
Washington National Opera Considers Exiting the Kennedy Center
By Francisco SalazarThe Washington National Opera (WNO) is considering leaving the Kennedy Center.
In a report from the Guardian, the WNO’s Artistic Director, Francesca Zambello, noted that the company has been forced to look at the possibility since the Trump takeover due to low ticket sales and “shattered” donor confidence.
Zambello said, “It is our desire to perform in our home at the Kennedy Center…But if we cannot raise enough money, or sell enough tickets in there, we have to consider other options…The two things that support a company financially, because of the takeover, have been severely compromised.”
Earlier this week, the Washington Post reported that ticket sales have been plummeting for the first two months of the season, including for the company. But that has been the result of boycotting, as Zambello revealed that she has been receiving messages from past donors and ticket holders about not returning to the theater.
She told the Guardian that loyal members told her they would not set foot in the theater until the “orange menace” was gone and even compared the rise of Trumpism to Hitler. Others sent Zambello back their brochures in shreds. Donors have also told the artistic director that “If I give to the Kennedy Center, I’m supporting Donald Trump.”
In the report from the Guardian, Zambello noted that the new Kennedy Center administration does not have experience with the arts, but they did not veto any of her choices. That being said, the management asked her to produce more popular works, questioned casting, and asked her to reduce the rate of singers and consider less expensive singers.
While the WNO is an independent company, “it has an affiliation agreement with the Kennedy Center, meaning that it agrees to produce a certain number of shows in the building; shares back office functions such as marketing and development; and receives a subsidy from the center of about $2m-$3m per year.”
According to the Guardian, the company is looking at alternative venues in DC for its forthcoming season.
Since the Trump takeover, ticket sales have plummeted, with about 43 percent of tickets for typical productions remaining unsold. The performing arts center has also been in the headlines for booing both President Trump and J.D. Vance, Important performers have canceled their shows, including Lin-Manuel Miranda canceling “Hamilton” and the creators of “Fellow Travelers,” also withdrawing their opera.
More recently, Trump and Richard Grenell fired Vice President Floyd Brown due to past anti-gay comments. Trump also proposed $257 million for the Kennedy Center’s renovation and announced that the center would permanently be lit with U.S. Flag Colors.
Trump has filed for bankruptcy six times. Under the President, the gross national debt has surpassed a record $38 trillion.
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