A good friend of mine is in the unenviable (some would say untenable) position of having a spouse who supports Trump. I don’t know how she does it. But this man had at least one moment of clarity where he lamented to his wife/my friend, “Damnit, your side has better artists.” Yes, we do! I can’t categorically say why many artists, thinkers, entertainers tend to be liberal, but I think it has something to do with artistic work going hand in hand with empathy. So that’s why it hasn’t been a surprise that Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center has been a HUGE disaster. People were already protesting when Trump invaded the board, but his renaming shenanigan prompted a whole new wave of performers canceling. Add to that list Wicked composer & lyricist Stephen Schwartz. He didn’t have a recent appearance, nor was he among this year’s Trump-approved honorees feted at the lowest-rated Kennedy Center Honors in history. Schwartz had tentative plans to host an event there in May, but just confirmed that any magic he has to do will not be done for this Kennedy Center.
While the White House has assured Americans that things are going swell at the recently re-named John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., the growing list of bookings falling off the beloved arts venue’s performance roster tells a slightly different tale.
On Thursday (Jan. 1), Oscar-winning Wicked composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin) told Newsday that he’s adding his name to that expanding roster or refuseniks in protest of what he said was the once apolitical arts venue’s increasingly partisan slant.
“It no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression it was founded to be,” Schwartz told Newsday of what he said is the Kennedy Center’s divisive new image in an email sent by his assistant. “There’s no way I would set foot in it now.” Schwartz was slated to host the Washington National Opera Gala at the Kennedy Center on May 16.
“Stephen Schwartz was never discussed nor confirmed and never had a contract by current Trump Kennedy Center leadership,” said Kennedy Center vice president of public relations Roma Daravi in a statement. “Schwarts said himself that he ‘heard nothing about it since February 2025…assumed it’s no longer happening.’ It is completely false to report otherwise.”
Schwartz is the latest artist to distance themselves from the Kennedy Center in the wake of Trump’s takeover, which has included his revamp of the previously bipartisan venue’s board to include a cadre of MAGA loyalists, who named Trump chairman of the organization last year; in a break with tradition, Trump became the first sitting president to host the Kennedy Center Honors event in December.
“Last year, way before the change of Board and name of the Kennedy Center, I was invited by [director] Francesca Zambello to be part of a Washington National Opera event on May 16, 2026,” Schwartz, 77, wrote in his email. “But I’ve heard nothing about it since February 2025, so I have assumed it’s no longer happening. I can’t imagine Francesca continuing under the current circumstances. If it is happening, of course I will not be part of it.”
Stephen Schwartz, taking a stand for good. Not sorry, had to! And speaking of, I watched Wicked: For Good a couple times in December, both pre and mid flu bout, and I have thoughts. I’ll start off by sticking with the political protest theme. Schwartz penned two new songs for the movie adaptation (as I previously noted, they’re hoping for a Best Song Oscar, but they’re gonna lose to KPop Demon Hunters), and the new tune Cynthia Erivo sings, “No Place Like Home,” could not be more relevant, depressingly. It’s all about how to reckon with your country when it’s doing despicable things. The song itself is a bit earnest (and for the record, I think the new number Ariana Grande got, “The Girl in the Bubble,” is a better song), but I found myself mouth agape and thinking, “And Schwartz wrote this before Trump 2.0!” Sigh. On a related but entirely less consequential note, it’s total category fraud to keep Ariana Grande in Supporting Actress this year. The first Wicked was Elphaba’s character journey, Wicked: For Good is all about Glinda growing up. Especially with the beefing up they did to make Act II its own film, the movie belongs to Glinda, in my opinion.
PS — Was anyone else severely creeped the f–k out by the art direction of the Scarecrow’s face and hair? I mean, I understood the choices. I just found them disturbing and haunting.
Photos credit: Jennifer Graylock-Graylock.com/Avalon, Jeffrey Mayer/Avalon, Getty
😂 We definitely need more Stevens. It’s never too early to do the right thing – or to refuse to normalize outright evil.
I loved the books and the live show, but the movies? I tried. I really did. Turns out they didn’t need me there anyway; everyone else showed up on my behalf.
And honestly, if my spouse were on board the Evil Orange Express, that would be the last stop for us. Marriage vows do not cover that scenario. I feel for your friend, but… yikes. Some things don’t come with excuses – and definitely don’t deserve them.
I 👏 his actions & words. As for the second Wicked movie, haven’t seen it yet. I will, though. I finally got around to watching the first one & am so glad I saw it streaming rather than in a theater. I don’t think I would have lasted in a theater! There was so much filler! And it did nothing to advance the story! I was thoroughly engrossed any time Cynthia Erivo or Ariana Grande were onscreen, though. My goodness! Powerhouses, the both of them! Singing AND acting! Brava! Bravissima!