In a bold move that has caught the attention of the arts community, renowned composer Stephen Schwartz, best known for creating the beloved musical "Wicked," has decided to withdraw from hosting a gala event at the Kennedy Center this year. This decision comes in light of the Trump administration's recent involvement with the prestigious performing arts venue, which Schwartz claims conflicts with its original mission.
In his statement released on Saturday, Schwartz expressed that the Kennedy Center was originally established as a neutral space dedicated to fostering free artistic expression from artists of diverse backgrounds and beliefs. However, he feels that this is no longer the case, stating, "appearing there has now become an ideological statement." He firmly declared, "As long as that remains the case, I will not appear there."
A distinguished artist, Schwartz has won multiple Oscars and Grammys and is also the creative force behind other popular musicals like "Pippin" and "Godspell." He mentioned in an email that he had been invited in December 2024 to host a gala scheduled for May 2026, honoring the Washington National Opera, by its artistic director, Francesca Zambello.
Interestingly, Schwartz has historical ties to the Kennedy Center, having contributed lyrics to the musical theater production "Mass," commissioned by Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy and composed by Leonard Bernstein during the center's inauguration in 1971.
Zambello confirmed Schwartz’s invitation to host the gala, noting in an email to NBC News that he graciously accepted the role and was set to curate the program. She even provided a page from what she described as the Washington National Opera's brochure from March 2025, which listed him as the gala’s host. "We respect his personal views," Zambello remarked, but refrained from further comments.
However, Roma Daravi, a spokesperson for the Kennedy Center, contradicted the claim that Schwartz had been confirmed as the gala host, asserting that he was "never discussed nor confirmed and never had a contract by the current Trump Kennedy Center leadership."
Kennedy Center interim President Richard Grenell labeled media reports regarding Schwartz’s withdrawal as "bogus," clarifying on social media that Schwartz "was never signed and I’ve never had a single conversation with him since arriving."
Despite these assertions, various ticketing sites continued to advertise Schwartz as the host for the event, although his name was conspicuously absent from the Kennedy Center's official website as of Friday night.
This situation has not occurred in isolation; several artists have chosen to cancel their performances following the board's controversial decision to associate Trump’s name with the venue. Such cancellations have led to significant programming gaps for the center, particularly around the December holidays and into the new year. For instance, jazz musician Chuck Redd canceled a Christmas Eve concert he had managed since 2006, and the jazz ensemble The Cookers also opted out of performing on New Year's Eve. Other notable withdrawals include folk singer Kristy Lee and the dance company Doug Varone and Dancers, who cited the name change in their decisions to cancel performances scheduled for January and April, respectively.
Prior to these developments, high-profile figures such as Issa Rae and the creators of the musical "Hamilton" had already pulled out of events at the center.
In a previous statement, Daravi characterized artists who cancel shows over political disagreements as lacking courage or principle, labeling their actions as selfish and intolerant, and suggesting they neglect their fundamental responsibility as public artists to perform for all audiences.
The controversy surrounding the Kennedy Center escalated in early December when the board voted to rename the venue to include Trump’s name. This decision followed a significant overhaul of the board, which Trump instigated by appointing members loyal to him and assuming the chair position himself. Just a day after the vote, Trump’s name was prominently displayed on the center's exterior.
In a related legal development, Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democratic congresswoman from Ohio and an ex officio member of the board, initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming that the board’s renaming of the center violates federal law, given that it was established by Congress.
