The Rockettes and Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Perform at Trump Inaugural
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Thursday, December 22, 2016 05:33 PM
By: Todd Beamon
The Radio City Rockettes and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will perform at the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence in Washington next month, Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn said Thursday.
"The Rockettes are a wonderful group who have been a part of American culture for decades almost 100 years," Epshteyn told Brooke Baldwin on CNN. "They represent many women from around the country and what's best about America.
"We're excited to have them be a part of the inaugural."
The Rockettes performed for the festivities of President George W. Bush in 2001 and 2005.
"The Radio City Rockettes, an original American brand... as treasured American icons, have taken part in some of the nation's most illustrious events such as Super Bowl halftime shows, Macy's Thanksgiving Day parades and presidential inaugurations, including in 2001 and 2005," said James Dolan, executive chairman of Madison Square Garden Co.
"We are honored that the Rockettes have again been asked to perform in the upcoming inauguration festivities," he said in a statement.
Founded in St. Louis in 1925, the Rockettes have been performing at Radio City Music Hall since 1932.
Epshteyn said that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will be performing at the swearing-in ceremony.
"The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has a great tradition of performing at the inaugurals of U.S. presidents," Ron Jarrett, president of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, told The Salt Lake Tribune.
The choir sang at the swearing-in festivities of Presidents Lyndon Johnson in 1965, Richard Nixon in 1969 and George H. W. Bush in 1989.
Besides the parade for Bush 41, the choir also performed in those for Presidents Ronald Reagan in 1981 and Bush 43 in 1989.
"Singing the music of America is one of the things we do best," Jarrett told the Tribune. "We are honored to be able to serve our country by providing music for the inauguration of our next president."
Epshteyn told Baldwin that the choir will represent "over 200 professionals on stage singing songs that treasure America and uplift everyone's spirits."
The Rockettes and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir will join teenage opera star Jackie Evancho, who will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the inauguration.
http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/rock.../22/id/765302/
The Rockettes, Mormon Tabernacle Choir to perform at Trump inauguration; one dancer v
Don't they have a replacement then? Let her stay home.
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The Rockettes, Mormon Tabernacle Choir to perform at Trump inauguration; one dancer voices objection
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by UPI
23 Dec 2016
545 comments
WASHINGTON, Dec. 23 (UPI) — The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Radio City Rockettes have been booked to perform at Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration next month.
The swearing-in ceremony is to take place Jan. 20 in Washington, D.C.
“The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has a great tradition of performing at the inaugurals of U.S. presidents,” Ron Jarrett, president of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, said on the vocal group’s website. “Singing the music of America is one of the things we do best. We are honored to be able to serve our country by providing music for the inauguration of our next president.”
“The Radio City Rockettes, an original American brand, have performed at Radio City Music Hall since 1932 and, as treasured American icons, have taken part in some of the nation’s most illustrious events such as Super Bowl halftime shows, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parades and presidential inaugurations, including in 2001 and 2005,” James L. Dolan, executive chairman of The Madison Square Garden Company, which owns the Rockettes, said in a statement to NBC News. “We are honored that the Rockettes have again been asked to perform in the upcoming inauguration festivities.”
The Hollywood Reporter said Rockette Phoebe Pearl, however, wrote in a now-deleted message on her personal Instagram account that she is not happy about the scheduled appearance.
“I usually don’t use social media to make a political stand but I feel overwhelmed with emotion. Finding out that it has been decided for us that Rockettes will be performing at the Presidential inauguration makes me feel embarrassed and disappointed. The women I work with are intelligent and are full of love and the decision of performing for a man that stands for everything we’re against is appalling. I am speaking for just myself but please know that after we found out this news, we have been performing with tears in our eyes and heavy hearts. We will not be forced! #notmypresident,” Pearl posted.
