Stephen Schwartz, the celebrated composer behind Wicked, is stepping away from a planned gala appearance at the Kennedy Center, citing concerns that the once nonpartisan arts institution has become politically charged following its takeover by the Trump administration.
Schwartz said he could not participate in an event at a venue that now carries an ideological message simply by association. In a statement shared Saturday, he emphasized that the Kennedy Center was created as a space where artistic expression could exist independently of politics, a principle he believes no longer applies.
“As long as appearing there is interpreted as a political statement,” Schwartz said, “I won’t be part of it.”
A Longstanding Relationship, Now Fractured
The decision carries particular weight given Schwartz’s history with the Kennedy Center. He played a role in its opening in 1971, contributing lyrics to Mass, the musical theater work commissioned by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and composed by Leonard Bernstein to honor President John F. Kennedy.
More than five decades later, Schwartz said he was invited in December 2024 to host a May 2026 gala benefiting the Washington National Opera. The invitation, according to Schwartz, came from the opera company’s artistic director, Francesca Zambello.
Zambello confirmed that she extended the offer and said Schwartz had agreed to both host and curate the evening’s programming. She also shared promotional materials that listed him as the event’s host. While acknowledging his decision to step aside, she declined to elaborate further, noting only that his views were personal.
Conflicting Accounts From Leadership
Kennedy Center officials have pushed back on claims that Schwartz was formally attached to the event. Roma Daravi, a spokesperson for the center, said Schwartz was never confirmed under the current leadership and did not have a contract in place.
Interim President Richard Grenell echoed that stance, calling reports of a cancellation inaccurate and stating on social media that he had never spoken with Schwartz since assuming the role.
Despite those denials, third-party ticketing sites had promoted Schwartz as the gala’s host in recent months, though his name was notably absent from the Kennedy Center’s official website by Friday evening.
A Pattern of High-Profile Departures
Schwartz’s decision follows a wave of artist withdrawals tied to the center’s recent rebranding. Since the board voted to add Donald Trump’s name to the venue, several performers have opted out, leaving noticeable gaps in upcoming programming.
Jazz musician Chuck Redd canceled his long-running Christmas Eve concert, a tradition he maintained for nearly two decades. The Cookers pulled out of their New Year’s Eve show, while folk singer Kristy Lee and Doug Varone and Dancers scrapped appearances scheduled for early 2026. Each cited concerns tied to the name change.
Earlier exits included Issa Rae and the touring production of Hamilton, both of which bowed out before the board’s formal vote.
Daravi previously criticized the cancellations, arguing that artists who withdraw over political disagreements are failing their audiences. She described such decisions as counter to the role of public performers.
Legal Questions and Cultural Fallout
The controversy has also landed in court. Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from Ohio and an ex officio board member, filed a lawsuit last month challenging the renaming. She argues the move violates federal law governing the congressionally chartered institution.
For Schwartz, the issue appears less legal and more philosophical. His departure underscores a broader tension rippling through the arts world, where institutions long seen as neutral ground are now arenas for political debate, and where choosing not to appear can speak as loudly as taking the stage.
