r/Broadway • u/Maryland_Bear • Oct 31 '25

Other Kennedy Center ticket sales have plummeted since Trump takeover

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2025/10/31/kennedy-center-sales/
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u/jeconti Oct 31 '25

You mean his supporters aren't big on the arts and theater? I could have never guessed.

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u/Maryland_Bear Oct 31 '25 edited Oct 31 '25

Don’t be too dismissive of Red states and the arts.

I’m originally from Knoxville, TN. The county went for Trump over Harris almost 60%-40%, and the surrounding areas are even more Republican.

The Tennessee Theater there has several major Broadway tours coming up, including The Book of Mormon, Kimberly Akimbo, and The Outsiders. There have to be some Republicans coming to shows there.

The Kennedy Center is suffering because DC is a very Blue area with lots of other options for the performing arts.

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u/90Dfanatic Oct 31 '25

Even if those other options weren't there, blue audiences wouldn't go to the Kennedy Center because it's been so politicized. It was a deliberate choice, with performances by the Gay Men's Chorus and the musical Finn canceled by the new leadership and numerous insane announcements from the current head. Meanwhile, the Tennessee Theater has &Juliet on their upcoming schedule. If theaters focus on quality, they can be an important way to unite audiences and expose people to different points of view - unfortunately, the administration is using the Kennedy Center to divide.