The Kennedy Center run of Manhattan Theatre Club's Eureka Day has officially been cancelled, the latest in a slew of changes made after President Donald Trump took over as chairman of the D.C. theatre's board February 12. MTC told The New York Times that it would not go forth with the production—which is centered on a private elementary school that is forced to reconsider its liberal vaccine policy—due to financial circumstances.
Eureka Day (which just finished up a Broadway run) joins a list of cancellations that includes an event featuring the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, D.C. and the National Symphony Orchestra, originally scheduled for late May and meant to kick off national Pride Month celebrations. National Symphony Orchestra Executive Director Jean Davidson told NBC News that the decision to postpone the performance was made before Trump officially took over as chairman.
Changes to Kennedy Center programming have also included the cancellation of a planned tour of the children's musical Finn. The Kennedy Center said in a statement that the decision was a financial one, while the creators of the show posted on Instagram that they had been informed after Trump’s take over.
As previously reported, a number of artists have cut ties with The Kennedy Center following Trump firing the Kennedy Center leadership. Comedian Issa Rae and rock band Low Cut Connie voluntarily cancelled upcoming shows, and artistic advisors Renée Fleming, Ben Folds, and Shonda Rhimes stepped down from their positions within the organization.
The entirety of the Kennedy Center's board is now made up of Trump appointees, and the organization's former president, Deborah Rutter, has been replaced with Trump loyalist Richard Grenell. Grenell made his first public remarks regarding his plans for the organization at a conservative gathering February 21, noting that a "big change" would be a "huge celebration of the birth of Christ at Christmas."
A request for comment from Manhattan Theatre Club on Eureka Day's cancellation had not yet been returned at the time of publication.