Stephen Schwartz, the renowned “Wicked” composer, withdraws from hosting the Washington National Opera gala at the renamed Trump-Kennedy Center, decrying its loss of apolitical status. President Donald Trump reshapes the board and rebrands the venue as the “Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts,” fueling artist tensions.
Gala Backstory
Washington National Opera artistic director Francesca Zambello invites Schwartz to host the May 16, 2026, event blending musical theater and opera; the center promotes him on its site until recently. Schwartz declares the Kennedy Center “no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression it was founded to be” and vows, “There’s no way I would set foot in it now.” He receives no updates since February 2025, assuming cancellation until recent revelations.
Leadership Rebuttal
Kennedy Center interim President Richard Grenell asserts Schwartz never confirmed, labels reports “completely false,” and notes no contract or discussions under new leadership. A spokesperson explains Schwartz’s team discovers ongoing plans late, with silence post-2025; the site removes his name Friday amid slumping ticket sales tied to Trump.
Wider Artist Fallout
Jazz ensemble the Cookers, Chuck Redd’s New Year’s Eve show, Doug Varone and Dancers, and folk artist Kristy Lee cancel over renaming and board shifts. The American College Theatre Festival severs decades-long ties. Trump’s overhaul injects $250 million for renovations and programming pivots.
