The prestigious John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts is witnessing a significant fracturing of its relationship with the American creative community. Stephen Schwartz, the three-time Academy Award-winning composer behind global phenomena like Wicked and Godspell, is the latest luminary to join a growing boycott of the Washington, D.C. institution. The 77-year-old maestro announced that he would no longer host the Washington National Opera Gala on 16 May, declaring that the venue has sacrificed its status as an apolitical haven for the arts.
The controversy stems from the administration’s recent “takeover” of the centre, which saw the board of trustees reshaped with loyalists and the sitting President appointed as chairman—a departure from decades of bipartisan tradition. This ideological shift, combined with the legally contested addition of the President’s name to the building’s exterior, has prompted Schwartz to state unequivocally: “There’s no way I would set foot in it now.”
A Widening Rift in the Arts
Schwartz’s withdrawal is not an isolated incident; it follows a wave of high-profile departures that have left the centre’s 2026 schedule in disarray. From advisory board resignations to last-minute performance cancellations, the institution is struggling to maintain its cultural prestige. While the centre’s vice president of public relations, Roma Daravi, dismissed Schwartz’s claims as “completely false” due to the absence of a signed contract, Schwartz maintained that his invitation originated from director Francesca Zambello before the board’s political overhaul.
The administration’s stance has been combative rather than conciliatory. Interim Executive Director Richard Grenell has notably threatened a $1 million lawsuit against jazz drummer Chuck Redd for a cancelled Christmas Eve performance, labelling the collective artistic withdrawal a form of “derangement syndrome.”
Key Departures and Performance Cancellations
| Artist / Group | Professional Field | Action Taken |
| Stephen Schwartz | Broadway Composer | Withdrew from May Opera Gala |
| Shonda Rhimes | Television Producer | Resigned from Advisory Role |
| Issa Rae | Actress / Creator | Cancelled booked appearances |
| Team ‘Hamilton’ | Musical Theatre | Withdrew future bookings |
| The Cookers | Jazz Ensemble | Cancelled New Year’s Eve show |
| Doug Varone & Dancers | Modern Dance | Scotched planned April show |
| Renee Fleming | Opera Soprano | Resigned from Advisory Role |
Ratings Slump and Public Perception
The political rebranding of the Kennedy Centre also appears to be facing a cold reception from the public. The 2025 Kennedy Centre Honors—the first broadcast hosted by a sitting President—suffered a catastrophic blow to its television ratings. According to Nielsen data, the special averaged only 4.1 million viewers, representing a 26% year-on-year collapse.
The White House has dismissed these figures as an “apples-to-oranges comparison” driven by “far-left bias,” citing the Tuesday air date before Christmas as the primary culprit. However, industry analysts suggest that the exodus of established stars like Schwartz, combined with the increasingly partisan atmosphere, has alienated the traditional audience of the nation’s cultural crown jewel. As legal battles loom over the building’s name and artist contracts, the Kennedy Centre enters 2026 amidst its most turbulent period since its 1971 opening.