Donald Trump News

Beautifully performed, but somewhat vanilla, Richard Bean's adaptation lacks a necessary bite

Tenderly staged by director Fidel Gomez, the docudrama boils our stomach juices more over the circumstances of our country than over what we witness being played out among the central characters.

On May 10, 16, and 18, Detroit Opera will present The Central Park Five, directed by Nataki Garrett and featuring a new, expanded orchestration by composer Anthony Davis.

Richard Grenell, Trump-appointed Kennedy Center interim director, criticizes Les Mis performers and Lin-Manuel Miranda amid rising tensions between artists and the Trump-aligned arts institution

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced on Friday, May 2, that the NEA is updating its grantmaking policy priorities to focus funding on projects “that reflect the nation's rich artistic heritage and creativity” as prioritized by President Donald Trump.

As Donald Trump plans to attend a fundraiser and performance of Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center on June 11, multiple cast members have opted out in protest.

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is May 8, 2025 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.

Donald Trump is backing a massive $257 million federal funding package for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, more than six times its typical annual support.

Randy Rainbow has released a parody of 'Impossible' from Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, titled 'Incompetent!' The new music video takes on the recent news that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth leaked war plans in a groupchat.

This week St. Louisan Joan Lipkin was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Theatre in ceremonies held on April 26 – 27, 2025 at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Lipkin is a internationally renowned theatre artist, playwright, educator, and activist who works in the intersection of performance and civic engagement to create dialogue about pressing issues. Lipkin called the cohort inducted this year “wonderful.” She was humbled to be included with the esteemed group of theatre professionals who were also inducted including Tony winner André De Shields, playwright and songwriter Caridad Svich, playwright and screenwriter Kristopher Diaz, author Daniel Banks, author J. Ellen Gainor, and Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning Playwright August Wilson who was inducted posthumously on what would have been his 80th birthday.  

Tambo and Bones are trapped in a minstrel show. Tambo and Bones have taken the world by storm with their rap music. Tambo and Bones are the leaders of the revolution. Are Tambo and Bones real? Or are they simply characters in a play? Written by Dave Harris and directed by Matthew Xia, Tambo & Bones asks an impossible question to its audience - how do you know what’s real?

This week, we'll look at Colleen Dilenschneider's latest data on audience trust in a post-election environment and explore the immersive possibilities of the new StagePlay mixed-reality app for live performances. In New York, Broadway's Outer Critics Circle nominations and a special Tony Award for Harvey Fierstein, and the abrupt closure of Life and Trust. Finally, we'll take a look at key developments in regional and international theater, from Philadelphia's TKTS success to legal challenges in Texas and more programming changes at the Kennedy Center.

Following sweeping leadership changes under Donald Trump, the Kennedy Center has quietly canceled or relocated its Tapestry of Pride events, originally set for June 5–8 as part of WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C., according to the Associated Press.

The Treason Show, part of the Brighton Fringe, will charge US citizens a 25% tariff unless they are Democrats, who will receive a 10% discount. The policy is a response to US tariffs announced by Donald Trump.

Arts and Culture Day in Oklahoma is an event that is put on by Oklahomans for the Arts every year. The event is a way for the state to celebrate and advocate for arts and culture, which play a large part in Oklahoma's economy. 

Washington D.C.-based guitarist Yasmin Williams publicly shared contentious emails from Richard Grenell, the interim executive director of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, revealing a heated exchange regarding changes under President Donald Trump’s administration.

Actors’ Equity Association released a statement from Executive Director Al Vincent, Jr. in response to the executive order “Exclusions from the Federal Labor-Management Relations Program,” issued last night by President Trump.

Willem Dafoe launched his program for the 2025 Venice Biennale Theater Festival while warning of government interference in the arts under President Trump, including recent leadership changes at the Kennedy Center.

The Hamburg State Opera has announced the world premiere of Monster's Paradise, a new opera by Nobel laureate Elfriede Jelinek and Austrian composer Olga Neuwirth. The production is set to debut on February 1, 2026, and marks the duo's first operatic collaboration in 23 years.

It's been a busy week on (and off) Broadway! 2025 has officially arrived and the second half of the 2024-25 Broadway season is very much underway. Catch up on all the latest from the week ending March 21, 2025 with videos from Purpose, Operation Mincemeat, and more!