Also expected to take the stage at the inauguration is 16-year-old soprano Jackie Evancho.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/the-ro...ces-objection/
Petition Calls for Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Cancel Performance at Trump Inauguratio
Petition Calls for Mormon Tabernacle Choir to Cancel Performance at Trump Inauguration
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by DANIEL NUSSBAUM
23 Dec 2016
770 comments
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is facing intense pressure to pull out of performing at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration as an online petition has gathered thousands of signatures.
The Change.org petition seeks to persuade the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to end its practice of having the choir perform at presidential inaugurations.
The choir has performed at numerous presidential inaugurations throughout history, including for Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson, Ronald Reagan, George Bush and George W. Bush. During his 1981 inauguration, Reagan called the MTC “America’s choir.”
“We, as signers of this petition, believe that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ decision to allow the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to perform at the upcoming presidential inauguration of Donald Trump DOES NOT reflect the values of Mormonism and does not represent its diverse 15+ million members worldwide,” the petition, begun by one Randall Thacker, states.
The petition continues:
“We also believe that an official LDS organization performing at a presidential inauguration gives the perception that the LDS Church and its diverse 15+ million members worldwide support an incoming president’s agenda, values and behaviors. Performing at other government events would not be a concern (e.g. national holidays such as July 4th).
As members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we strongly urge the Church to stop this practice and especially for an incoming president who has demonstrated sexist, racist, misogynistic, and xenophobic behavior that does not align with the principles and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
The petition further claims that the performance would harm the Mormon church’s image, and would send “the wrong message” to its children.
The petition had gathered 7,111 signatures at the time of publication.
Prospective performers for Trump’s inauguration have received significant backlash and threats of boycott from those dissatisfied with the results of the election. As Breitbart News previously reported, opera legend Andrea Bocelli was the subject of a “#BoycottBocelli” campaign on social media after it was reported that he had been approached by Trump to perform at the inauguration. The singer reportedly decided not to perform in the wake of the backlash.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir will join iconic dance company The Rockettes at the inauguration in Washington DC on January 20, along with teenage opera singer Jackie Evancho, who is expected to sing the National Anthem.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywo...-inauguration/
Former Rockette: Trump Inauguration Performance Will ‘Unite’ America
by JEROME HUDSON
2 Jan 2017
A retired member of the world-famous Rockettes dance troupe is encouraging its members to set aside their political differences and proudly perform at the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
“The only thing the Rockettes should be focused on is performing for our nation and helping unite us all with the joy, love, beauty and strength for which they are famous,” says Patty DeCarlo Grantham, a veteran member of the renowned troupe.
Grantham, who’s president of the 552-member Rockette Alumnae Association, says she was appalled by backlash and calls encouraging Rockettes to boycott the inaugural event.
“To perform for someone that represents everything that we, as women, have ever had to overcome is contrary to everything we know to be right and true,” former Rockette Autumn Withers wrote last week, The Wrap reported.
“On a national level, the optics of this alone normalize the atrocious remarks Mr. Trump has openly made towards women,” Withers continued. “The idea that if you simply ask their bosses or perhaps pay their bosses enough money, a line of beautiful women will oblige anyone in any way is exploitation.”
Grantham, responding to Withers, wrote to the Madison Square Garden Co., which owns Radio City Music Hall.
“We are all aware how contentious this election has been for our country,” Grantham wrote, assuring MSG owner James Dolan “that in no way does Ms. Withers’ opinions reflect the opinion of the Rockette Alumnae Association.”
Madison Square Garden Company released a statement last week confirming that the high-kicking dancers are not obligated to perform and that each Rockette “must voluntarily sign up.”
“Like the millions of people who are true Rockette fans, we cannot wait to see the Rockettes proudly ‘strut their stuff’ for the upcoming inauguration of the President of the United States of America,” wrote Grantham, who performed as a Rockette from 1959 through 1970.
The Rockettes last performed at President George W. Bush’s presidential inauguration in 2005. The iconic dance troupe will join previously announced performers the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and teenage opera singer Jackie Evancho at the event on January 20.
http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollywo...unite-america/
