The beloved musical 'Hamilton' has taken a bold stance against the leadership changes within the Kennedy Center following a takeover by President Donald Trump.
- March 6, 2025
AceShowbiz - Lin-Manuel Miranda's blockbuster musical "Hamilton" will no longer perform at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts next season. This cancellation comes in response to President Donald Trump's controversial takeover of the institution.
The musical was originally set to be part of a celebration for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in March and April of 2026.
"Political disagreement and debate are vital expressions of democracy. These basic concepts of freedom are at the very heart of Hamilton," lead producer Jeffrey Seller said in a statement shared on social media. "However, some institutions are sacred and should be protected from politics. The Kennedy Center is one such institution."
Trump's recent moves included firing the Kennedy Center's leadership and installing his own supporters as trustees. This restructuring has been met with heavy criticism from many in the arts community.
Seller added that the Kennedy Center was intended to be "for all Americans, a place where we could all come together in celebration of the arts."
Seller and Miranda highlighted that their decision wasn't a blanket protest against Trump's administration but rather against the specific policies enacted following the takeover. "We are not acting against his administration, but against the partisan policies of the Kennedy Center as a result of his recent takeover," they stated.
This view was echoed in a New York Times joint statement where they mentioned that the Kennedy Center's spirit of nonpartisanship had been "destroyed" by recent changes.
"Hamilton is a large and global production, and it would simply be financially and personally devastating to the hundreds of employees of Hamilton if the new leadership of the Kennedy Center suddenly cancelled or re-negotiated our engagement," Seller noted.
The cancellation of Hamilton isn't isolated. Other prominent figures like Issa Rae, Ben Folds, Renee Fleming, Shonda Rhimes, and Melissa Errico also distanced themselves from the institution.
As President Trump plans to eliminate certain types of programming, community organizers and artists in D.C. are rallying for the reinstatement of diverse and inclusive events.
