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New York Times
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
A Night Out for Trump at the Theater, With a Pocket of Dissent
Moments before President Trump arrived inside the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts for Wednesday's opening night performance of 'Les Misérables,' a couple of drag queens (and at least one drag king) entered the theater and took their seats near the stage. Back in February, after the president purged the traditionally bipartisan board of Washington's premier cultural center, he declared in a social media post that under his artistic stewardship there would be 'NO MORE DRAG SHOWS, OR OTHER ANTI-AMERICAN PROPAGANDA — ONLY THE BEST.' 'You can't erase us,' said one of the men dressed in drag, who gave his name as 'Vagenesis.' His actual name was Anderson Wells. A 34-year-old theater managing director in Washington, he was draped in what he described as a 'lovely creamsicle flowy comfortable gown' and said his message to the president was an admittedly 'cliché' one: 'We're here, we're queer, get used to it.' In some sense, Wednesday night's performance marked the culmination of the Trump takeover of the Kennedy Center. Soon after taking office, the president appointed himself chairman of the center and restocked the board with loyalists. Some artists balked and some shows were canceled, but not this production of 'Les Misérables,' which had been booked before Mr. Trump was elected. The president's allies turned out in force for the occasion. Cabinet members backed the balcony, and supporters from around the country came out for the show. But there were cracks in the sheen of this elite MAGA black-tie affair. After parading down the red carpet, Mr. Trump was confronted with signs of sharp opposition to his administration as some boos and heckles bubbled up from an otherwise adoring crowd. The drag queens, for their part, drew scattered applause when they entered the theater. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Al Arabiya
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Arabiya
Trump met with cheers, boos at Kennedy Center for ‘Les Miserables' performance
A loud mix of boos and cheers greeted US President Donald Trump on Wednesday when he attended his first production at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the institution he subjected to a conservative takeover earlier this year. The mixed reception from theatergoers for Trump and his wife Melania as they arrived in the presidential box for a performance of 'Les Miserables' reflected the heightened emotions unleashed by his overhaul of the cultural center and use of executive power to shake up US society. His appearance at a musical about citizens rising up against their government came just days after he sent US Marines and the National Guard to quell protests against his administration's immigration raids in Los Angeles. Power and protest - key themes in the show - manifested within the theater itself. While some kept their backs turned to Trump, who raised his fist as he greeted the crowd, others chanted 'USA! USA!' to drown out boos as he and his wife were seated. Several drag queens in full regalia sat in the audience, likely in response to Trump's previous criticism of the venue for hosting drag shows. One person shouted 'Viva Los Angeles' as Trump stepped out of the presidential box for intermission. Trump did not attend events at the Kennedy Center during his first term but has taken a keen interest in it during his second. He pushed out its former chairman and took on the role himself, fired its longtime president and pledged to overhaul an institution that he criticized as too liberal. The center, a leading US arts facility, had long enjoyed bipartisan support. Revenue down Ticket and subscription sales have fallen since and some shows, including the hit 'Hamilton,' have canceled their engagements. Trump's appearance was meant to boost fundraising for the center, and he said donors raised more than $10 million. 'We're going to make it incredible. We have all the funding. We raised a lot tonight, and we'll put in a lot of money to bring it back to the highest level,' a tuxedo-clad Trump told reporters after other administration officials arrived on the red carpet, meant to evoke a Hollywood movie premiere. Overall year-on-year subscription revenue at the Kennedy Center was down 36% to $2.8 million as of early June for next season, which begins in the autumn, according to a person briefed on the data. Theater subscriptions, normally a major revenue driver for the center, were down 82%. A Kennedy Center official said the comparisons reflected in those subscription sales were not accurate because the center had launched its subscription renewal campaign later in 2025 than 2024. 'Our renewal campaign is just kicking off,' Kim Cooper, senior vice president of marketing, said in a statement. Cooper noted the center had launched a new subscription option that allowed customers to 'mix and match' genres and said more announcements of shows were coming. The Kennedy Center depends on revenue from tickets and subscriptions as well as donations to operate. Ticket sales for 'Les Miserables' have been robust, according to another Kennedy Center official. Donors were asked to pay $100,000 to $2 million for the event, for which they could attend a reception before the performance, receive a photo with the president and be seated in good locations in the roughly 2,300-seat theater. Conservative programing 'We've raised a little more than $10 million for tonight, which is pretty remarkable, and it's an organization that needs the money right now,' said Ric Grenell, a close Trump ally and former ambassador to Germany, who is now president of the Kennedy Center. Under his leadership, the center has sought to add conservative-leaning programming, including a show that Grenell has described as a celebration of the birth of Christ. Trump said he particularly enjoyed 'Les Miserables,' a musical that explores themes of injustice, poverty, law and order and acts of grace. 'I've seen it many times, it's one of my favorites,' he said. Secret Service agents inspected the prop guns used in the production and remained backstage for the show. Vice President JD Vance, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also attended. Vance was met with boos when he attended a Kennedy Center show with his wife earlier this year. He said on Wednesday that such reactions came with the territory of holding national office. When initiating his takeover of the center, Trump zeroed in on drag shows to argue that it had lost its way. But multiple upcoming shows on the Kennedy Center's agenda include characters dressed in drag, such as 'Mrs. Doubtfire' and 'Chicago.' Other musicals in addition to 'Hamilton' have pulled out, according to a former Kennedy Center official.
