The composer of the musical Wicked has stated he will not appear at the Kennedy Center after its board voted to include US President Donald Trump's name in the venue's title.
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.
Schwartz is the latest artist to withdraw from performance commitments due to recent name change controversy surrounding the center. He explained that he had been approached by the artistic director of the Washington National Opera at the end of 2024 to perform at the May event and had initially agreed to participate but received little communication since the last February.
On Thursday, a reporter informed him that the gala was announced on the Kennedy Center schedule, which led to his decision against participating, given that he had previously been listed on the center's website as appearing in the gala.
Schwartz, 77, commented to the BBC, stating, The Kennedy Center was founded to be an apolitical home for free artistic expression for artists of all nationalities and ideologies. 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 criticized the emerging narrative, asserting it was misleading, stating, The Stephen Schwartz reports are totally bogus. Shame on the woke high school reporters repeating it. He noted that Schwartz was never booked and had not communicated with him since taking office.
Additionally, two musical acts recently canceled their appearances at the center. The Cookers, a well-known jazz band, announced cancellations for two shows, while Doug Varone and Dancers protested the name change by also deciding against performing. Grenell referred to these cancellations as a form of derangement syndrome, stating he might seek damages due to the actions.
The Kennedy Center previously named in memorial of President John F. Kennedy in 1964, was officially renamed during a board vote led by Trump allies in December, leading to a significant cultural backlash. This renaming has incited reactions from various artistic figures and supporters of Kennedy’s legacy.
Some lawmakers and legal experts assert that any alterations to the center's name must involve Congressional approval, especially given its historical significance.
