Washington D.C.’s Ford Theatre has announced it will cancel its annual gala as the President and First Lady are unable to attend this year, according to the Washington Post. The 30-year tradition usually features a reception at the White House.
Ford director Paul Tetreault reportedly sent an email to members of the board that stated that “the many demands placed on the President and First Lady during their final year in office have made their participation and the White House reception impossible.”
The Ford Theatre gala is historically accompanied by a weekend of events, including dinner, performances and an evening at the White House. “We made the difficult decision to forego the gala this year and plan an exciting event for 2017,” the email read, according to the Post.
The gala has been canceled in the past.
