Composer Stephen Schwartz and Artists Withdraw from Kennedy Center Events after Renaming Controversy
Stephen Schwartz, the composer of Wicked, will not appear at the Kennedy Center gala after the venue was renamed to include Donald Trump's name, calling the move an ideological statement. The Kennedy Center board voted in December to rename the center to the Donald J Trump and the John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, with new exterior signage appearing the next day.
Kennedy Center president Richard Grenell stated that Schwartz was never formally signed to attend and dismissed reports of his withdrawal as bogus, also noting there had been no conversation with Schwartz since February. Other cancellations tied to the name change included The Cookers canceling two New Year’s Eve shows, Doug Varone and Dancers canceling two April performances, and Chuck Redd canceling a Christmas Eve show.
Grenell described the wave of cancellations as a form of derangement syndrome and warned of potential damages up to $1 million. Some lawmakers and members of the Kennedy family, including Joe Kennedy III, criticized the renaming, arguing that the venue is a living memorial to President Kennedy and cannot be renamed. This has sparked ongoing debates about Congressional involvement due to federal law.
Schwartz had been approached to participate in a May event with the Washington National Opera but believed it might not take place after limited communication. His name initially appeared on the center’s site for the gala before being removed.
