At least 10 Les Miserables cast members are expected to boycott a June 11 performance of the musical at the Kennedy Center, which President Donald Trump is planning to attend.
Following the controversies at the once-prestigious Washington, D.C. performing arts center since Trump appointed himself chairman, CNN reports that the musical’s cast was given the choice of whether or not to perform that night, with the performance doubling as a big-ticket fundraiser for the Kennedy Center.
At least 10 to 12 actors have opted to skip the June 11 performance, including both major cast members as well as members of the ensemble. Trump — a noted fan of the musical who previously used Les Mis music (without permission, of course) on the campaign trail in 2016 — is expected to attend the June 11 performance, which will follow a VIP reception where sponsorship levels cost between $100,000 to $2 million.
Trump ally Richard Grennell, who was appointed as the Kennedy Center’s president after Trump gutted the existing Board of Trustees, told CNN of the actors’ boycott, “Any performer who isn’t professional enough to perform for patrons of all backgrounds, regardless of political affiliation, won’t be welcomed. 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.”
Following Trump’s self-appointment as Kennedy Center chairman, at least 26 performances have been canceled, including 15 by the scheduled acts themselves. Issa Rae cancelled her Feb. 14 show, citing “an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums.” On Feb. 13, Low Cut Connie, the Philadelphia rock and soul band fronted by Adam Weiner, cancelled their March 19 concert.
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeffrey Seller were supposed to bring Hamilton to the Kennedy Center in 2026, but cancelled the run, saying, “The Kennedy Center was not created in this spirit, and we’re not going to be a part of it while it is the Trump Kennedy Center. We’re just not going to be part of it.” A concert by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington was also canceled, as were several events planned around Pride Month.
In March, Guster protested the changes at the Kennedy Center — which included the cancelation of performances of the LGBTQ+ musical Finn — by having that show’s cast appear onstage during their concert at the performing arts venue.
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