Stephen Schwartz Withdraws from Kennedy Center Gig Amid Controversial Name Change

Mon Jan 05 2026 15:08:33 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Composer of 'Wicked', Stephen Schwartz, announces he will not perform at the Kennedy Center following the decision to rename it after Donald Trump. This decision has sparked a growing controversy within the arts community.

Stephen Schwartz, the composer of the musical Wicked, has decided to withdraw from a scheduled appearance at the Kennedy Center due to its recent renaming to include Donald Trump's name. Schwartz expressed that performing at the center now represents an ideological stance rather than artistic expression. While center president Richard Grenell disputes this claim, asserting Schwartz was never officially booked, the cancellation follows a pattern of other artists distancing themselves from the institution amidst this political controversy.

The composer of the musical Wicked has said he will not appear at the Kennedy Center after its board voted to include US President Donald Trump's name in the name of the venue.

Stephen Schwartz said in a statement that appearing at the center has now become an ideological statement, adding: As long as that remains the case, I will not appear there.

However, Richard Grenell, the center's president, wrote on X that the reports of Schwartz pulling out of a gala in May were totally bogus and that he had never been signed to attend.

The Oscar and Grammy-award winning composer is the latest artist to announce they will not perform at the national cultural institution amid the name change controversy.

Schwartz informed the BBC that he was approached by the artistic director of the Washington National Opera at the end of 2024 about joining the gala, but after receiving minimal communication since last February, he assumed it was no longer happening.

Earlier, Schwartz was contacted by a reporter asking if he would participate in the gala after he noticed it mentioned on the Kennedy Center's schedule. His name had been listed but was removed shortly after his inquiry.

The Kennedy Center was founded to be an apolitical home for free artistic expression for artists of all nationalities and ideologies, Schwartz stated. It is no longer apolitical, and appearing there has now become an ideological statement. As long as that remains the case, I will not appear there.

Contrastingly, Grenell countered, stating, The Stephen Schwartz reports are totally bogus. Shame on the woke high school reporters repeating it. He was never signed and I've never had a single conversation on him since arriving.

Additionally, two musical acts recently canceled their scheduled performances at the center. The Cookers, a veteran jazz band, and Doug Varone and Dancers both cited the name change in their decisions. Grenell referred to the cancellations as a form of derangement syndrome.

Past this, jazz percussionist Chuck Redd also canceled a Christmas Eve gig he had hosted for annual performances since 2006. Grenell referred to these actions as a political stunt and threatened to seek damages.

In December, the Kennedy Center's board, filled with allies of Trump, voted to rename the institution to the Donald J Trump and the John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. The new signage was installed the following day.

Some U.S. lawmakers, as well as legal scholars, have argued that because the center's name was established by a 1964 law, any change requires Congressional approval. Members of the Kennedy family have openly criticized the change, emphasizing the center's historical significance as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy, established shortly after his assassination.

Joe Kennedy III, a former House member and Kennedy's grandnephew, emphasized the issue stating, It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says.