{"id":44452,"date":"2025-05-20T13:04:25","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T17:04:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=44452"},"modified":"2025-05-20T13:04:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T17:04:25","slug":"kennedy-center-makes-moves-to-expand-family-friendly-programming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2025\/05\/kennedy-center-makes-moves-to-expand-family-friendly-programming.html","title":{"rendered":"Kennedy Center Makes Moves to Expand Family-Friendly Programming"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Kennedy Center is making adjustments to its programming after President Donald Trump was confirmed as chairman<\/a>. The President has had a lot to say about the Kennedy Center, criticizing it for its \u201cwoke\u201d performances. \u201cThe programming was out of control with rampant political propaganda, DEI, and inappropriate shows,\u201d he said<\/a>, claiming the Kennedy Center had featured a \u201clesbian-only Shakespeare\u201d performance and another that was \u201cMarxist anti-police.\u201d He also criticized how the Center appeared to be spending \u201ctremendous amounts of money.\u201d \u201cI don\u2019t know where they spent it. They certainly didn\u2019t spend it on wallpaper, carpet, or painting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Under Trump\u2019s leadership, the Kennedy Center appears to be moving in a more family-friendly and faith-based direction, with a planned screening of Angel Studios\u2019s \u201cKing of Kings\u201d set to play on June 1. Richard Grenell, whom the President has named as the Kennedy Center\u2019s interim director, praised the film. \u201cWhen I saw the advertising campaign for \u2018King of Kings\u2019 I immediately knew we needed to have it come to the Kennedy Center. And then coincidentally, I was asked to be on a panel with the CEO of Angel Studios, so I cornered him,\u201d said Grenell<\/a>. \u201cThis is family-friendly programming that we will be doing more of in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

Angel Studios praised the move as well, lauding the film\u2019s theatrical success, which earned $19.3 million at the box office. \u201cThe King of Kings has become the most successful theatrically released faith-based animated film in history. But its greatest achievement is in the hearts it\u2019s moved\u2014and its screening at the Kennedy Center is a symbol of just how far truth and light can travel,\u201d said David Fischer, Head of Acquisitions & Business Affairs at Angel Studios. The studio had another major success in 2023 with its film \u201cSound of Freedom,\u201d starring Jim Caviezel. The film explored the harsh realities of child trafficking and went on to earn $250 million.<\/p>\n

The Kennedy Center will still show more grown-up entertainment, with its upcoming<\/a> Broadway shows including the irreverent \u201cSpamalot\u201d and the musical \u201cChicago.\u201d Grenell also announced<\/a> that the Stuttgart Ballet would be returning to the Kennedy Center after a 30 year hiatus. This year\u2019s ballet will be John Cranko\u2019s\u00a0Onegin<\/em>, based on Alexander Pushkin\u2019s 1825 novel. Jane Raleigh, Director of Dance Programming for The Kennedy Center, praised the ballet company\u2019s return. \u201cThe Stuttgart Ballet and John Cranko\u2019s Onegin were a staple of Kennedy Center ballet programming in the 1970\u2019s and 80\u2019s,\u201d she stated<\/a>. \u201cThe timeless relevance of Cranko\u2019s choreography and Pushkin\u2019s storytelling made this ballet an instant classic, and to be able to welcome this glorious company back to the Center decades later, especially as the work celebrates its 60th anniversary, is such a special moment for Washington audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Kennedy Center is making adjustments to its programming after President Donald Trump was confirmed as chairman. The President has had a lot to say about the Kennedy Center, criticizing it for its \u201cwoke\u201d performances. \u201cThe programming was out of control with rampant political propaganda, DEI, and inappropriate shows,\u201d he said, claiming the Kennedy Center…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":44455,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-44452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-television"],"yoast_head":"\nKennedy Center Makes Moves to Expand Family-Friendly Programming<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Kennedy Center shifts toward family-friendly, faith-based shows under President Trump, starting with Angel Studios\u2019 'King of Kings."\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2025\/05\/kennedy-center-makes-moves-to-expand-family-friendly-programming.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Kennedy Center Makes Moves to Expand Family-Friendly Programming\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Kennedy Center shifts toward family-friendly, faith-based shows under President Trump, starting with Angel Studios\u2019 'King of Kings."\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2025\/05\/kennedy-center-makes-moves-to-expand-family-friendly-programming.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Idol Chatter\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-20T17:04:25+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" 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