Posted on 12/30/2025 8:10:39 AM PST by Miami Rebel
A veteran jazz ensemble and a New York dance company have canceled events at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, intensifying the fallout at one of the nation’s pre-eminent arts centers after it was renamed to include President Trump. The center had previously promoted two New Year’s Eve performances by the Cookers as an “all-star jazz septet that will ignite the Terrace Theater stage with fire and soul.” But those performances, like an annual Christmas Eve jazz concert hosted by Chuck Redd, are now canceled. The Cookers did not give a reason for the decision in a statement on Monday that said, “Jazz was born from struggle and from a relentless insistence on freedom: freedom of thought, of expression, and of the full human voice.” But the band’s drummer, Billy Hart, told The New York Times that the center’s name change had “evidently” played a role. He acknowledged that the group was concerned about possible reprisals. Doug Varone and Dancers, a New York dance company, also said on Monday that it was canceling two performances in April that had been intended to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Mr. Varone, the head of the company, said it would lose $40,000 by pulling out. “It is financially devastating but morally exhilarating,” he said in an email. Richard Grenell, the Kennedy Center’s chairman, said in a statement on Monday night that the artists canceling shows were “far-left political activists” and that they had been booked by previous leadership. “Boycotting the arts to show you support the arts is a form of derangement syndrome,” he said. After Mr. Redd canceled the Christmas Eve concert, Mr. Grenell called it “classic intolerance” and threatened a $1 million lawsuit.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I have never heard a better description of a progressive.
Strait is great but he’s no kid anymore
I saw George Winston and Philip Glass there fifty years ago
It’s ok
Kind of vaunted for where it is
In attaching his name to the Kennedy Center, Trump has defiled the altar of certain lefty goons, whose idea of art defiles the rest of the nation.
Tear the altar down. Replace it with a Somali “learing center.”
Then the Trump-Kennedy center will continue to have “last minute” cancellations - obviously done on purpose to disrupt the schedule and “take a stand against Trump.”
Have them sign contracts for performances so they can then be sued for breech of contract.
And, of course, the leftist slime waits until right before to cancel in order to make replacing his sorry ass difficult to do.
Nice reply.
Source not supplied.
And I remain, "sticking it" to you.
Bring in Kid Rock :)
They are already sign contracts and they have been willing to break them to virtue signal and are doing it for the reasons you gave—to hurt Trump and MAGA and to keep their membership in the Liberal Club. Part of it in their eyes is survival long-term. If they were to perform at the Trump Center they might not get jobs at other venues, might not get recording contracts, might tick off investors, etc. It’s a calculated risk that they feel will benefit them long term.
Why is the government in the theater business in the first place?
(((YAWN)))
SOB lefties.
I would not be surprised that all the lefties in DC are not buying tickets. They probably stopped buying tickets way before Trump added his name.
Source will never be supplied especially not to a rude person like you. However, I know what I am talking about. You do not.
You are correct.
Google “kennedy center ticket sales”
Sales have plummeted all year (before the renaming.) Spamalot, which regularly got full houses, was moved to a smaller theater within the center and a number of events have been discounted (CPAC by 50%) or have even been free of any charge (the FIFA World Cup draw.)
Meanwhile, a $257 million renovation project has been announced.
I should clarify—many stopped buying tickets when he took over last winter. It’s much worse now.
The National Cultural Center Act of 1958 was promoted by the Eisenhower administration.
LOL! My post contained one word, "Source?". LOL. You are the one who replied "rudely".
However, I know what I am talking about. You do not.
LOL! MY post simply asked you a question.
Partially correct. FIFA was not a Kennedy Center event—I believe they rented the entire facility. You are exactly right about Spamelot and other events.
Performers will not book at a venue if they think they can not sell tickets. That’s the future. It will be embarrassing. I just don’t get it.
It implied I didn’t know what I was talking about while I was just making a quick comment based in inside info. As another posted, Google it. I’m not here to provide specific data for you.
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