The Kennedy Middle has canceled a June run of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” and fired social-impact workforce members.
“Legally Blonde,” based mostly on the 2001 novel and movie of the identical title, tells the story of a perky sorority sister who goes to Harvard regulation faculty. It earned 7 Tony nominations in its unique Broadway run in 2007.
Government producer Jeffrey Finn appeared to tiptoe across the middle’s new political local weather in an announcement to Playbill. President Donald Trump was elected board chair of the humanities venue in February and pledged to root out perceived wokeness from its productions.
Finn’s assertion didn’t present numerous readability as to how and why the cancellation occurred.
“I am disappointed to announce that the upcoming Broadway Center Stage production of Legally Blonde is being postponed to a future date,” Finn stated within the assertion. “To be clear, this is not a Kennedy Center cancellation, and this is not due to any one person or persons involved with the show. Broadway Center Stage will continue our mission to deliver first class productions for our loyal patrons, as well as the Broadway creatives, casts, crew, and amazing Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra musicians. I sincerely look forward to bringing this vibrant show to life in the near future.”
Matt DiCarlo, the present’s director, stated in an Instagram Story that he was “gutted” by the event. He thanked Finn for “handling this deeply complicated situation with so much love and care.”
HuffPost has reached out to DiCarlo, Finn and Kennedy Middle consultant Roma Daravi for remark.
San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers through Getty Pictures
“Hamilton,” one other Broadway large, bowed out of its deliberate Kennedy Middle run earlier this month protest of Trump’s purge of board members whereas taking up as chair.
“The recent shift in the Kennedy Center’s ideology and board leadership has made it untenable for a production like Hamilton to celebrate and be celebrated there today,” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda stated.
Different productions have additionally been canceled, and one youth opera program chief stripped bare in a protest video, which bought them fired.
The middle’s workforce shrank additional on Tuesday after it laid off at the very least 5 individuals from its social affect workforce, The Washington Publish reported.
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The social affect goal on the middle was “to advance justice and equity,” an outline that has now been deleted. WaPo stated middle staff have been advised that extra layoffs are coming.
