IATSE Urges Against Kennedy Center Cancellations, Citing Removal Of “Critical Opportunities” For Crew

deadline.com:

Amid a string of recent show cancellations at the Kennedy Center, the union that represents its crew is attempting to shine a light on the negative impact such moves can have on those behind-the-scenes workers. “When productions walk away, it leaves more than just an empty stage — they leave behind critical opportunities for skilled middle-class workers to earn living in the arts, and forego a chance to inspire American audiences at this historic institution,” the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees said in a statement Thursday.

Per the union, International President Matthew D. Loeb visited the Kennedy Center this week to hear crew concerns about the lack of work now that more than 20 shows have either cancelled or postponed performances since Donald Trump took over and installed his own team at the Washington, D.C.

performing arts complex. Reactions to the cancellations have been mixed, and the conversation seemed to reach a fever pitch recently when the producers of Hamilton announced they were canceling a 2026 run in protest of Trump’s takeover.

In a statement of his own following his visit, Loeb said: “Behind-the-scenes workers need to feed our families and have neither participated in any decisions relating to booked content, nor have we considered social issues as a matter of whether we service a production in the history of our relationship at the Kennedy Center.” IATSE has maintained the stance that, especially given the struggles below-the-line crew have faced in recent years, cancelling performances hurts more than it helps.