Wicked Composer Declines Kennedy Center Performance Amid Trump Name Change Controversy

Mon Jan 05 2026 12:16:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Stephen Schwartz, composer of the musical Wicked, announces he will not be participating in an event at the Kennedy Center after its board decided to rename the venue, sparking further backlash from artists.

Following the controversial decision to add Donald Trump's name to the Kennedy Center, renowned composer Stephen Schwartz has withdrawn from a scheduled appearance, stating that the venue has become a platform for ideological expression. Schwartz's decision follows a series of cancellations by other artists protesting the name change.

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, responded on social media that reports of Schwartz's withdrawal from a gala in May were totally bogus and he had never been signed to attend.

The Oscar and Grammy-award-winning composer is the latest artist to withdraw from the national cultural institution over recent changes.

Schwartz told the BBC he had been approached by the artistic director of the Washington National Opera to participate in the May event, but felt there had been little communication about it since February and assumed it was not happening.

On Thursday, he was informed by a reporter that the gala was still listed on the Kennedy Center's schedule, prompting his public statement against the venue's name change.

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.

In response, Grenell denounced Schwartz's claims, asserting that they were erroneous and expressing disappointment over the situation.

In a wider trend, two musical acts recently cancelled their shows at the Kennedy Center, citing the same concerns of political involvement. The Cookers, a jazz band, and Doug Varone and Dancers announced their respective decisions, revealing their discomfort in performing at the venue under the new name.

Previously, jazz percussionist Chuck Redd also cancelled an annual Christmas Eve performance due to the name change.

Grenell described these cancellations as manifestations of derangement syndrome and criticized the artists for their responses. The Kennedy Center's decision to rename itself after Trump has incited legal and political debates, especially from those associated with President Kennedy's legacy.

Former US House member Joe Kennedy III criticized the renaming, asserting that the venue is a historical tribute to his uncle and should retain its original designation.