The Fairy Princess was going about her day here in the dystopian hellscape that is the American theater/country and as she does, she often wonders “What fresh hell will be unleashed today?” As always, the news pudits prove her right at some point during the day.
Though she is encouraged by the election of Pope Leo XIV, an American from the Southside of Chicago. A dual citizen of Peru and the USA, shethinks he has the cajones to take on the current administration – he has degrees in mathematics from Villanova and in canon law, bravi tutti– Go Pope Leo! (please don’t make her shake her head in rage at you at any point with warped views on LGBTQIA+ or women. Ahem, she means, Amen) She should also point out, he was elected by the most diverse conclave, ever – and apparently this is what the world wants, let America – poor old battered Lady Liberty – catch the lifeline the church is attempting to throw at them – because this ‘first hundred days’ feels like a thousand.
Besides the cancelling of the National Endowment of the Arts, and Elmo, and all the other ways in which people who speak their minds who also happen to be artists are being threatened financially in a blanket mass defunding, the takeover of The Kennedy Center is one of the most egregious and early thrusts of the GOP sword into people who have the ability to think for themselves. The country watched in horror as beloved artists and shows that are guaranteed to make money for TKC either withdrew or were cancelled.
We, and by ‘we’, TFP means America, were told that there would be somewhat of a Make Musicals Great Again movement, and only what the Administration deemed ‘wholesome’ and ‘reflecting family values’ would be shown there.
You know what is most egregious about the cancellation of Finn? The Kennedy Center commissioned it in 2023.
TFP joked with her friends that musicals would be re-written and she tossed around titles like, “Annie get your AK-47”, “Oklahomophbic”, “Kool-AidJuice”, “Toupeè”, “Underage Girls”, “Hands on a Trans Body” or “JD Vance, Tiny Red Dwarf Star” – you get her meaning. (Have fun with those).
We saw ‘theater people’ of all kinds – even in the military, ‘protest’ this administration and sing from Les Miserablés, and the world applauded and wondered when people were actually going to do something. Like, when – the world asks – are Americans going to re-claim democracy from kleptocracy? When are elected officials on both sides going to rise up (sing that Hamilton clip here please)? When do seated elected officials relinquish their ‘proximity to power’ in favor of common human decency?
When, oh when, do the members of Congress and the Senate universally acknowledge that letting a businessman known for his lack of concern for his employees, the safety of his customers, and his blatant amorality was a grift of the highest order?
The American public knew prior to the ‘salute’, but it seems like some still choose to stick their heads in the sand. They let it continue – so now the man who lets people burn to death in cars is out to steal Senior’s Social Security to pay for billionaire’s sending their friends to space.
When is the revolution?
We may have to wait a while.
Particularly when it comes to places that Artists have effectively ‘lost’, like, The Kennedy Center.
The first evening was to be a gala fundraiser for The Kennedy Center. The performers were given the option to NOT sing that evening for the fundraiser as the POTUS will attend. In response to the news that 10-12 cast members have chosen not to perform on June 11th, newly appointed Director of the Kennedy Center Richard Grenfell released this statement:
“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.”
Which, is a threat.
It is also important to note that threatening people who sing and dance for a living has to put one on the fast pass to the Hadestown that is NOT the musical, but TFP digresses. Please go ride your patriarchy pony elsewhere, Sir, we want none of that nonsense in the theater, thank you!
It is important to note that giving the option to not perform for that particular fundraiser would have been a decision made by the producers of that show.
Actors took the option. They did not release a statement, they did not infringe on the ability to sell tickets – they simply opted out. They took the offer presented – even though they do not then get paid for that show. They took a financial, personal ‘hit’, because they just could not – and it is completely within their rights to do so.
Given that the current administration is openly hostile to LGBTQIA+ and women, it is not a surprise to anyone that some artists would choose not to perform for those patrons who enable hate. Those patrons coming on ‘overpriced fundraiser day’ to demonstrate their fealty to the giant orange have actively tried to hurt people in this country. This very exclusive crowd with their votes and with their funding – they paid for all the things to be put in place that we see across this nation – defunding veterans benefits, taking history out of school, trying to close libraries and eliminating health care in rural areas, refusing to pay for feeding children at schools….this audience is made up of people who wanted that to happen.
How do you sing about revolution for over two hours for a smug crowd who laughs and delights at cruelty? Who revel in the news that American citizens have been deported and terrorized to foreign countries? That people who do not appear Caucasian are regularly attacked on the streets for no reason other than they are not Caucasian?
Look at the words of “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” –
How could you bring yourself to sing to an audience about standing up to tyranny when they are extreme bigots with endless financial power who will pay for the active subjugation of the American public?
It is ONE performance for an audience full of Marjorie Taylor Greenes.
A regular audience is always a mixed bag – no performer goes out on stage and says “Well, I am only singing for Democrats and Independents” – That is not how ‘this’ works. Ever. NO performer does that.
But a fundraiser? Where ticket prices are $2 MILLION dollars and you get a photo with POTUS?
People who will pay $2 Million dollars to sit through a musical they do not understand just to get a photo with the Orange?
So the company members who were OFFERED a chance to skip the show, chose to take the option….
…and they are now being threatened with career termination.
Some Producers that are on and about ‘The Broadway’ are not liberal and left leaning.
This ‘threat’ could be quite crippling to those performers, and yes, there could be retaliation. As we have seen amplified in this Administration, if you have money, you can do anything to anyone without consequences. Singers who do do musicals set in 1815-1832 in France, kind of a nichè career, so yes, they could absolutely be in a tight bind when this tour ends.
In the name of Sondheim – if we are having a McCarthy era redux, TFP feels that we should have had more of a warning.
(Oh wait, we DID, they published their project, but no one thought it mattered. Now they are hauling off elected officials in New Jersey who are out and about performing their duties, literally hauling them off.)
As much as the current Administration bullies and attempts to bend the laws to benefit their pocketbooks, there will always be those whose moral compass will not allow them internal peace if they go along with what they have been ordered to do.
There are people who will say no.
It is the people who will say no, who will save this country.
They are singing every night for the French values of “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité, – which mean, Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity – and you expect them to ‘shut up and sing’ for that fundraising audience? That particular one?
Performers are more than Broadway tune singing bots. They are individuals with agency. They get to choose who they sing for – their talent is not guaranteed for the price of a ticket. No one can ‘make’ anyone sing who chooses not to – and their Producers are smart to offer an alternative – not that TFP thinks anyone would sink the show on purpose – that is just not in performer DNA.
All that is guaranteed by a ticket is a show – and the show will go on regardless.
It is called “understudies’ and ‘covers’, and the show will go on.
The Administration wanted their ‘show ponies’ – they may not get them. That cast is chock full of amazing talent – a show will be performed nontheless. They bought a ticket to Les Miserablès – and that show will be seen.
As to the Individuals who will not be onstage that night – TFP salutes you.
To be publicly threatened and still stand up is a courage TFP wishes on members of Congress and the Senate, who KNOW that what is happening in our country is wrong, and who still sit, enabling it.
Never forget, that for as many conservative Producers who will take directives from a Government, there are just as many if not more, who will not. You will work again after this tour, TFP is sure that someone in Chicago knows how to get the new guy on speed dial.
It will be ok. For a while it might not be. However, the attention spans are short, something else will distract them, and all will go on, just like Cèline Dion sang.
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