Wicked composer says he'd never 'set foot' in Trump-Kennedy Center as he cancels performance over rebrand

[highplainsdem]

Source: The Independent

Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz has pulled out of a scheduled performance at the Kennedy Center over President Donald Trump’s renaming of the historic venue.

Three-time Oscar winner Schwartz, 77, has joined a growing list of artists to boycott the cultural center over Trump’s potentially illegal attempt to rebrand the institution as the Trump-Kennedy Center.

Schwartz, who was scheduled to host the Washington National Opera Gala at the Kennedy Center on May 16, told Newsday there was “no way” he would enter the venue now.

“It no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression it was founded to be,” Schwartz said in an email sent by his assistant. “There’s no way I would set foot in it now.”

-snip-

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/news/stephen-schwartz-kennedy-center-trump-b2893506.html

[tanyev]

1. Bravo, sir!

[mdbl]

2. No one should want to participate in a fascist bullshit takeover of a beloved institution.

[soldierant]

26. With the possible excepyion

of other fascists.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

3. I keep hearing Rick Wilson..."Everything Trump touches, DIES."

BRAVO Artists!

[Wednesdays]

4. I had to do a double-take at the headline.

I was thinking, "Why are they calling the composer wicked because he withdrew from the Kennedy Center?"

Better headline would have been: "Composer of 'Wicked' says he'd never 'set foot' in Trump-Kennedy Center..."

[erronis]

18. I sort of like the fact that I had to do a double-take and actually 'think' about that title.

Helps shake a bit of rust out of those old gears.

[GreenWave]

19. I would cut wicked and paste it in front of rebrand.

[twodogsbarking]

5. Thank you Mr. Schwartz.

[SheltieLover]

6. Good for him!

[murielm99]

7. Potentially illegal?

WTF?

[highplainsdem]

10. The name change is illegal.

https://variety.com/2025/legit/news/donald-trump-name-added-kennedy-center-illegal-1236612798/

Legal experts said the name of the Kennedy Center was established by federal law, and that the organization’s board does not have the authority to make any changes to its name. Changing the name of the Kennedy Center would require an act of Congress, according to scholars.

“There is absolutely no way they can do this legally,” David Super, Georgetown Law professor who specializes in Constitutional law and legislation, told CNN. However, he said, “the administration is not concerning itself with laws unless it has a realistic prospect of getting sued.”

[murielm99]

11. I know that.

I am questioning The Independent's choice of phrasing. It is not "potentially illegal." It IS illegal. I don't need a tutorial.

[highplainsdem]

14. It wasn't at all clear from what you posted above that you did know that. You could have made it

clear, and just putting quote marks around potentially would have worked.

[murielm99]

29. I don't need a self-appointed editor.

Go away.

[highplainsdem]

30. I was being polite and helpful because you were indicating you didn't know the renaming was illegal.

Sorry you're unable to understand that.

[murielm99]

31. Bless your heart.

[calimary]

22. That's the key.

“…the administration is not concerning itself with laws unless it has a realistic prospect of getting sued.”

Well maybe that’s what our next step is. Our credible experts filing suit! And as many suits as possible! Tie their hands and clog up their appointment books.

Just a thought, anyway.

[CTyankee]

8. EXCELLENT!

[Paladin]

9. Profound thanks, Stephen Schwartz.

The sooner trump's perversion of the JFK Center is reduced to an empty warehouse, the better. The subsequent re-opening of the Center---minus all of trump's sick changes---ought to be a celebration of historical dimensions.

[sprinkleeninow]

25. "....reduced to an empty warehouse..."

🤙👍🫡

[sboatcar]

12. Its gonna just be Kid Rock and Nicki Minaj on repeat there

[Bengus81]

15. They could have Stallone recite poetry for an hour or so

[BeneteauBum]

17. And Jason Aldean

Playing one stupid song over and over.

Peace ☮️

[ShazzieB]

20. Don't forget Ted Nugent!

[JoseBalow]

32. Zee Wango, Zee Tango

[calimary]

13. Glad to see this!

Exactly what that orange bastard needs: people saying “No!” to him. He’s not used to that. And it’s what he deserves.

[BeneteauBum]

16. Resist!

Peace ☮️

[popsdenver]

21. That's okay.............

Trump will probably convert it into a big screen movie theatre, showing full length action movies of Tractor Pulls, NASCAR, and WWE wrestling matches..............

[Evolve Dammit]

23. Let sanity prevail!

[Cha]

24. TY and Wicked Composter, Stephen Schwartz

[gristy]

27. Schwartz was just 22 when he composed the music and lyrics for Godspell in 1970

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Schwartz

Robin Lamont sings Day By Day in the movie just beautifully:

[Wednesdays]

28. And two years younger when he composed "Pippin"

Although Pippin didn't open on Broadway until the year after Godspell premiered.