The composer of the musical Wicked has announced he will not appear at the Kennedy Center after its board voted to include US President Donald Trump's name in the name of the venue.
Stephen Schwartz stated that appearing at the center has now become an ideological statement, adding: As long as that remains the case, I will not appear there. He also indicated that he had initially agreed to participate in a gala event scheduled for May, but had received little communication since last February, leading him to believe it was canceled.
However, Richard Grenell, the center's president, refuted Schwartz's withdrawal, claiming the reports were totally bogus,” and emphasized that Schwartz had never been scheduled to attend. Schwartz's announcement comes amidst growing controversy, as he notes that the Kennedy Center was established as an apolitical space for artistic expression.
Other artists, including the jazz group The Cookers and the dance troupe Doug Varone and Dancers, have also recently canceled performances at the center due to the changes involving Trump's name. Grenell dismissed these cancellations as a reaction fueled by what he termed derangement syndrome.”
Some lawmakers and members of the Kennedy family have denounced the name change, arguing that the center, memorialized in honor of President John F. Kennedy shortly after his assassination, holds significance that transcends contemporary political discussions. Joe Kennedy III, a member of the Kennedy family, expressed that such renaming is inappropriate, equating it to renaming iconic memorials like the Lincoln Memorial.
