The Gladstone theatre unveils lineup for next season
The Gladstone has unveiled the lineup for next season. See what shows are hitting the stage!
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CTV News
27 minutes ago
- CTV News
Trump booed and cheered at the Kennedy Center while attending ‘Les Miserables'
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive to view opening night of "Les Miserables," at the Kennedy Center, Wednesday, June 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) WASHINGTON — A tuxedo-wearing U.S. President Donald Trump was booed and cheered as he took his seat for the opening night of 'Les Miserables' at the Kennedy Center, bringing his own dose of political drama to the theatrical production that was unfolding onstage. It was his first time attending a show there since becoming president, reflecting his focus on remaking the institution in his image while asserting more control over the country's cultural landscape. 'We want to bring it back, and we want to bring it back better than ever,' Trump said while walking down the red carpet with first lady Melania Trump. The Republican president has a particular affection for 'Les Miserables,' the sprawling musical set in 19th-century France, and has occasionally played its songs at his events. One of them, 'Do You Hear the People Sing?,' is a revolutionary rallying cry inspired by the 1832 rebellion against the French king. Opening night had a MAGA-does-Broadway feel. Ric Grenell, the Trump-appointed interim leader of the Kennedy Center, stood nearby as the president spoke to reporters. Attorney General Pam Bondi chatted with other guests. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took selfies with attendees. Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, were also there. There were more precautions than usual, given the guest list, and ticketholders had their bags searched after walking through magnetometers. Canned soda was on sale for $8, while a glass of wine cost $19. Terry Gee, a bartender, bought his ticket for the show in November and didn't mind Trump's presence. It's his sixth time seeing 'Les Miserables,' and he said, 'I'm going to enjoy the show regardless.' Hannah Watkins, a nurse, only learned that Trump would be there when the Kennedy Center distributed information about extra security and she searched online to see what was happening. 'I've seen a lot of famous people so far, which is exciting,' said Watkins, who had claimed a spot near the VIP entrance with her mother. 'Honestly, we just like `Les Mis' and are excited to be here.' However, when the lights went down and the show began, there were empty seats in the balconies and even in the orchestra section. Before Trump, presidential involvement in the Kennedy Center's affairs had been limited to naming members to the board of trustees and attending the taping of its annual honors program in the fall. But after returning to office in January, Trump stunned the arts world by firing the Kennedy Center's longtime director and board and replacing them with loyalists, who then named him as chairman. Trump promised to overhaul its programming, management and even appearance as part of an effort to put his stamp on the national arts scene. His latest moves have upset some of the center's patrons and performers. In March, the audience booed the Vances after they slipped into upper-level seats to hear the National Symphony Orchestra. Trump appointed Usha Vance to the Kennedy Center board along with Bondi, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles and Fox News Channel hosts Maria Bartiromo and Laura Ingraham, among other supporters. Sales of subscription packages are said to have declined since Trump's takeover, and several touring productions, including 'Hamilton,' have canceled planned runs at the center. Actor Issa Rae and musician Rhiannon Giddens scrapped scheduled appearances, and Kennedy Center consultants including musician Ben Folds and singer Renee Fleming resigned. Understudies may have performed in some roles Wednesday night because of boycotts by 'Les Miserables' cast members, but Trump said he wasn't bothered by anyone skipping the performance. 'I couldn't care less,' he said. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has adopted a more aggressive posture toward the arts. The White House has taken steps to cancel millions of dollars in previously awarded federal humanities grants to arts and culture groups, and Trump's budget blueprint proposed eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Trump has also targeted Smithsonian museums by signing executive orders to restrict their funding and by attempting to fire the director of the National Portrait Gallery. Trump characterized previous programming at the Kennedy Center as 'out of control with rampant political propaganda' and said it featured 'some very inappropriate shows,' including a 'Marxist anti-police performance' and 'lesbian-only Shakespeare.' The Kennedy Center, which is supported by government money and private donations, opened in 1971 and for decades has been seen as an apolitical celebration of the arts. It was first conceived in the late 1950s during the administration of Republican President Dwight Eisenhower, who backed a bill from the Democratic-led Congress calling for a National Culture Center. In the early 1960s, Democratic President John F. Kennedy launched a fundraising initiative, and his successor, President Lyndon B. Johnson, signed into law a 1964 bill renaming the project the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. Kennedy had been assassinated the year before. Associated Press writer Mark Kennedy in New York and Chris Megerian in Washington contributed to this report. Darlene Superville, Associated Press
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Ananda Lewis, former MTV VJ who shared breast cancer journey, has died at 52
Ananda Lewis, seen here during the 2005 MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles, has died. (Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images via CNN Newsource) Ananda Lewis, a former MTV VJ who connected a generation of music fans to their favorite celebrities in the network's heyday, has died. She was reportedly 52. The news was confirmed by her sister Lakshmi Emory, who posted a tribute on Facebook. No further details were available. CNN has reached out to representatives for Lewis for further comment and information. Lewis had been battling breast cancer in recent years, recently speaking with CNN about her treatment. She revealed in October of last year that her cancer had progressed to stage IV. Lewis was a fixture on MTV's programming during part of the network's lineup in the '90s, appearing on 'MTV Live' as host, among other titles. She also had her own talk show, 'The Ananda Lewis Show,' from 2001 to 2002, hosting over 250 episodes.
National Post
5 hours ago
- National Post
Joey Chestnut in talks for return to July 4 hot dog eating contest
The greatest competitive eater of all time has an appetite for more. Article content Article content According to TMZ Sports, Chestnut and Major League Eating actively are negotiating towards seeing the 16-time champion of the event return after a year on the sidelines due to a contractual beef. Article content The outlet also says that both sides are eager to get a deal in place for the event which is less than a month away. Article content Chestnut wasn't allowed by MLE to compete in last year's edition of the marquee eating contest due to his sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods — which TMZ reports is no longer a factor in discussions. Article content While Chestnut claimed that he was banned from the contest for signing with 'a rival brand,' MLE said that it was Chestnut's own choice to not compete this year in the contest that he had won 16 of the previous 17 years. Article content 'Joey was not banned. Joey chose not to compete in the contest the moment he chose to make an endorsement deal with one of Nathan's competitors,' an MLE rep told the New York Post at the time. Article content Patrick Bertoletti, who won the 2024 contest, admitted his victory had an asterisk due to the long-reigning champion's absence. Article content Chestnut did take part in a hot dog eating competition last summer, going head-to-head with long-time rival Takeru Kobayashi in a showdown streamed live on Netflix. Article content
