Maryland opens arms to welcome artists fleeing Trump's DC

[riversedge]

Source: www.thebanner.com


Wesley Case 3/2/2026 5:30 a.m. EST

The whole region could benefit: hotels, restaurants and more. But it’s not all good news.

When opportunity knocks, Lyric Baltimore CEO Thomas Bailey knows he has to be ready to answer. Even on a weekend.

So, when he saw the news on a Friday in January that the Washington National Opera was leaving the Kennedy Center after 55 years, he sent a Hail Mary through the group’s website: “We in Baltimore would really love to have you,” Bailey wrote.

He did not receive an answer. But Bailey spent the entire weekend working his networks until he connected with WNO officials. Less than a week later, the opera was coming to Baltimore.

Bailey’s canceled Saturday night out was a small price to pay for “a revolutionary chance,” he said. The WNO will perform “West Side Story” at the Lyric in May....................

Read more: https://www.thebanner.com/culture/arts/culture-baltimore-kennedy-center-trump-V6XVFSHN3NH5NOICOHAG73N5JY/

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Maryland opens arms to welcome artists fleeing Trump’s DC

www.thebanner.com/culture/arts...

— (@oceancalm.bsky.social) 2026-03-02T12:34:11.304Z

Artist Amy Sherald films on her phone as she takes the stage ahead of a live event at the
Baltimore Museum of Art in November. (Ariel Zambelich/The Banner)

[QueerDuck]

1. DC will become (has become?) a cultural wasteland.

[Chipper Chat]

2. Trump-kennedy Center schedule 2027:

January- kid rock follies
Feb - The Village People with Strings
March - Lee Greenwood featuring Kanye West
APRIL - Classical Lara Trump
May - and operetta based on the life of Charlton Heston
June - "We've Never Seen Anything Like it Before"
[A new opera composed by Miller and Hegsethstein]
July-December - closed for installation of a putting green down the center.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

3. LOL!!!!

Literally!

Deep inside I'm though... seen so many great old movies, musicals, plays, ballets, and concerts at the KC over the past 50+ years. It kills me what he's done to it.

[mdbl]

5. Couldn't have scheduled better!

[GenThePerservering]

4. This is wonderful!

Baltimore has the opportunity to grow a great arts scene, away from oppressive censorship and N Korean style meddling!

[mdbl]

6. Would love to see it all relocate.

[Deep State Witch]

7. The Lyric Is A Nice Venue

But the seats are really tight. I'd rather have the Opera go to the Strathmore in North Bethesda. It's a gorgeous venue, and easy to get to from DC and the 'burbs.