Telegraph
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Drag queens fill seats at Trump's big night out at the theatre
Drag queens threatened to steal Donald Trump's thunder as the US president attended a performance of Les Misérables in Washington. Mr Trump wore a tuxedo and walked the red carpet with the First Lady at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday night. The opening night performance was also attended by a group of drag queens who were loudly applauded as they took their seats in the auditorium. The US president, however, received a mixture of cheers and boos when he appeared on the balcony before the show. The musical was the first performance at the centre since Mr Trump took over as chairman of the board and appointed his supporters to its leadership. Before the performance began, video posted to social media showed several theatregoers dressed in drag taking their seats and being applauded. The drag queens – Tara Hoot, Ricky Rosa, Vagenesis and Maria Con Carne – waved to the crowd before taking their seats. During the election campaign last year Mr Trump and Republicans used adverts to attack drag queens and transgender women. In one advert, Kamala Harris, his presidential rival, appeared beside a person with a moustache wearing a dress. On his first days in office, the US president issued a flurry of executive orders targeting diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives, a move critics said would persecute LGBT people. On Wednesday night, Mr Trump and the First Lady received a mixed reaction when they entered the theatre. Some in the auditorium stood and waved to the crowd, with some people booing and others chanting 'USA, USA'. Mr Trump took over the reins of the celebrated cultural institution after claiming the shows it put on were 'woke' and that some were 'terrible'. Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One, he said he had not attended any performances himself but relied on reports. 'I didn't want to go,' he said. 'There was nothing I wanted to see.' Mr Trump, a New Yorker by birth, said he had seen Les Misérables several times. The musical, based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo, tells the story of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who serves 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread and breaks the law again after getting out. The music was written by French composer Claude-Michel Schönberg and the musical had its first performance in 1980. While speaking before the performance, Mr Trump defended his decision to send the National Guard and Marines to help quell protests in Los Angeles that have reached over six days and spread to other cities. 'If we weren't there that city would have been burning to the ground right now,' he said, claiming officials in California had failed to protect federal agents enforcing immigration arrest warrants. Mr Trump said the first theatrical production he attended was Cats. The First Lady said hers had been The Phantom of the Opera. Speaking of his hopes for the Kennedy Centre, the president said: 'We want to bring it back, and we want to bring it back better than ever.'
