The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, commonly known as the Kennedy Center, was opened in 1971 and is located on the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. It was named in honor of President John F. Kennedy, who had championed the idea of a national cultural center before his assassination in 1963. The center was established as a living memorial to Kennedy’s commitment to the arts and culture, and it has since become one of the premier cultural institutions in the United States.
The Kennedy Center is home to a variety of performance spaces, including the Concert Hall, Eisenhower Theater, and the family-friendly Terrace Theater. Over the years, it has hosted countless performances by leading artists in theater, dance, classical music, and other art forms. As a result, it plays a critical role in the cultural landscape of the nation’s capital and has also contributed to the broader American arts scene.
Throughout its history, the Kennedy Center has remained a nonpartisan entity, with its mission to offer the best of American and international arts to a wide audience. The Kennedy Center Honors, an annual event celebrating lifetime artistic achievements, further solidifies its status as a key institution in American culture. However, as leadership transitions continue, questions surrounding the center’s future direction and its potential political entanglements have stirred concern among artists and stakeholders.
The recent changes at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, including President Donald Trump's appointment as chairman and the removal of several key figures from the Board of Trustees, have led to a series of performance cancellations, artist withdrawals, and resignations. Below is a summary of the canceled shows, events, and performances, as well as the notable resignations:
Canceled Performances and Events:
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A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride – Cancelled due to leadership changes.
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Finn – Children’s musical about a shark’s journey to self-acceptance, cancelled for financial reasons.
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An Evening with Issa Rae – Scheduled for March 16, 2025, Rae cancelled over concerns regarding the institution’s new direction under Trump.
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Low Cut Connie – March 19, 2025, performance cancelled due to Trump’s involvement in the Kennedy Center.
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Rhiannon Giddens – May 11, 2025, performance moved to The Anthem, D.C., in response to the changes at the Kennedy Center.
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Various Shear Madness performances – Canceled between February and March 2025 due to low sales.
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Balun, NEMR, Megan Gailey, and more – Canceled due to artist availability, low sales, or artist decisions.
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NSO: A Peacock Among Pigeons – Postponed due to financial reasons.
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Hamilton (March/April 2026) – Canceled due to the Kennedy Center's new direction.
Staff and Board Resignations :
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Deborah Rutter – Former president, fired after Trump’s changes.
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David Rubenstein – Former chairman, removed as part of the board overhaul.
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Ben Folds – Resigned from the National Symphony Orchestra’s artistic advisor role.
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Shonda Rhimes – Resigned as treasurer of the Kennedy Center’s Board.
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Renée Fleming – Resigned as artistic advisor of the National Symphony Orchestra.
Reason for Cancellations:
The primary reason for cancellations is due to the Kennedy Center’s dramatic shift in leadership under President Trump, which has sparked backlash from artists, producers, and staff who oppose his involvement. Trump’s purging of the Kennedy Center's bipartisan board, along with his controversial stance on certain types of performances (e.g., drag shows), led to many artists withdrawing their participation.