Wicked Composer Boycotts Kennedy Center Over Trump Name Change

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Celebrated composer Stephen Schwartz, the creator of the musical 'Wicked,' has declared he will not perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. due to the venue's controversial decision to add former President Donald Trump's name to its title. Schwartz's boycott underscores a growing trend of artists distancing themselves from the center since the name change last year.

Why it matters

The Kennedy Center's renaming has sparked legal concerns about the board's authority to make such a change, as well as broader debates over the role of politics in the arts. Schwartz's high-profile boycott highlights how artistic expression can become entangled with ideological statements, raising questions about the center's mission to be an 'apolitical home for artists of all nationalities and all ideologies.'

The details

Schwartz, an Oscar and Grammy winner, stated that appearing at the Kennedy Center has become an ideological statement, and therefore he would not participate. The center's website initially listed Schwartz as a performer in a May gala with the Washington National Opera, but this information was later removed. A center spokesperson disputed Schwartz's involvement, claiming he was never officially signed, while Schwartz's representative clarified that the composer had assumed the event was no longer happening until learning it was still scheduled on Thursday night.

• The Kennedy Center opened in 1971, established by Congress as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy.
• Schwartz was present at the center's opening ceremony.
• The Kennedy Center's board voted to rename the center to include Trump's name last year.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The legal standing to challenge the Kennedy Center's name change remains uncertain, as the board's authority to make such a decision is still being debated.