Celebrated Composer Stephen Schwartz Pulls Out of Kennedy Center Event Over Trump's Name Change
Renowned composer behind Oscar-winning hit musical 'Wicked,' Stephen Schwartz, has backed out of hosting the Washington National Opera Gala at the prestigious Kennedy Center in a protest over Donald Trump's takeover and name change of the institution.
Schwartz, who had been scheduled to host the event on May 16th, stated in an email that he can no longer be associated with the center as it "no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression" that was founded. He made clear that he would not set foot at the Kennedy Center again.
However, a spokesperson for the Kennedy Center clarified the situation, stating that Schwartz was never officially booked or confirmed to attend the event and had only assumed it might be canceled due to lack of communication since February 2025. They deemed the report as false and misleading.
This is not the first time artists have pulled out of shows at the Kennedy Center over Trump's moves in early 2025, including changes to the board members and installation of himself as chairman. The institution was subsequently renamed the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. Other cancellations include notable musicians such as Chuck Redd and Wayne Tucker, who cited their decision based on seeing the name change.
Following the name change announcement, a threat was issued by the interim executive director Richard Grenell, seeking $1 million in damages from musician Chuck Redd, who led the Christmas Eve Jazz Jam for over 15 years. The situation escalated further with Grenell issuing a statement labeling artists' decisions to boycott as 'derangement syndrome'.
The trend of cancellation has sparked controversy and debate among the artistic community about the implications of Trump's influence on the Kennedy Center and the importance of preserving its original mission.
Renowned composer behind Oscar-winning hit musical 'Wicked,' Stephen Schwartz, has backed out of hosting the Washington National Opera Gala at the prestigious Kennedy Center in a protest over Donald Trump's takeover and name change of the institution.
Schwartz, who had been scheduled to host the event on May 16th, stated in an email that he can no longer be associated with the center as it "no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression" that was founded. He made clear that he would not set foot at the Kennedy Center again.
However, a spokesperson for the Kennedy Center clarified the situation, stating that Schwartz was never officially booked or confirmed to attend the event and had only assumed it might be canceled due to lack of communication since February 2025. They deemed the report as false and misleading.
This is not the first time artists have pulled out of shows at the Kennedy Center over Trump's moves in early 2025, including changes to the board members and installation of himself as chairman. The institution was subsequently renamed the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. Other cancellations include notable musicians such as Chuck Redd and Wayne Tucker, who cited their decision based on seeing the name change.
Following the name change announcement, a threat was issued by the interim executive director Richard Grenell, seeking $1 million in damages from musician Chuck Redd, who led the Christmas Eve Jazz Jam for over 15 years. The situation escalated further with Grenell issuing a statement labeling artists' decisions to boycott as 'derangement syndrome'.
The trend of cancellation has sparked controversy and debate among the artistic community about the implications of Trump's influence on the Kennedy Center and the importance of preserving its original mission.
... I mean, it is the US we're talking about, where freedom of speech and expression are everything, right? The fact that they changed the name of the Kennedy Center to include Trump's name is just mind-boggling 
. It's like they're trying to erase some part of American history, you know? I'm not gonna lie, if I were a musician, I'd probably consider canceling my show too 
. The whole thing feels super awkward and uncomfortable... it's like the Kennedy Center is losing its way, you feel me? 
? steve schwartz, a genius composer like wicked, is refusing to attend an event cuz trump changed the name & it just feels so wrong 
. i'm with him on this one - art should be for everyone, not just some rich & powerful ppl 
. and grenell's all about trying to bully artists into staying quiet? no thanks 
. the kennedy center was meant to be a place for creativity & freedom, but now it feels like it's being used as a platform for trump's ego 
. can we pls just talk about this in a way that doesn't involve hate or drama? 
. it's all about artistic freedom, folks! don't let politics ruin the party 
... like, I get it that Schwartz was totally upset about Trump changing the name of the Kennedy Center and making it all about himself 
... but can you imagine if artists started doing that everywhere? 
It's already super stressful trying to find gigs without worrying about politics getting in the way. And what's up with Grenell's threats? Like, come on man 
... a million dollars is crazy talk! But at the same time, I feel Schwartz for speaking out and not wanting to be associated with something that doesn't vibe with him 
... it's all so complicated 
. it's not just Schwartz, though - all those other musicians who canceled their shows are being total heroes too 
. we need more people like them speaking out against this kind of thing and fighting for the values that really matter 
.
anyway, its def makin me think about how much we should care about artists boycotting shows over politics. is it worth losin ur gig or do we just need to chill?
. It's all just causing drama and dividing the community. Can't we all just focus on the art instead of the politics? 
The whole situation with the name change just feels so out of whack. I mean, wasn't the Kennedy Center always about art for arts sake? It's crazy how this has turned into a full-blown drama 