BREAKING: Hamilton cancels Kennedy Center production after Trump becomes board chair

Hamilton was going to be part of the art center's sesquicentennial celebration in honor of the nation's 250th birthday, which is a priority for the Trump administration. Hamilton, which is a retelling of the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton, is a rap musical that requires the cast to be comprised of non-white people playing the parts of historical persons who were white. It has been criticized by the left for being overly patriotic just as it's been critiqued on the right for not being patriotic enough.

"This latest action by Trump means it's not the Kennedy Center as we knew it," Miranda said, per The New York Times. "The Kennedy Center was not created in this spirit, and we're not going to be part of it while it is the Trump Kennedy Center. We're just not going to be part of it."

Ric Grennell, who has been appointed as Interim Executive Director of the Kennedy Center, posted on X that Miranda had gone first to The New York Times "before they came to the Kennedy Center with their announcement that they can’t be in the same room with Republicans. This is a publicity stunt that will backfire," he said. "The Arts are for everyone - not just for the people who Lin likes and agrees with. The American people need to know that @Lin_Manuel is intolerant of people who don’t agree with him politically. It’s clear he and Sellers don’t want Republicans going to their shows. Americans see you, Lin."

https://twitter.com/RichardGrenell/status/1897420465817182505

Grennell's post was accompanied by a statement from lead producer of the show Jeffrey Seller in which he explained that the Kennedy Center under Trump could not be trusted to keep their contract. "Political disagreemtn and debate are vital expressions of democracy," Sellers said. "These basic concepts of freedom are at the very heart of Hamilton. However, some institutions are sacred and should be protected from politics. The Kennedy Center is one such institution." Sellers did not seem to realize that by canceling the production he was making a political statement himself.

The show, which began its life in New York's Public Theater, moved on up to Broadway and became a bestselling touring production. Seller said the team behind the show believes that Trump "took away our national arts center for all of us." For this reason, the production will deprive Washington, DC audiences the chance to see the production.

Trump has determined that arts projects funded by the federal government should be in service to a patriotic vision for America. The National Endowment for the Arts granting programs have also been remade to serve this purpose.

"It became untenable for us to participate in an organization that had become so deeply politicized," Sellers said. "The Kennedy Center is for all of us and it pains me deeply that they took it over and changed that. They said it's not for all of us. It's just for Donald Trump and his crowd. So we made a decision we can't do it."

There has been no change to who is permitted to see work at the Kennedy Center, tickets are still available for purchase to the entirety of the public. The Kennedy Center has not yet responded to this change in plans.

Other celebrity entertainers have also ditched the Kennedy Center, vowing not to perform on its national staged. Renowned television creator Shonda Rhimes resigned from the Board. Issa Rae declined to perform there. Ben Folds resigned as the artistic advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra.

Renee Flemming, an actress and opera singer serving as an artistic advisor at large to the Kennedy Center, said, "I've treasured the bi-partisan support for this institution as a beacon of America at our best. I hope the Kennedy Center continues to flourish and serve the passionate and diverse audience in our nation's capital and across the country."