Latest news with #DeborahF.Rutter
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Actors Equity Condemns Trump-Run Kennedy Center for Canceling Children's Musical ‘Finn': ‘Beyond Appalling'
The Actors' Equity Association is 'outraged' and 'disturbed' over The Kennedy Center's choice to cancel the upcoming tour of 'Finn.' 'Finn' is a coming-of-age story about a shark that with dreams of following in the family footsteps by joining the Shark Guard. The underwater musical explores themes of self-discovery and friendship and appeared at the Kennedy Center in November and December 2024. Now, the national tour of the children's musical is off. 'We are outraged at the news that The Kennedy Center has canceled the upcoming tour of 'Finn', a musical for young audiences that just concluded an acclaimed run at the theatre,' the statement read. 'Since its founding, the Kennedy Center has represented the full breadth of American culture; It is disturbing to see the new leadership of this institution move so swiftly to suppress viewpoints they do not agree with. And it is beyond appalling that the art they find so dangerous is a joyful children's musical encouraging young people to be true to themselves and follow their dreams.' The statement continued, 'Actors' Equity Association stands with the company of this production and is watching developments carefully. The union intends to fully enforce our contracts with The Kennedy Center. Equity reminds its members that if they experience any difficulty with their contracts at the Kennedy Center, they should reach out to their business reps immediately.' News of the canceled tour comes only a day after President Donald Trump was 'unanimously' elected as chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The move came after sitting president Deborah F. Rutter was fired from her post. Since Trump's installment of himself as chairman, a number of prominent resignations were announced. The first was singer-songwriter Ben Folds who resigned as artistic advisor of the center's National Symphony Orchestra. Shortly after, Shonda Rhimes resigned from her post as an officer on the board, where she served as treasurer. Rhimes was appointed to the position by President Barack Obama. Issa Rae also announced today that she was cancelling her upcoming spotlight event at the Kennedy Center citing recent events as placing 'an infringement on' its artistic values. 'Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I've decided to cancel my appearance at this venue,' Rae wrote on her Instagram stories. The post Actors Equity Condemns Trump-Run Kennedy Center for Canceling Children's Musical 'Finn': 'Beyond Appalling' appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New Kennedy Center board elects Trump as chairman
President Trump says he's now the chair of the Kennedy Center following a vote by its board after, in an unprecedented move, he named himself to the position. 'It is a Great Honor to be Chairman of The Kennedy Center, especially with this amazing Board of Trustees,' Trump wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. 'We will make The Kennedy Center a very special and exciting place!' the president said. A White House official told The Hill the president participated in the board meeting on Wednesday to elect him. The Kennedy Center confirmed Trump's election as its board chairman in a Wednesday news release, saying that and other leadership changes were 'effectively immediately.' 'The Board also terminated Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter's contract and announced Richard Grenell as interim Kennedy Center President,' it said in its statement. Some the board's new members include: 'God Bless the USA' singer and ardent Trump supporter Lee Greenwood, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, second lady Usha Vance and senior adviser Dan Scavino, among others. Around the same time as Trump's social media post, musician Ben Folds said he would resign as artistic adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra, 'given developments at the Kennedy Center.' 'It's been a wonderful 8 years' the former Ben Folds Five singer wrote on Instagram, saying he and the Kennedy Center's staff encouraged 'thousands of fresh new audiences to appreciate symphonic music.' The election of a sitting president came after a surprise announcement last week by Trump, saying he would 'immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.' 'We will soon announce a new Board, with an amazing Chairman, DONALD J. TRUMP!' he said on Friday. The move to make himself chair replaced billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein. While the co-founder of the private equity firm Carlyle Group has ties to former President Biden, Rubenstein previously told ITK, 'I don't support any candidate any time anywhere. I don't give any money to politicians, no matter who they are. I've never given a penny to anybody running for president of the United States.' On Monday, Trump said he tapped Grenell, his envoy for special missions, as the interim executive director of the Kennedy Center. That same day, Trump said, 'We took over the Kennedy Center. We didn't like what they were showing.' 'We're going to make sure that it's good and it's not going to be woke. There's no more woke in this country,' he said. Online he added: 'Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP.' Alex Gangitano contributed. Updated at 4:56 p.m. EST Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
