The Kennedy Center chaos: Ticket sales are down and the Washington National Opera wants out
Political shake-ups at the Kennedy Center have donors and audiences fleeing, leaving the WNO searching for a new home.
Reports claim the Washington National Opera (WNO) is searching for a new venue in D.C. after President Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center, which has caused ticket sales - and, consequently, profits - to nosedive.
The Kennedy Center has been the WNO’s long-term home, with the company moving in immediately when the United States’ national performing arts center opened in 1971. Although the WNO is independent, it has had an affiliate agreement with the Kennedy Center since 2011, requiring it to perform a set number of shows there while receiving a subsidy of between $2 million and $3 million in return.
Leadership changes spark chaos
Things have taken a serious turn for the worse since Trump effectively hijacked the Kennedy Center in February. The president dismissed the bipartisan board of trustees, replacing them with individuals who voted him in as the new chair. He then fired the director and hand-picked Richard Grenell, who initially did not even want the job.
Grenell quickly dismissed long-serving employees, hired some puzzling replacements, and slashed staff numbers. If nothing else, that suggested he was taking the role seriously, although remaining workers report that Grenell is hardly ever at the Kennedy Center.
WNO ticket sales plunge
Speaking to The Guardian, Francesca Zambello, the WNO’s artistic director, explained just how badly things have gone for the company since Trump and Grenell took charge.
While 80-90% of tickets were generally sold for shows before the leadership change, it is now common for performances to be only 60% full.
According to Zambello, that is a direct result of the politicization of the Kennedy Center, which she now describes as “tainted.”
“They say things like: ‘I’m never setting foot in there until the ‘orange menace’ is gone.’ Or: ‘Don’t you know history? Don’t you know what Hitler did? I refuse to give you a penny,’” the artistic director claimed.
Donor support disappears
Similarly, longstanding donors have pulled back for the same reason. “Many people feel: ‘If I give to the Kennedy Center, I’m supporting Donald Trump,’” Zambello explained.
Although Andy Pharoah, chair of the WNO board, has “officially” denied it, the company is reportedly exploring an alternative venue in D.C. for its next season, running from October 2026 to May 2027.
“It is our desire to perform in our home at the Kennedy Center,” Zambello added. “But if we cannot raise enough money, or sell enough tickets there, we have to consider other options.”
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