Last week President Donald Trump was elected chair of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., one of the most popular theaters in the country that hosts everything performing arts, including theater shows, concerts and comedy shows.
“I’ve seen several [shows at the Kennedy Center],” sophomore Emma Tulowitzky said. “But my most recent was ‘Bye, Bye, Birdie.’ And it was great. I got to see one of my favorite actors live. It was an amazing experience. I love going there. I mean, my family goes there whenever we can.”
Right after his election, Trump purged the existing Board of all members elected by former President Joe Biden, choosing to replace them with a wake of his own supporters — a list that includes Second Lady Usha Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Among those not elected by Biden, many others involved with the Center have resigned, such as Barack Obama appointed “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Bridgerton” producer, Shonda Rhimes.
Trump’s goal is to cleanse the Center of “woke culture.” After firing five board members, many shows have been cancelled, including the National Symphony Orchestra’s LGBTQ+ celebration concert, “A Peacock Among Pigeons.”
“People need to be involved in the world of theater, because it makes people happy, and we shouldn’t discriminate against something that, you know, is such a joy-giver,” Tulowitzky said. “And it makes the world seem so much brighter. And I think that discrimination has no place in an environment where that happens.”
But more common than direct interference from the Board are shows and performers pulling out due to conflicting morals with the newly appointed Board. For example, Amanda Rheaume, a queer, Canadian member of the Métis community, elected to pull out of an upcoming promotional concert for her upcoming album, “The Truth We Hold,” which details her experience being a member of the mixed-race Indigenous Canadian group. Many other groups and performers have followed suit, citing ethical and moral holdouts for continuing to perform under the new leadership.
Trump’s goal to “cleanse” the center will likely center on an attack on LGBTQ+ shows, such as the above mentioned National Symphony Orchestra concert. He will likely focus on ensuring drag performances won’t be held at the Center from now on, which he cites to be dangerous to the minds of young children, despite the majority of drag shows at the Kennedy Center being targeted towards adults.
“I think that it’s ridiculous that this could be happening in general, because it’s just really depriving people of, you know, different opinions and just the joy of seeing a show that maybe you wanted to see for a long time,” Tulowitzky said. “It’s just ridiculous. I hate it.”