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The Independent
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The best Pride celebrations in Europe, from DJs and drag queens in Lisbon to street parties in Stockholm
With Pride season fast approaching, you might be wondering where to head to for sequins, sunshine and serious fun this summer. Expedia's Summer Travel Outlook survey recently revealed that 54 per cent of LGBT+ Brits plan to attend a Pride event this year. For city breaks, the travel booking site found that Amsterdam, Paris and Barcelona were the most sought-after destinations, while London, Brighton and Manchester were considered the most LGBT+ welcoming in the UK by those surveyed. So, where are the best parties, celebrations and events taking place in Europe? From Berlin to Brighton, these cities are proudly wearing the rainbow flag this summer. So if you plan to party hard this Pride season, choose one (or more) of these headline events. Lisbon When: 21 June 2025 Unlike Madrid, Berlin and other Prides with huge international followings, the Portuguese capital's Arraial Lisboa Pride flies under the queer radar; but that's set to change with it being upgraded to this year's EuroPride (the continent's highest-profile Pride event). Even with this boost in its fortunes, Lisbon Pride remains on the smaller side. The advantage is that, unlike better-known Prides that sprawl across their host cities, Lisbon keeps things convenient and compact. The focus falls squarely on waterfront Praça do Comércio, which stages an open-air party that's plenty of fun without being chaotic: all the DJs and drag queens you might expect, but balanced with laid-back Lisbon flair. Later, head up to the Bairro Alto neighbourhood for the afterparty; then retreat to the adjoining Principle Real to bed down at The Vintage: a boutique hotel whose rooftop bar is a great place to unwind with post-party cocktails. Madrid When: 6 July 2025 If you subscribe to the mantra 'go big or go home', Madrid Pride (Orgullo Madrid) is for you. Held each year in early July, this is Europe's largest Pride event, drawing upwards of two million revellers to the Spanish capital. Perhaps that's no surprise – after all, Spain is one of the continent's most LGBT+-friendly travel destinations – but there's a sizzling sense of energy that makes Madrid Pride unique. The week-long event takes over the city centre with concerts, cultural happenings and sideshows such as the High Heel Race, culminating with a massive parade (and an even larger afterparty). The Chueca gaybourhood is the celebration's beating heart, so do yourself a favour and stay as close to the action as possible. Choose Axel Hotel Madrid (the Axel chain was created specifically for the LGBTQ+ community) for its rooftop swimming pool and speakeasy-style basement bar. Berlin When: 26 July, 2025 Though smaller, Berlin's Pride (or CSD, which stands for Christopher Street Day) is in some ways even wilder, as you might expect from a city where all-night parties are a way of life. The event is a powerful mix of parade, demonstration and celebration, where the festive atmosphere is rooted in activism and calls for safety, acceptance and equal rights. Staged each July, CSD attracts hundreds of thousands of people from across the queer spectrum, making it one of the calendar's most diverse Pride events, and, given that this is a country where nudity is second nature, pretty much anything goes in terms of what to wear. As for where to stay, choose one of the 30-odd hotels that subscribe to Visit Berlin's Pink Pillows initiative and are particularly sensitive to LGBT+ guests' needs. Hotel Oderberger in the lively Prenzlauer Berg district is an excellent option. Brighton When: 2 August 2025 Beachy vibes meet big-name acts at Brighton Pride, which is Britain's biggest, best and brightest LGBT+ event. This year's headliner, Mariah Carey, follows international icons such as Christine Aguilera, Britney Spears and the queen of pop herself, Kylie, all of whom have previously graced the post-parade festival's main stage. Held in the city's Preston Park (where the Pride parade terminates), this year's iteration is a two-day event that promises cabaret and funfair rides as well as credible live music. Brighton Pride is something you need to plan ahead for, though; the Preston Park festival and the Pride Village street party that follows it in Kemptown (the LGBT+ neighbourhood) are ticketed events, and accommodation books up well in advance. Try The Willows Hotel, a cute and colourful, 14-room boutique option in Kemptown, within stumbling distance of both the party and Brighton's shingle beach. Amsterdam When: 2 August 2025 Rather than having its colourful Pride parade take to the city streets, Amsterdam makes use of its greatest asset: its central ring of canals. Lined by elegant Golden Age townhouses that date from the 1700s, these scenic waterways stage a colourful, floating carnival every August. Huge crowds gather along its route; get there early to stake out a decent spot on a bridge or along the water's edge, or go one better and rent a boat from which to watch the parade pass by. Although Pride itself stretches over a week of street parties, movie screenings and other LGBT+ events, the Canal Parade is its absolute highlight (well, that and the various afterparties, such as the legendary Rapido). For a real treat, book a canal-facing room at luxurious Pulitzer Amsterdam and watch the parade as it passes down Prinsengracht from your elevated viewpoint, well above the crowds. Manchester When: 23 August 2025 In Manchester, the August Bank Holiday weekend wears a rainbow flag. Britain's northern powerhouse doesn't do things by half at the best of times, and its Pride festivities are no exception. Expanding way beyond the city's Gay Village for the whole weekend, it's loud, proud and friendly in that