President Trump is chair of the Kennedy Center

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad that Trump stands up for beauty. He put out an EO on day 1 that all federally funded architecture must be beautiful. Now he's taking over the Kennedy Center and kicking out the uglies. This is great.

He put himself in charge, so he’s definitely not kicking out the uglies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He is distracting from Elon Musk stealing people’s data and secrets.

Keep your eye on the ball.

Yeah, he has to prove he's the REAL President after this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He can’t even do stuff that doesn’t matter that much without doing something illegal.

I'm sure this is true. So who will stop it?

Things dictators do...^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad that Trump stands up for beauty. He put out an EO on day 1 that all federally funded architecture must be beautiful. Now he's taking over the Kennedy Center and kicking out the uglies. This is great.

He is fugly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He is distracting from Elon Musk stealing people’s data and secrets.

Keep your eye on the ball.

Yeah, he has to prove he's the REAL President after this

By doing his weird double jerking giraffe dance on Kennedy center stage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Wonder what his issue with drag shows is? He wears more makeup than most drag queens. If anything, drag queens could teach Trump how to beat his face and blend properly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He can’t even do stuff that doesn’t matter that much without doing something illegal.

Panama, Canada, and Mexico all stood up to him and won.

And even the Daily Caller is against the dumb Gaza resort idea.

They need to stand up against him.

He must be running out of ideas to toss into the “muzzle velocity” (Steve Bannon’s term) overflow of ideas to overwhelm the public so they can hide their most evil doings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It really just has become a string of stupid the last few days. Has he really run out of material this quickly...

He is demented.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Wonder what his issue with drag shows is? He wears more makeup than most drag queens. If anything, drag queens could teach Trump how to beat his face and blend properly.

Same as all the conservatives that get so riled up. They are secretly attracted to the drag queens so the drag queens must be stopped. They are so threatened........

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Going to see Alvin Ailey there tomorrow. Perhaps the fact they are at the KC most years accounts for the Big Mad. (Actually, he’s probably Big Mad that Caroline Kennedy tried to tank RFK, Jrs HHS nomination).

Anyway, this is a stunt. And a ridiculous one at that. He’ll forget about it next week. Or the second he realizes he’d actually have to go to events at the KC. Or discuss dance and plays. And isn’t keeping me away.

Plus, doesn’t Trump already have a pretty big job? So now he’s also calling and booking acts? Deciding which ballets are classical enough? Choosing operas? I don’t see it.

BTW— some federal funds are used for upkeep and maintenance of the KC because it’s JFK’s national memorial. But it’s a relatively small percentage of their budget. The vast majority of the cost to run it comes from ticket sales and private contributions. And they do have an endowment they can draw from. Someone like Rubinstein (current chair and I doubt he draws a $1M salary) will come in and cover any federal funding before they will let Trump anywhere near programming.

Coming it of COVID, they have made an effort to diversify the programming, which has been nice. Trump says DEI, I say programming that appeals to a younger and more diverse audience. It’s good business— they aren’t going to continue to fill seats and stay culturally relevant if they only have Boomer approved programming. I’ve seen some things like Black Violin and Ballet Hispanico there that have been excellent. They do some hip hop, which isn’t my thing, but likely brings in people who would otherwise never come. They do some fun NSO pops, like showing Star Wars movies with the NSO playing the soundtrack (also do this for a couple movies each summer at Wolftrap). And, of course, Alvin Ailey, a perineal fav. (It is kind of interesting as a white woman to go to a sold out ballet with a 75% Black audience. Feels like they are doing something right if they can get ballet/dance to a crowd that isn’t mostly 60 year old white women.

And a reminder that DEI has a place. In this case, featuring high caliber programming that appeals to a broader audience.

All that said— no one tell Trump about Wolftrap.

Rubenstein announced his retirement in Jan 2024. No one else took the role so the plan was Rutter retiring 1st and Rubenstein was staying on for the new president search. https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2024/01/29/david-rubenstein-kennedy-center-chairman/

How much was spent on the Reach? Revenue? Ailey is in no way a DEI initiative and is not relevant to this discussion. appeals to all and is a major annual box office hit for program service revenue. That is ticket sales. Always a great show. Feb 12th is the start of American Ballet Theatre's annual program at the Kennedy Center. Crime & Punishment. New full length ballet that was panned by critics during it's performances in NYC at the Koch-Lincoln Center fall 2024. Terrible advanced sales for ABT at the Kennedy Center. Can't even sell full house 1st tier for cheap $15 open relearsal tickets. One Kennedy Center program last season had such poor sales they closed new sales for the Opera House 1st tier and 2nd tier of the theatre.

[Anonymous]

This is great news for Boebert. She can vape and grope her boyfriend during a performance without fear of being asked to leave! Beauty! Winning!

[Anonymous]

OMG noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

I think I will withhold my donation until I see what happens. This is sad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He has fired the board and will look to turn it into a great arts organization.

outstanding news.

if there was one organization that demonstrated how income equality has decimated the middle class it is this.

expensive, exclusive, elite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He has fired the board and will look to turn it into a great arts organization.

hope they have success.

have not attended a Kennedy center show in 15 years.

I use local theater in NOVA.

too expensive.