Stephen Schwartz, the renowned composer behind Oscar-winning musicals like Wicked, has pulled out of hosting a gala event at the Kennedy Center due to the institution's recent name change, sparked by Donald Trump's takeover. In an email to Newsday, Schwartz expressed his disappointment and disillusionment with the Center's new direction.
According to Schwartz, he was never booked for the event and had assumed it was cancelled since February 2025. However, this contradicts Kennedy Center vice president of public relations Roma Daravi, who claims Schwartz had not been discussed or confirmed by the current Trump administration leadership.
This latest cancellation follows a string of artist withdrawals from upcoming performances at the Kennedy Center in protest over Trump's efforts to reshape the institution. The first wave of cancellations occurred in February 2025, when Trump aimed to dismantle the Center's board and replace it with his own allies. More recently, artists have opted out of shows after Trump's administration voted unanimously to rename the Kennedy Center.
These cancellations are not without consequence, as some performers have faced backlash from the institution's interim executive director Richard Grenell, who has threatened to take legal action against those who refuse to perform, including musicians Chuck Redd and Wayne Tucker. Grenell has accused artists of engaging in "derangement syndrome" by boycotting the arts to support Trump's policies.
The renaming of the Kennedy Center to the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts has sparked a heated debate over artistic freedom and the role of politics in public institutions. As Schwartz's cancellation highlights, many artists are choosing to distance themselves from an institution that they perceive as increasingly politicized and out of touch with its original mission.
According to Schwartz, he was never booked for the event and had assumed it was cancelled since February 2025. However, this contradicts Kennedy Center vice president of public relations Roma Daravi, who claims Schwartz had not been discussed or confirmed by the current Trump administration leadership.
This latest cancellation follows a string of artist withdrawals from upcoming performances at the Kennedy Center in protest over Trump's efforts to reshape the institution. The first wave of cancellations occurred in February 2025, when Trump aimed to dismantle the Center's board and replace it with his own allies. More recently, artists have opted out of shows after Trump's administration voted unanimously to rename the Kennedy Center.
These cancellations are not without consequence, as some performers have faced backlash from the institution's interim executive director Richard Grenell, who has threatened to take legal action against those who refuse to perform, including musicians Chuck Redd and Wayne Tucker. Grenell has accused artists of engaging in "derangement syndrome" by boycotting the arts to support Trump's policies.
The renaming of the Kennedy Center to the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts has sparked a heated debate over artistic freedom and the role of politics in public institutions. As Schwartz's cancellation highlights, many artists are choosing to distance themselves from an institution that they perceive as increasingly politicized and out of touch with its original mission.
i feel bad for Stephen Schwartz tho, he's a legend! but at the same time, can you blame him for not wanting to be part of this drama? i mean, renaming an institution just to pawn off your own name on it seems kinda shady. andgrenell's all talk about "derangement syndrome" 
like what even is that? and why's he trying to strongarm people into performing? isn't the arts supposed to be about free expression and stuff?
for art lovers! steven schwartz is like the ultimate legend behind wicked & other iconic musicals... it's so disappointing to see him take a stand against the kennedy center's name change 
. i'm not surprised though, many artists are speaking out against the political influence on public institutions 
. richard grenell's threat of legal action is pretty scary, like who does he think he is? 
anyway, more power to steven & all the other artists refusing to perform at kennedy center... let's keep supporting arts that matter to us 
. I get why he'd be disappointed – I would be too if I thought my work was going to be associated with a name change that's so clearly driven by politics. But it's also a bit worrying for artists and creatives who rely on events like this to showcase their talents. The fact that there are more cancellations and boycotts happening is just a big red flag 
– what does that say about the kind of work environment we're creating for our performers?
I'm literally shook about this whole situation at the Kennedy Center! It's so sad to see talented people like Stephen Schwartz pull out due to the name change 
. Like, can't we just agree to disagree on politics? The renaming is already sparking a huge debate and now artists are being bullied by Richard Grenell 
. It's all about artistic freedom, right? Can't we just stick to the arts and leave politics at the door? 
I get it, the Kennedy Center's name change is a big deal, but artists need to be careful about how they're choosing to take a stand. If Stephen Schwartz was never even booked for the event, why is he pulling out now? 
And the fact that Richard Grenell is threatening to take legal action against artists who don't wanna perform? That's just ridiculous 
. I think this whole thing highlights how politics should never be at the forefront of art or culture... can't we all just agree to disagree and respect each other's differences instead? 
. and now artists are getting pushed out for speaking up? no thanks 
it's all about artistic freedom and not letting politics ruin the arts 
. I'm low-key disappointed that Stephen Schwartz isn't going to host that gala event - he's an amazing composer and I loved Wicked (who didn't? 
). It just shows how politics is seeping into every aspect of our lives, even in the arts. 
it's not like the arts r supposed 2 be about politics anyway i feel bad 4 stephen schwartz tho, he's been doing great work & it's not cool that his work is being affected by trump's agenda 
Just kidding, sorta... But seriously, it's kinda crazy how much controversy this name change is causing. Some people are all about free speech and artistic freedom, while others are like, "Hey, if you don't like what I'm doing, just leave." 
Like, come on, folks! Can we just try to get along? The whole thing feels like a big mess, but hey, at least the Kennedy Center is still hosting some pretty talented performers... or so they say 
.