Stephen Schwartz, the composer of Wicked, said he will not host a planned Kennedy Center gala, stating the venue is no longer an "apolitical home" after the Trump administration's takeover. Francesca Zambello confirmed inviting Schwartz to host a May 2026 Washington National Opera gala, while Kennedy Center officials say no contract was ever signed. The announcement follows several artist withdrawals after the board voted to add Donald Trump's name to the center, a decision now facing legal challenge.
Stephen Schwartz Withdraws From Kennedy Center Gala, Citing 'Ideological' Shift After Trump Takeover
Stephen Schwartz is the latest artist to pull out of a previously scheduled appearance at the Kennedy Center, whose board recently voted to add Trump's name to the performing arts center. (John Nacion / Getty Images file)
Stephen Schwartz, the award-winning composer best known for the blockbuster musical Wicked, said he will not host a planned gala at the Kennedy Center, arguing the venue is no longer the "apolitical home" for artists it was intended to be after the Trump administration's takeover.
In a statement released Saturday, Schwartz said the Kennedy Center was "founded to be an apolitical home for free artistic expression for artists of all nationalities and ideologies," and that "appearing there has now become an ideological statement. As long as that remains the case, I will not appear there." Schwartz also noted his long history with the center, having contributed lyrics to the theatrical work Mass for the center's 1971 opening.
Schwartz said he was invited in December 2024 to host a May 2026 gala honoring the Washington National Opera. Francesca Zambello, the opera's artistic director, told NBC News she extended the invitation, that Schwartz "kindly agreed to host our gala and curate the program," and provided a page from what she described as the Washington National Opera's March 2025 brochure listing him as host.
But Kennedy Center leadership has disputed that Schwartz was formally engaged. Roma Daravi, a Center spokesperson, said Schwartz was "never discussed nor confirmed and never had a contract by the current Trump Kennedy Center leadership." Interim Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell called media reports about a cancellation "bogus," writing on X that Schwartz "was never signed and I've never had a single conversation on him since arriving." Despite those denials, some ticketing sites have listed Schwartz as the event's host, while his name did not appear on the Kennedy Center's official website as of Friday night.
Schwartz's statement comes amid a wave of artist withdrawals after the Kennedy Center board voted to add former President Donald Trump's name to the venue. Recent cancellations have created gaps in the December holiday lineup and dates early in the new year. Artists who have publicly pulled out include jazz musician Chuck Redd (a longtime Christmas Eve performer), the jazz ensemble The Cookers (New Year's Eve), folk artist Kristy Lee, the dance company Doug Varone and Dancers, as well as earlier departures such as Issa Rae and the touring production of Hamilton.
"Any artist cancelling their show at the Trump Kennedy Center over political differences isn't courageous or principled—they are selfish, intolerant, and have failed to meet the basic duty of a public artist: to perform for all people," said Roma Daravi in a previous statement.
The renaming followed a wider change at the center: earlier this year, then-president Trump replaced the board with a handpicked group who made him their chair. The board voted in early December to add Trump's name, and the name was placed on the building's facade the day after the vote. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), an ex officio board member, has filed a lawsuit arguing the renaming violates federal law.
This report is based on coverage originally published by NBC News.
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