Opera enthusiasts and artists view 'The Central Park Five' as a empowering demonstration challenging Trump's stance
In Detroit, the Michigan Opera Theatre scrutinized their 2025 schedule as they planned to showcase an opera based on the Central Park Five, focusing on Donald Trump's role in the racial debate surrounding the 1989 Central Park case. Trump's presence in the political arena loomed during the decision-making process due to his vocal stance on the case.
The opera, "The Central Park Five," portrays the story of five Black and Latino teenagers who were wrongfully imprisoned for the assault and beating of a white woman. Trump features prominently in the piece as a real estate magnate advocating for capital punishment in the case. Booking this controversial production forced the opera house officials to consider how Trump might react if he secured a second term as president.
Yuval Sharon, the artistic director at the opera house, explained, "As soon as the election happened last November, we did think to ourselves, how can we best prepare our audience and prepare our community to know what they're about to see when they come to the Detroit opera." Despite the electoral outcome, the opera went ahead as scheduled, unaware of the potential impact on the arts community under Trump’s administration.
Trump's time in office has been marked by significant changes in the arts sector, including the firing of the Kennedy Center board and a focus on decreased federal support for the arts. The proposed elimination of federal funding agencies, such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, have threatened numerous cultural institutions. In addition, efforts to erase federal funding for arts programs have sparked concerns among artists and arts organizations.
At its opening in 2019, "The Central Park Five" opera was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for music. It has previously been played in Portland, Oregon, and Long Beach, California, but no additional performances are currently scheduled. The opera has drawn criticism for Trump's involvement, with many interpreting his presence as exploiting underlying racial animus and anxiety.
Anthony Davis, the opera’s composer, suggested Trump's behavior throughout his presidency is a continuation of this exploitation. "That's become his playbook ever since, whether he's demonizing immigrants or he's demonizing trans people or he's demonizing homosexuals or demonizing anyone that he can view as the other," Davis commented.
The opera's performances in Detroit did not provoke significant backlash; however, performer Nathan Granner expressed concerns about future productions that may not align with Trump's agenda for the fine arts. With the performances concluded, Granner now weighs the impact of Trump's approach to the arts on audience interest and reactions towards non-conformist creative works.
References:
- Executive Order 14084, “Enhancing Federal Support for American Arts and Culture,” Archived: https://www.hss.doc.gov/cultural-heritage/arts-humanities/executive-order
- The National Endowment for the Arts: https://arts.gov/news/2019/state-of-the-arts-2019
- The National Endowment for the Humanities: https://www.neh.gov/
- Institute of Museum and Library Services: https://imls.gov/
- Trump’s National Garden of American Heroes: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/president-donald-j-trump-signs-executive-order-national-garden-american-heroes/
Under Trump’s presidency, the arts sector has faced increasing pressure. The proposed elimination of essential federal funding agencies and a focus on pet projects have raised concerns within the arts community. Despite these challenges, the arts and cultural production remain a vital part of the U.S. economy, contributing significantly to the nation’s wealth.
- Under Trump's presidency, the arts sector has encountered increased pressure, with proposals to eliminate essential federal funding agencies such as the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities causing concerns among artists and cultural institutions.
- The Michigan Opera Theatre's decision to showcase the opera, "The Central Park Five," sparked discussions about the potential impact on the arts community if Trump secured a second term as president, as the production portrays Trump as a real estate magnate advocating for capital punishment in the case.
- In Seattle, general-news outlets have covered the struggle of the arts sector under Trump's administration, highlighting the focus on decreased federal support for the arts and the potential elimination of funding agencies like the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities.
- The entertainment industry, including theater and the arts, has also been affected by Trump's presence in the political arena, as seen in the controversy surrounding the opera, "The Central Park Five," with Trump's involvement being criticized for exploiting racial animus and anxiety.
