Matthew D. Loeb, the head of IATSE, advised artists and show producers against canceling performances at the Kennedy Center, emphasizing that such decisions could negatively affect the earnings of the unseen labor force behind the scenes.
This week, Loeb met with the team at the Kennedy Center, which includes stagehands, costume designers, makeup artists, scene painters, and box office staff – all under union representation. His visit and remarks to artists and producers follow a series of cancellations at the Kennedy Center due to President Trump’s recent changes in the board leadership.
Loeb recently interacted with the employees at the Kennedy Center such as stage crew, costume designers, makeup artists, scene painters, and ticket sellers (all part of a union). This happened after some upcoming performances were called off at the Kennedy Center due to changes in leadership within the board, led by President Trump.
Workers backstage are essential for our family’s sustenance. They have not played a part in decisions about scheduled performances nor have we taken social concerns into account when deciding to collaborate with productions at the Kennedy Center throughout our partnership. We honor our contractual obligations and perform our duties diligently. Our team is highly skilled, reliable, and experienced, having worked here since the building was first opened 53 years ago. We hope the Kennedy Center continues to provide exceptional world-class productions while upholding freedom of speech and expression, all without censorship, reflecting the principles of democratic values.
Several artists and producers have withdrawn from performances at the Kennedy Center, such as Issa Rae who expressed concern over a perceived violation of the institution’s values that have historically supported artists of diverse backgrounds across various mediums. Additionally, Hamilton’s producer has decided to cancel their 2026 engagement due to recent leadership changes, including the dismissal of the Kennedy Center president and board chairman, as well as program cancellations at the center.
The Kennedy Center announced that any cancellations were either initiated by the artists or resulted from insufficient ticket sales or artist unavailability, not as a result of any political or program-related adjustments.
IATSE encourages artists and production teams to remember the people working backstage who make the top-notch live shows at the Kennedy Center happen, as they expressed in their announcement.
Leaving a production isn’t merely about vacating the stage; it also means missing out on valuable job prospects for talented artists from the middle class. Moreover, it denies us the opportunity to captivate American spectators with our craft at this iconic theater.
Since Donald Trump became the chairman on February 12, a total of over 20 shows have been terminated at the Kennedy Center. Ric Grenell, who previously served as Trump’s ambassador to Germany, has been appointed interim executive director and declared his intention to “revitalize art” or “bring back greatness in art.
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2025-03-13 23:26