‘Wicked’ Composer Stephen Schwartz Withdraws From Kennedy Center Engagements, Citing Partisan Shift
While the White House maintains that operations at the recently rebranded John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts are proceeding without a hitch, a mounting surge of cancellations by high-profile talent suggests a deepening rift within the nation’s premier cultural hub.
The latest luminary to sever ties is Stephen Schwartz, the acclaimed composer and lyricist behind Broadway staples like Wicked, Godspell, and Pippin. In a recent statement to Newsday, Schwartz announced his refusal to participate in future events, protesting what he perceives as the institution’s abandonment of its historically neutral mission in favor of a partisan agenda.
“It no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression it was founded to be. There’s no way I would set foot in it now,” Schwartz remarked in an email conveyed via his assistant.
Schwartz had originally been scheduled to host the Washington National Opera Gala on May 16, 2026. However, he noted that communication from the venue had effectively ceased since early 2025. Expressing doubt that the event would even proceed under the current leadership, he clarified that should it move forward, he would not be a part of it.
The exodus follows a significant administrative overhaul. The venue’s board was recently restructured to include a roster of MAGA loyalists, who subsequently named Donald Trump as the organization’s chairman. In a stark departure from precedent, Trump also became the first sitting president to personally host the Kennedy Center Honors this past December.
Schwartz is far from the only artist to stage a quiet—or loud—revolt. The center has been buffeted by a wave of high-profile departures, including Issa Rae, Rhiannon Giddens, and the creative team behind the musical Hamilton. Furthermore, advisory figures such as Ben Folds, Shonda Rhimes, and Renée Fleming have all resigned their positions.
The friction has also permeated the jazz and dance communities. Musician Wayne Tucker and his group, the Bad Mothas, recently scrapped a January appearance, while jazz veteran Chuck Redd and the ensemble The Cookers canceled holiday performances. The New York-based Doug Varone and Dancers also rescinded their commitment to an April showcase.
In response to the cancellations, interim executive director Richard Grenell has taken a litigious stance, threatening musician Chuck Redd with a $1 million lawsuit. Grenell dismissed the protesting artists as “political activists,” characterizing the boycotts as a form of “derangement syndrome.”
Beyond the internal turmoil, a legal controversy persists regarding the building’s exterior. While Trump’s name has been affixed to the facility, legal scholars point to a 1963 federal law stating that any name change to the national memorial requires a specific Act of Congress. As of now, no such legislation has been passed.
The administrative shift also appears to have impacted public engagement. Despite promises of record-breaking viewership, the Trump-hosted broadcast of the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors saw a significant decline. Nielsen data indicated the special drew 4.1 million viewers—a 26% drop from the previous year’s ceremony, which honored icons like Sylvester Stallone, KISS, and Michael Crawford.
