The Seattle Children’s Theatre and the vocal ensemble Vocal Arts DC are among the latest artistic groups to cancel Kennedy Center performances. The cancellations follow the Trump administration’s recent ousting of the Kennedy Center’s leadership and an announced plan to rename the institution the Trump-Kennedy Center, a change scholars say requires congressional approval. Multiple artists, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Issa Rae, and Bela Fleck, have already withdrawn in protest.
The cancellations mark another phase in a broader series of performance withdrawals from the Kennedy Center following the Trump administration’s institutional changes.
Kevin Malgesini, managing director of the Seattle Children’s Theatre, said the “landscape in which the production was originally created has changed to an extent” that continuing with “Young Dragon: A Bruce Lee Story” as planned was no longer possible. The production had been scheduled for a two-week run in April.
Vocal Arts DC cited practical business factors in its decision to cancel performances scheduled for February, March, and May. The vocal ensemble said it faced “lower ticket sales, frequent refund requests, and a decline of donations.” Featured performers were to have included tenor Benjamin Bernheim and pianist Carrie-Ann Matheson.
Trump Administration Overhauls Kennedy Center
The Trump administration ousted the Kennedy Center’s leadership in recent weeks and announced its hand-picked board would rename the Washington institution the Trump-Kennedy Center. Scholars said that change can only be implemented by Congress.
Trump has positioned the Kennedy Center as central to what he describes as a battle against “woke” culture. The institution, which enjoyed decades of bipartisan political support, has become a focal point for the administration’s cultural agenda.
High-Profile Artists Withdraw
Additional cancellations follow a growing number of artistic withdrawals from the Kennedy Center. Lin-Manuel Miranda, Issa Rae, and Bela Fleck have already withdrawn performances in protest of the leadership changes and renaming plan.
Beyond Direct Criticism
Neither of the two most recent cancellation announcements directly criticized the Trump administration or the institutional changes. Instead, the theater and ensemble framed their decisions in terms of operational circumstances and business pressures.
The Kennedy Center’s schedule no longer lists an April tribute concert to John Coltrane, who would have turned 100 this year. Two of the billed musicians did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
A Kennedy Center spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.