guess what’s going to happen?” mentioned Frankie Seaborn, a member of one of many teams organizing the protest. “There’s going to be a drag show right outside the center, because he doesn’t get to dictate what the people of D.C. do.”
