Latest news with #LesMis'
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Les Misérables' Cast Members Plan To Boycott During Donald Trump's Kennedy Center Visit
Roughly a dozen members of a touring company of the musical 'Les Misérables' say they plan to sit out an upcoming performance that President Donald Trump is expected to attend. According to CNN, 'at least 10 to 12 performers' won't be taking the Kennedy Center stage for the June 11 evening show, when Trump will be in the audience. Sources told the outlet that principal stars and ensemble cast members are planning to skip the performance. The president's appearance also coincides with a planned Kennedy Center fundraiser, for which sponsorship levels are reportedly selling for up to $2 million. News of the 'Les Mis' boycott drew a scathing response from Richard Grenell, whom Trump appointed as the Kennedy Center's interim director in February as part of a controversial purge of the organization. 'Any performer who isn't professional enough to perform for patrons of all backgrounds, regardless of political affiliation, won't be welcomed,' Grenell's statement read, Entertainment Weekly reported. 'In fact, we think it would be important to out those vapid and intolerant artists to ensure producers know who they shouldn't hire — and that the public knows which shows have political litmus tests to sit in the audience.' 'Les Misérables,' one of the most successful stage musicals of the 1980s and '90s, is based on Victor Hugo's classic novel depicting the Paris Uprising of 1832. The debut production opened on Broadway in 1987 and won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. In 2013, Anne Hathaway won an Oscar for her performance in the film adaptation, which also starred Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman. Grenell's remarks come just days after he blasted 'American Idol' for enlisting 'Hamilton' actor and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, a longtime Trump critic, as a guest judge for the show's two-episode Disney Night event, slated to air next week. In addition to his theater credentials, Miranda wrote songs for the Disney films 'Moana' and 'Encanto' and appeared in the live-action film 'Mary Poppins Returns' with Emily Blunt. In February, Trump made himself chairman of the Kennedy Center ― traditionally a bipartisan institution ― and fired its long-term president, Deborah Rutter, along with 18 board members former President Joe Biden had appointed. News of the overhaul prompted the touring production of 'Hamilton' to scrap its eight-week run at the Kennedy Center in 2026. Since then, Trump has continued to ramp up his attacks on arts organizations nationwide. Last week, the National Endowment for the Arts began canceling grant offers to numerous arts groups after Trump proposed eliminating the agency entirely in his next budget. Kennedy Center Events For LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration Have Been Canceled, Organizers Say Another Big Musical Is Off At Kennedy Center In 'Deeply Complicated Situation' Kennedy Center's New Shows Take A Super-Trumpian Turn In Brutal Spoof
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
CNN commentator blasts 'Les Mis' cast who will sit out Trump show: 'Shut up and sing'
CNN commentator blasts 'Les Mis' cast who will sit out Trump show: 'Shut up and sing' Show Caption Hide Caption Conan O'Brien, Will Ferrell take aim at President Trump Comedians, like Conan O'Brien and Will Ferrell, took aim at President Donald Trump as they gathered to honor Conan O'Brien at the Kennedy Center. A CNN commentator is blasting performers at the Kennedy Center after the outlet exclusively reported that several 'Les Misérables' cast members planned to boycott an upcoming show President Donald Trump is slated to attend. "It's your job to perform, shut up and sing," Joe Borelli, the Former Republican leader of the New York City Council, said during a May 8 broadcast of "NewsNight With Abby Phillip." "This is what you're paid to do, stop being so self-absorbed," Borelli continued, taking aim at the 10 to 12 cast members who will reportedly sit out a performance of the musical based on one of the bloody uprisings ahead of the French Revolution. They feel like they're doing something as heroic and revolutionary as the rebels portrayed in the play, Borelli argued, while in reality they're just being: "self-absorbed, jerk actors," he claimed. CNN first broke the news May 7 that performers had been given the option to bow out of a June 11 show, which Trump, who has recently taken over the Kennedy Center, will attend. The cadre who raised their hands to opt out includes both principal cast and ensemble members, the outlet reports. The subtle but notable act of resistance comes just months after Trump cleaned house at the Kennedy Center, installing himself as chairman and close ally Richard Grenell as interim president. Amid Kennedy Center shakeup, a musician shares tense exchange with interim president The reason for the changes, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post, was the center's decision to host drag show performances. "Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP," he wrote. "The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation." In response to all the upheaval, multiple stars and artists cut ties with the center, with several high-profile board members stepping down and others canceling future performances. An interview with Issa Rae and several performances of the Broadway hit "Hamilton" were among the events canceled. 'I never liked 'Hamilton' very much,' President Trump says in visit to Kennedy Center The Kennedy Center, which opened in 1971 in honor of the late 35th president of the United States, serves as the nation's arts and cultural center, offering concerts, plays and other live acts. Trump declined to attend the annual Kennedy Center Honors performances during his first term. Contributing: Savannah Kuchar, Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, Joey Garrison, USA TODAY
