Donald Trump’s MAGA makeover of the John F. Kennedy Middle for the Performing Arts isn’t understanding the best way he hoped, if ticket gross sales and attendance are something to go by.
The New York Instances reported Tuesday that in March and April, single ticket gross sales for Kennedy Middle occasions dropped by 50% in comparison with the identical interval in 2024. The middle additionally endured a deep hit to certainly one of its most vital sources of cash, as whole membership subscriptions declined by 36% yr over yr, in accordance with the Washington Publish.
As well as, subscriptions to the Nationwide Symphony Orchestra dropped 28% and Washington Nationwide Opera subscriptions by 25%. Subsequently, theatrical revenues have been down by an astonishing 86%, and dance revenues by 57%; the middle now tasks subscription income of $2.7 million, in comparison with $4.4 million final yr.
In keeping with the Publish and NYT, these figures have been confirmed by a number of, unnamed Kennedy Middle staff.
For its half, the middle’s management downplayed the importance of those figures, saying in a press release offered by senior vice chairman of selling Kim Cooper, “Our renewal marketing campaign is simply kicking off and our hard-copy season brochures haven’t but hit house. Our patrons look ahead to our new season brochures and renewal campaigns to take motion.”
Experiences of the cratering of attendance and income offers the primary actual image of how issues have gone since Feb. 7, when Trump fired a number of board members, declared himself the group’s chairman and imposed a tough proper wing coverage agenda.
Within the months since, distinguished board members have give up, and excessive profile reveals have both pulled out, reminiscent of a deliberate run of “Hamilton,” or been canceled on what seems to be purely ideological grounds, reminiscent of deliberate LGBTQ Pleasure occasions.
