Deborah F. Rutter, president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., has announced that she will step down from her position at the end of 2025. A replacement for Rutter, whose tenure began in 2014, has not been named.
The Kennedy Center serves as a national cultural hub, presenting theater, opera, dance and more. The Opera House, one of the Center’s many venues, regularly hosts Broadway tours, having recently offered engagements of “Funny Girl,” “Back to the Future” and “& Juliet”; the road companies of “Les Misérables” and “Parade” are scheduled to perform in 2025.
The Kennedy Center also serves as a venue for pre-Broadway engagements (the recent Main Stem revival of “Spamalot” debuted at the Opera House as part of the Broadway Center Stage series). The Kennedy Center also presents the annual Kennedy Center Honors, which frequently acknowledges artists known for their contributions to Broadway (such as recent honorees Billy Crystal, Bette Midler and Renée Fleming).
Rutter’s tenure is marked with growth and expansion. Rutter led the establishment of the Kennedy Center’s REACH, a new interactive arts venue which opened in 2019. Under Rutter’s leadership, the Kennedy Center’s operating budget has grown to $268 million, with revenue reaching $125 million.
“After more than 10 extraordinary years in Washington, D.C., collaborating with some of the most phenomenal artists, cultural leaders, diplomats, philanthropists, volunteers and administrators, I have come to believe it is time to pass the torch,” Rutter in a statement. “When I arrived at the Center in 2014, I was curious how the many and varied artistic genres under one roof could combine into multidisciplinary experiences. The goal has been to live up to our name as the national cultural center, expanding our reach and ensuring our work reflects America, and the world. The last decade of artistic growth at the Center has been thanks to our staff, our artists and our audiences’ eagerness to explore new ground together — with trust, respect and joy.”
“Deborah’s visionary leadership has transformed the Kennedy Center,” said Kennedy Center board chairman David M. Rubenstein. “Her legacy will be the Center’s increased relevance, visibility and physical footprint. She also led the organization in welcoming new art forms and audiences, unprecedented fundraising, modernized our digital and television presence, strengthened our board governance and engagement, and elevated the Center to become a true destination. Deborah has given the nation a stronger, better, more impactful arts organization. Filling Deborah’s shoes will be a daunting task for the board.”
The Center’s board will lead a search for Rutter’s successor, alongside executive search firm Spencer Stuart. Rubenstein will remain at the helm of the board through September 2026.
