America at 250: Performing Arts as Sites of Pride, Pain, and Repair

As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, the performing arts showcase a complex sense of patriotism. Rob Weinert-Kendt, the editor of American Theatre, reflects on his excitement during the 1976 bicentennial, contrasting it with a present-day understanding of historical injustices and the rise of white supremacist ideologies. Liza Jessie Peterson’s 'The Peculiar Patriot,' which has been staged for almost 25 years, offers a new interpretation of patriotism through the character of Betsy LaQuanda Ross. In May 2026, Lincoln Center initiated construction on an expanded Damrosch Park, located where the San Juan Hill neighborhood once stood, leading T.S. Monk to share feelings of both pride and sorrow. The Summer 2026 edition of American Theatre will highlight Native American playwrights, U.S. performance history, and Talene Monahon's 'Meet the Cartozians,' referencing Langston Hughes’s poem as a contrasting element.