Latest news with #APeacockAmongPigeons:Celebrating50YearsofPride
San Francisco Chronicle
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Trump canceled his Pride concert, but Michael Feinstein found his spotlight in San Francisco
The Great American Songbook has a unique way of bridging gaps between musicians and listeners from all different backgrounds. Singer, pianist and standards ambassador Michael Feinstein and acclaimed classical soloist Jean-Yves Thibaudet serve as a perfect example. As a duo, they've found common ground in this popular repertoire by the likes of Richard Rodgers, Irving Berlin and especially the Gershwin brothers. An enthusiastic audience at Davies Symphony Hall on Tuesday, May 20, discovered just how well these two superstars in their respective genres can mesh. Feinstein and Thibaudet co-headlined a special one-night-only concert with the San Francisco Symphony under the baton of longtime Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, and the performance was by turns entertaining, educational and moving. Feinstein has recently made headlines for decidedly non-celebratory reasons. His Kennedy Center engagement with the National Symphony Orchestra, 'A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride,' scheduled for this week, was canceled by the Trump administration. So Tuesday's program was triumphant in contrast, commencing with an energetic orchestral overture before Feinstein and Thibaudet walked onto the stage flashing winning smiles and sporting matching sparkly tuxedo jackets with satin shawl collars. Seated at interlocking Steinway grand pianos, the pair faced one another as they started into a rendition of Berlin's 'I Love a Piano,' featuring Feinstein's impassioned singing. Given Feinstein's impeccable credentials, including as host of the onetime public radio series 'Song Travels,' it seemed safe to assume that he'd do all of the talking. But both musicians spoke with welcoming rapport for a show that felt like a natural extension of their 'Gershwin Rhapsody' album, released last year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of 'Rhapsody in Blue.' As founder of the Great American Songbook Foundation, Feinstein shared stories of his musical acquaintances going back decades, from conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein to lyricist Irving Caesar, whose popular song 'Tea for Two' concluded the first set of the evening. Feinstein also spoke about his six years as personal assistant to lyricist Ira Gershwin, older brother and primary songwriting partner of composer George. Thibaudet reflected on his upbringing as a French conservatory student. Sharing an anecdote about George Gershwin and Maurice Ravel, the pianist served as something of an audience surrogate — someone with an appreciation of American Songbook standards if not Feinstein's comprehensive knowledge. In a way, it was not unlike an evening at Feinstein's San Francisco nightclub at Hotel Nikko. But the orchestra, with Lockhart at the helm, really made it an event. Thibaudet performed the third movement from Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F with proper symphonic accompaniment. (He mentioned that he first played the piece at age 14.) And the second-half 'Gershwin Fantasy' was a tour de force, stuffed with favorites like 'Someone to Watch Over Me,' 'I Got Rhythm' and 'Embraceable You' and bookended by the original two-piano arrangement of 'Rhapsody.' An encore of the Gershwins' 'Love Is Here to Stay' ended the program on a poignant note. It was George's last composition, and Ira completed the lyrics posthumously, Feinstein pointed out. He posited that the song is about the brothers' relationship. But when he crooned the opening lines — 'It's very clear / Our love is here to stay / Not for a year / But ever and a day' — it was hard not to think about the power of timeless standards too.
San Francisco Chronicle
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Liza Minnelli slams Kennedy Center for ‘bigoted attack on the arts'
Liza Minnelli has spoken out against the Kennedy Center's cancellation of its LGBTQ+ Pride events, and she's fuming. The award-winning entertainer issued a statement in solidarity with longtime collaborator Michael Feinstein, whose Pride program at the institution was 'abruptly and unceremoniously canceled.' 'Earlier this week, my dearest friend in the world, @MichaelFeinsteinsings, sounded a clarion call about what may only be defined as a bigoted attack on the arts,' Minnelli posted to Instagram on Friday, May 9, referring to Feinstein's own post about the situation. Feinstein, singer and founder of the Union Square cabaret venue Feinstein's at the Nikko, was scheduled to conduct the National Symphony Orchestra and perform and speak a John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts program titled 'A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride' on May 21-22. 'My lifetime friend @elizabethtaylor once said… 'without gay people there is no entertainment industry.' Long before Elizabeth said it, My Mama and Papa taught me, from my earliest memory to embrace everyone,' she went on. Minnelli, the daughter of actor Judy Garland and theater director Vincente Minnelli, then urged her followers to read Feinstein's recent essay 'Fear of Queer?' which addresses the Kennedy Center's recent programming decisions among broader concerns about freedom in America. 'These recent Kennedy Center losses may well be defined in the years ahead, as the 21st century government-sanctioned censorship and silencing of creativity, regardless of value, based strictly on sexual orientation,' the essay, shared to Instagram last week, reads. 'Indeed, the latest attempts to strip PBS and NPR of critical funds, highlight the fact that any government-supported access to the arts is no longer safe.' Feinstein's essay follows the Trump administration's recent rescindment of crucial federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, which has affected a number of organizations across the Bay Area and beyond. 'Michael's message of truth shatters my heart into so many pieces,' Minnelli wrote. 'I'm damn mad about what's going on.' A lifelong ally of the LBGTQ+ community, Minnelli was recently honored during the Season 17 finale of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' with the Giving Us Lifetime Achievement Award for her 'dazzling contributions to entertainment and sharing her irrepressible joy.' The 79-year-old was treated to a special performance of her 1972 song 'Ring Them Bells' during the episode, which aired on April 18, and was met with roaring applause from the studio audience.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
