Washington National Opera to move out of Kennedy Center after Trump ‘takeover’ | Washington DC

The Washington National Opera (WNO) announced on Friday it is moving its performances out of the John F Kennedy Center, where it has been performing since 1971, according to a New York Times report.

Francesca Zambello, WNO’s artistic director, had said in November that the move was a possibility as a result of the “takeover” of the center by Donald Trump. Trump declared himself the chair of the institution in February and quickly thereafter fired and replaced its board and leadership.

Zambello also cited the collapse in box office revenue and “shattered” donor confidence.

Ticket sales were about 40% unsold compared with before Trump declared himself chair, said Zambello. Many people have decided to boycott the center. Every day, she receives messages of protest from formerly loyal members of the audience, she says.

“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,’” she said.

“People send me back their the season brochure shredded in an envelope and say: ‘Never, never, will I return while he’s in power.’”