chipper northern way, but there's a serious side too, as attested by the candlelit vigil in Sackville Gardens to commemorate those who lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. Much more lighthearted is the revelry on Canal Street, at the heart of the Gay Village, where bars spill outside onto the street and there are live acts, cabaret and even a silent disco. Head beyond here to the edgier Northern Quarter for its alternative, pop-up events, after which you can crash at Native Manchester, whose Ducie Street Warehouse location serves excellent coffee and brunch on the ground floor: the perfect hangover remedy. Stockholm When: 2 August 2025 With upwards of 30 Pride parades taking place across the calendar (including iterations in Gothenburg, Malmö and even up in Lapland for the Sami community), super-liberal Sweden tips the scales when it comes to LGBT+ celebrations. Stockholm's is the biggest of them all (indeed, it's the largest in Scandinavia) and draws some 50,000 supporters to its parade and colourful Pride Park festival, all packed with creativity, community spirit and an ABBA-heavy soundtrack. For a deeper experience, Pride House offers a chance to exchange experiences and talk about issues and challenges for the LGBT+ community via workshops, debates and discussions with notable authors. Beyond it all is the sheer magic of enjoying Stockholm during its long summer days, when the waterfront and architecture of Gamla Stan (the historic district) are at their best. Add extra 'hello, sailor' vibes to your visit by staying at Victory Hotel, a nautical-themed boutique property in Gamla Stan. Prague When: 2 August 2025 With Russia's well-known anti-LGBTQ+ approach mirrored by Hungary (which recently enacted a law that has effectively banned Pride gatherings), the situation for Eastern Europe's LGBT+ communities is far less secure than in the West, all of which makes Prague Pride so vital. Since its inception in 2011, the region's leading Pride event has grown to become an essential voice for tolerance, change, acceptance and inclusion. As well as being a Pride with a purpose, the event appeals because of the scenery: the parade takes in cobbled streets amongst baroque facades, in the shadow of Prague Castle. Sure, the event may not have the stature of western Europe's big-hitters, but its appeal lies in its defiance: this is a union of partying and progress in a region where LGBT+ rights are evolving, which is very much in the spirit of how the Pride movement began. Stay centrally (close to Wenceslas Square) at Falkensteiner Hotel Prague.
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
How ‘RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' Reinvents Itself With A New Format
In it's previous seasons, 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' has shown that it is no stranger to switching up it's format. Starting off with contestants competing in pairs until the finale in it's first season, to having contestants eliminate each other instead of the decision lying with the judges, and even having no queens eliminated for entire seasons at a time, this drag race spin-off knows how to keep it's fans engaged and the tenth and latest season is no stranger to that. With a whopping 18 drag queens competing for the crown and another chance at being inducted into the winner's circle, All Stars has changed the way viewers watch the competition once again. Instead of having every contestant compete against each other all at once, which has become the standard, All Stars takes a page out of the flagship series' playbook by introducing a bracket style competition before bringing contestants together in the semi-finale. Previously, on 'RuPaul's Drag Race', there have been seasons where queens have been split into two groups before meeting the entire cast, with each team having their respective episodes and then joining together, as seen in seasons 6, 12, 13, and 17. Not only did this format give fans the chance to gain familiarity with contestants in already large casts, but it subtly allowed the show to take an already explored format and expand it into an entire season's worth of content by extending that idea from a singular episode into an entire series. This strategic shift doesn't only keep things fresh, but it also shows a willingness to, and the ability to, successfully evolve in a world where reality television needs serialized storytelling to extend and capitalize on its engagement. This season, the 18 queens have been broken up into three groups of six. Each group will compete against each other for a chance to move on to the semi-finals, with only three members from each group moving forward from each group to reach a total of nine queens in the semi-finals. So far, the format has resonated with fans, with the first bracket already finishing its run and sending three queens, Aja, Iren the Alien, and Bosco onward. With All Stars, fans have already come to expect to see a different, more fulfilled, side to their favorite queens returning queens. With the bracket format, while fans may have a shorter time to engage with queens that are eliminated, fans are guaranteed a minimum of three episodes to see their favorites on the show. In previous seasons, fans would be heartbroken to see queens that they felt were going to be a frontrunner inevitably be eliminated early in the season. Now, with the episode guarantee, it not only incentivizes fans to watch but it also encourages future contestants to compete. Instead of worrying about returning to the competition and leaving with little to no amount of screentime from an early elimination, contestants can feel reassured that they can at least have three episodes to showcase their outfits, growth, and overall brand, which is sometimes worth more than winning the competition itself, as many successful queens have shown us over the years.
