The Kennedy Center in Washington DC laid off its social impact team on Tuesday — the latest in a wave of dramatic changes at the national performing arts institution. Kennedy Center/Kennedy Center hide caption
Performing Arts News, interviews, and commentary on theater, the arts, music, and dance.
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Conan O'Brien at the 97th Oscars held at the Dolby Theatre on March 2, 2025 in Hollywood, California. Rich Polk/Getty Images hide caption
John Kani in Kunene and the King at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Teresa Castracane Photography hide caption
Jasmine Amy Rogers takes a bow as Betty Boop in BOOP! The Musical now on Broadway. Avery Brunkus/BOOP! The Musical hide caption
South African playwright Athol Fugard with actors John Kani (left) and Winston Ntshona at a 1973 production of Sizwe Bansi Is Dead in London. Evening Standard/Getty Images hide caption
Lin-Manuel Miranda and the cast of Hamilton perform at the Tony Awards in 2016. The show has garnered near-universal acclaim since its 2015 opening. Evan Agostini/AP hide caption
Kendrick Lamar performs at the 2025 Super Bowl. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images hide caption
The Kennedy Center on Aug. 13, 2019, in Washington, D.C. Jacquelyn Martin/AP hide caption
Performers dance outside of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Monday. The dance was part of a protest against new leadership by President Trump. David Dowling hide caption
As Trump takes over leadership at Kennedy Center, some protest through dance
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, in Washington, D.C. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Ousted Kennedy Center president says artists must feel "welcome and safe"
Deborah Rutter, former president of the Kennedy Center, gives her first interview since the center's board voted to fire her and install President Trump as its new chair. NPR hide caption
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs Sacred Songs, choreographed by interim artistic director Matthew Rushing based on material featured in the original 1960 version of the company's Revelations. Paul Kolnik hide caption
Lost songs from Alvin Ailey's 'Revelations' find voice in new piece
The Kennedy Center in a photo taken along the Potomac River in an undated photo. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption
The Kennedy Center's history was, until now, marked by cooperation and independence
President Trump speaks to reporters at the White House on Feb. 3 in Washington, D.C. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption
President Trump names himself chairman of the Kennedy Center
President Trump announced Friday that he planned to take over as chair of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption
Esperanza Spalding and Milton Nascimento. Lucas Nogueira hide caption
The Grammy nominee you need to hear: Esperanza Spalding
Charley Crockett performs onstage during the Class of 2023 Medallion Ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on October 22, 2023 in Nashville. Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum hide caption
Martin Sheen as Captain Willard in "Apocalypse Now", directed by Francis Ford Coppola. CBS via Getty Images hide caption
Joan Plowright has died at the age of 95. She's pictured above in 1975. Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption
Are we eating too much protein? Gene Lester/Getty Images hide caption
Bad news for protein bros: you might be getting scammed
Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a building on Sunset Boulevard amid a powerful windstorm on Wednesday in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. Eric Thayer/Getty Images hide caption
Clockwise from left: James Earl Jones, Michaela DePrince, Bob Newhart, Maggie Smith, Nikki Giovanni and Richard Simmons. Jesse Dittmar for The Washington Post/Getty Images; Ian Gavan/Getty Images; Gerald Smith/NBCUniversal via Getty Images; Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP; Getty Images/Hulton Archive; American Broadcasting Companies/Getty Images hide caption
Audra McDonald and Joy Woods in Gypsy Photo: Julieta Cervantes/ Gypsy hide caption