Monday, March 24, 2025

UPDATING Kennedy Center Cancels Broadway Hit Comedy About Vaccinations 2 Weeks Before Open

No one at the Kennedy Center will be shouting “Eureka!” anytime soon.

The hit Broadway comedy “Eureka Day” is no longer setting down at the Ken Cen beginning March 7th for two weeks.

Jonathan Spector’s play just closed on Broadway, where it was a hit. But producers will only say it’s not transferring because of “financial reasons.”

Since the show has done very well financially, that statement makes no sense. Ticket holders in Washington DC were surprised to get a notice that they’d be getting refunds.

It’s unlikely producers pulled out of the run. It’s more likely the new right wing Ken Cen chief, Richard Grenell, censored the material. “Eureka Day” pokes fun at anti-vaxers although it also sends up the liberal crowd.

But the point of the play is that not being vaccinated leads to a child getting mumps at school.

Next up for the Ken Cen is the Mark Twain Prize honoring Conan O’Brien. The live taping for Netflix is set for March 25th. I’m told that it’s completely sold out, and Netflix has a deal in place to show the Twain Prize soon.

But how will Grenell handle all the comedians coming up on stage and making fun of Trump and co? It’s not like they can avoid it. It’s possible Twain Prize ticket holders will be in for a surprise of their own.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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