WorldPride moving events from Kennedy Center
WorldPride organizers said celebrations initially set to take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., would be held elsewhere, suggesting the change of venue was because of President Trump's recent takeover of the institution. June Crenshaw, deputy director of D.C.'s Capital Pride Alliance, said the group 'proactively relocated' events slated for the Kennedy Center 'to ensure our entire LGBTQ+ community will be welcome.' 'These events have not been canceled,' Crenshaw said in an emailed statement. Rather, they have been moved to the WorldPride Welcome Center in downtown Washington, she said. 'WorldPride is happening, and it is essential to our community both in the US and around the world that we continue to be seen and our voices heard,' Crenshaw said. The announcement comes after The Associated Press reported last week that WorldPride organizers and the Kennedy Center had canceled a week's worth of events amid a shift in priorities at the cultural institution. Artists and producers involved in the center's Tapestry of Pride schedule, which had been planned for June 5-8, told the AP that their events were abruptly canceled or moved to other venues. Crenshaw said the AP's reporting is accurate, 'but to be clear, not all of the Tapestry of Pride events were canceled by the Kennedy Center.' The Kennedy Center did not immediately return a request for comment. Massive changes at the Kennedy Center have been underway since February, when Trump purged the center's board of trustees and installed himself as chair, a decision seemingly driven at least in part by a drag performance held there last year. ''NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA – ONLY THE BEST',' Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social that named Richard Grenell the center's executive director. Days later, the Kennedy Center canceled a performance featuring the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, which the center said was due to financial constraints and scheduling conflicts. The group is set to perform the axed piece, 'A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride,' during WorldPride's International Choral Festival. Stars serving in various roles at the Kennedy Center announced their departures following Trump's takeover, and performances of hot ticket shows like 'Hamilton' and 'Fellow Travelers' — based on Thomas Mallon's 2007 novel about two gay government workers who fall in love during the 1950s — were canceled or withdrawn from the institution by their creators. Issa Rae canceled her sold-out show at the Kennedy Center shortly after Trump took over in early February. In an Instagram story post, she wrote that she canceled the show 'due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds.' WorldPride organizers have taken additional precautions ahead of the event, which will run from May 17 to June 8 in Washington, over safety concerns driven by the Trump administration's rhetoric and policies targeting transgender rights. An advisory issued earlier this month by Capital Pride Alliance said transgender people attending WorldPride celebrations from abroad should 'make an informed decision based on the potential risks involved,' citing a new State Department policy preventing transgender, nonbinary and intersex Americans from updating the sex designations on their passports. The organization said it is 'actively' working with local officials in Washington 'to ensure the safety of visitors and residents planning to attend.' 'We encourage everyone in our global community, our allies and supporters, to consider participating in this historic moment in whatever way they can,' Capital Pride Alliance said in its statement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hill
WorldPride moving events from Kennedy Center
WorldPride organizers said celebrations initially set to take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., would be held elsewhere, suggesting the change of venue was because of President Trump's recent takeover of the institution. June Crenshaw, deputy director of D.C.'s Capital Pride Alliance, said the group 'proactively relocated' events slated for the Kennedy Center 'to ensure our entire LGBTQ+ community will be welcome.' 'These events have not been canceled,' Crenshaw said in an emailed statement. Rather, they have been moved to the WorldPride Welcome Center in downtown Washington, she said. 