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Les Mis' Cast Members Boycott Kennedy Center Performance Due to Trump Attending
At least 10 cast members of 'Les Misérables' plan to sit out of a Kennedy Center performance the night Donald Trump will attend for a fundraiser. According to CNN, 10-12 of the 'Les Mis' performing cast – both major members and ensemble – will not perform June 11 when President Trump attends for his fundraiser and show. The cast was given the option not to take the stage the night the president attended and many took up the offer. The latest boycott comes a few months after Trump fired Kennedy Center board members and named himself chairman. Among his remarks back in February were attacks against the LGBTQ community and a number of past shows at the legendary performing arts center – including 'Broadway Drag Brunch' and 'BERTHA: Grateful Drag.' 'At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN,' Trump posted on Truth Social. 'I have decided to 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.' He added: 'Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured Drag Shows specifically targeting our youth — THIS WILL STOP. The Kennedy Center is an American Jewel, and must reflect the brightest STARS on its stage from all across our Nation. For the Kennedy Center, THE BEST IS YET TO COME!' 'Les Mis' seems to be one of the Trump's favorite plays. During his presidential run in 2016, he used music from the show at numerous campaign rallies – much to the chagrin of the musical's creators. Richard Grenell, who Trump assigned as director of the Kennedy Center earlier this year, told CNN he was not aware of cast boycotts. 'Any performer who isn't professional enough to perform for patrons of all backgrounds, regardless of political affiliation, won't be welcomed,' he said. 'In fact, we think it would be important to out those vapid and intolerant artists to ensure producers know who they shouldn't hire – and that the public knows which shows have political litmus tests to sit in the audience. The Kennedy Center wants to be a place where people of all political stripes sit next to each other and never ask who someone voted for but instead enjoys a performance together.' The post 'Les Mis' Cast Members Boycott Kennedy Center Performance Due to Trump Attending appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Les Misérables' taking on BJCC Concert Hall
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — 'Les Misérables' is taking the BJCC Concert Hall stage for eight performances. CBS 42 News caught up with the crew at the BJCC on Tuesday as it rebuilt its sets. The actors learned to navigate a different theatre ahead of opening night. Birmingham offers NCAA tournament fans historic sites to visit 'When 'Les Mis' sat at the Broadway Theatre and then the Imperial Theatre on Broadway and still in the West End for like 10, 15, 20 years, those things never change,' said production stage manager Ken Davis. 'But here we keep you on your feet, and it's a big part of the performers world is learning their backstage choreography as well as their on-stage choreography.' The musical runs from Tuesday through Sunday. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Army Choir Sparks Confusion After Performing ‘Les Mis' Protest Song for Trump
The U.S. Army Choir performed 'Do You Hear the People Sing?' from 'Les Misérables' at the 2025 White House Governors Ball Saturday night — a choice that sparked confusion and mockery on social media. The president, who is said to be a fan of the musical, and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, were both in attendance at the event. As one person put it on Bluesky, 'It is clear S–tler Von Clownface thinks the song represents him.' The song choice prompted confusion, cheers and disappointment on social media. While some believed the choir chose the song as a form of protest, others pointed out that Trump previously played the song at 2016 and 2024 campaign events, indicating that he is just a fan an unaware of the irony that it's a protest song against tyranny. 'I think the idea the Army Choir was trolling Trump is wishful thinking,' wrote activist Zach Brand-Wiita on Bluesky. 'I love 'Les Mis' and it's a much more progressive story than people realize, but it's also big and bombastic and over-the-top romanticism schmaltz — the kind of stuff Trump loves. Sorry, this was just them singing a popular song.' Author Ana Visneski, pictured above, agreed. 'So, as much as I would like to think the Army choir singing 'Les Mis' was done in protest, the reality is that the song list had to be approved,' she wrote on the same platform. 'Also it is clear S–tler Von Clownface thinks the song represents him and his followers — he got in trouble for using the music in 2016.' Dan Scavino, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, clearly thought the performance was a positive one. 'It was a great honor to attend this evenings Governors Ball at the @WhiteHouse, hosted by @FLOTUS Melania and @POTUS @realDonaldTrump —thank you!' he wrote. Congressman Jim McGovern was quick to respond, apparently incorrectly: 'They picked 'Les Mis'—a musical about standing up to tyranny. They protested you at your own event and you were too stupid to get it.' In 2016 The Guardian reported the producer and co-creators of the musical released a joint statement after Trump played the song at a campaign event. 'The authors of 'Les Misérables' were not asked for permission and did not authorise or endorse usage of 'Do You Hear the People Sing?' at last [week's] Trump rally in Miami, and have never done so for any of the songs from the musical for this or any other political event,' they said. 'As the musical's popularity and universal message have been part of international popular culture for more than 30 years now, countless political and social movements around the world, including the first Bill Clinton and Obama campaigns, have independently embraced songs from the musical as a rallying cry for their own cause,' the group concluded. The post Army Choir Sparks Confusion After Performing 'Les Mis' Protest Song for Trump appeared first on TheWrap.
