Oscar-winning composer Stephen Schwartz, best known for Wicked, has canceled a high-profile appearance at the Kennedy Center in protest of former President Donald Trump’s takeover of the institution and its controversial name change. Schwartz was scheduled to host the Washington National Opera Gala on May 16. In an email to Newsday, he said the Center “no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression it was founded to be,” adding, “There’s no way I would set foot in it now.”
Protest Over Governance and Name Change
Schwartz’s decision follows a wave of artist cancellations tied to changes implemented at the Kennedy Center over the past year. In early 2025, Trump moved to overhaul the Center’s board, installing allies and naming himself chairman. Later in the year, the board unanimously voted to rename the institution the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts—a move critics have called legally dubious and politically charged. For many artists, the name change marked a tipping point. They argue it compromises the Center’s longstanding mission as a nonpartisan home for the arts.
A Growing List of Cancellations
Schwartz joins a growing roster of performers and organizations that have pulled out of Kennedy Center engagements. Recent cancellations include the Center’s annual Christmas Eve Jazz Jam, as well as performances by the New York Dance Company, jazz band the Cookers, jazz musician Wayne Tucker, and folk singer Kristy Lee. Chuck Redd, who led the Christmas Eve Jazz Jam for nearly two decades, said he canceled after seeing the name change reflected both online and on the building. His decision prompted a forceful response from the Center’s interim leadership.
Kennedy Center Leadership Pushes Back
Interim executive director Richard Grenell has threatened legal action against Redd, demanding $1 million in damages. Grenell also issued a statement criticizing the artists who canceled. He said the performers were booked by what he described as “previous far left leadership,” arguing that the cancellations show a preference for political activism over inclusive programming. Grenell characterized the boycotts as counterproductive to supporting the arts.
Artists Cite Free Expression Concerns
Artists who have withdrawn say their decisions are rooted not in partisanship, but in principle. Schwartz’s statement emphasized the importance of artistic spaces remaining free from political influence—especially institutions founded to serve diverse audiences across ideologies. Schwartz’s body of work includes Wicked, Godspell, and Pippin, and he has long been a central figure in American musical theater. His decision underscores the seriousness with which many in the arts community view the Kennedy Center’s recent changes.
What Comes Next
With more cancellations possible, questions remain about the Kennedy Center’s programming and reputation in 2026. Industry observers say the ongoing dispute highlights broader tensions between politics and cultural institutions—and the risks when governance shifts blur the line between the two. For now, Schwartz’s withdrawal stands as one of the most prominent statements yet from a major artist opposing the Center’s new direction.