'WorldPride is happening, and it is essential to our community both in the US and around the world that we continue to be seen and our voices heard,' Crenshaw said. The announcement comes after the Associated Press reported last week that WorldPride organizers and the Kennedy Center had canceled a week's worth of events amid a shift in priorities at the cultural institution. Artists and producers involved in the center's Tapestry of Pride schedule, which had been planned for June 5-8, told the AP that their events were abruptly canceled or moved to other venues. Crenshaw said the AP's reporting is accurate, 'but to be clear, not all of the Tapestry of Pride events were canceled by the Kennedy Center.' The Kennedy Center did not immediately return a request for comment. Massive changes at the Kennedy Center have been underway since February, when Trump purged the center's board of trustees and installed himself as chair, a decision seemingly driven at least in part by a drag performance held there last year. ''NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA – ONLY THE BEST',' Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social that named Richard Grenell the center's executive director. Days later, the Kennedy Center canceled a performance featuring the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, which the center said was due to financial constraints and scheduling conflicts. The group is set to perform the axed piece, 'A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride,' during WorldPride's International Choral Festival. Stars serving in various roles at the Kennedy Center announced their departures following Trump's takeover, and performances of hot ticket shows like 'Hamilton' and 'Fellow Travelers' — based on Thomas Mallon's 2007 novel about two gay government workers who fall in love during the 1950s — were canceled or withdrawn from the institution by their creators. Issa Rae canceled her sold-out show at the Kennedy Center shortly after Trump took over in early February. In an Instagram story post, she wrote that she canceled the show 'due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds.' WorldPride organizers have taken additional precautions ahead of the event, which will run from May 17-June 8 in Washington, over safety concerns driven by the Trump administration's rhetoric and policies targeting transgender rights. An advisory issued earlier this month by Capital Pride Alliance said transgender people attending WorldPride celebrations from abroad should 'make an informed decision based on the potential risks involved,' citing a new State Department policy preventing transgender, nonbinary and intersex Americans from updating the sex designations on their passports. The organization said it is 'actively' working with local officials in Washington 'to ensure the safety of visitors and residents planning to attend.' 'We encourage everyone in our global community, our allies and supporters, to consider participating in this historic moment in whatever way they can,' Capital Pride Alliance said in its statement.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kennedy Center cancels Pride performance featuring Gay Men's Chorus of Washington
The Kennedy Center canceled an upcoming performance set to feature the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, which the center said was due to financial constraints and scheduling conflicts. The chorus, one of the oldest LGBTQ choral organizations in the U.S., was set to perform alongside the National Symphony Orchestra in May as part of this summer's WorldPride festival in Washington. 'We are deeply disappointed with the news that our upcoming Pride performance with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) has been canceled,' the chorus said in a statement on social media. 'We believe in the power of music to educate and uplift, to foster love, understanding, and community, and we regret that this opportunity has been taken away,' the group said. 'While we are saddened by the decision, we are committed to this work and to our mission of raising our voices for equality for all. We are grateful for those who have supported us, and we will continue to seek spaces where our voices, our stories, and our music can be heard.' The event, 'A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride,' was removed last week from the Kennedy Center's website, The Advocate reported, just days after Trump terminated the cultural center's board of trustees and installed himself as chair. Trump wrote on Truth Social that the decision to take over the Kennedy Center was made, in part, because of a drag performance held there last year. He called drag shows 'anti-American propaganda' in another post announcing his selection of Richard Grenell to lead the center as executive director. Grenell, also serving as an envoy for special missions, became the first openly gay Cabinet member when he was appointed acting director of national intelligence during Trump's first term. In an emailed statement, Jean Davidson, executive director of the NSO, said the Kennedy Center's decision to cancel the performance preceded Trump's takeover. 'Before the leadership transition at the Kennedy Center, we made the decision to postpone Peacock Among Pigeons due to financial and scheduling factors. We chose to replace it with The Wizard of Oz, another suitable program for World PRIDE participation,' Davidson said. 'Program changes are a common practice. We were unable to announce the replacement program until we had secured the rights to present it, but in the interest of transparency, we removed the original program from the website to prevent further ticket sales,' she said. The original performance, which the Kennedy Center announced in June, was to be based on Tyler Curry and Clarione Gutierrez's children's book 'A Peacock Among Pigeons,' about learning to embrace and celebrate one's differences. It was billed as a musical accompaniment to WorldPride, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, a coalition of more than 300 members that serenaded former President Clinton at his second inauguration in 1997, said it still plans to perform 'A Peacock Among Pigeons' during its upcoming choral festival, also a part of WorldPride. 'We will continue to advocate for artistic expression that reflects the depth and diversity of our community and country,' the group said. 'We will continue to sing and raise our voices for equality.' Stars serving in various roles at the Kennedy Center — including Ben Folds, Shonda Rhimes and Renée Fleming — announced they were leaving after Trump's move, and actress Issa Rae canceled her sold-out show at the venue over what she said was 'an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds.' Updated at 4:54 p.m. EST Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
