Latest Breaking News

highplainsdem

(59,814 posts) Fri Jan 2, 2026, 10:41 AM 4 hrs ago

101

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

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“It no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression it was founded to be,” Schwartz said in an email sent by his assistant.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

23 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Wicked composer says he'd never 'set foot' in Trump-Kennedy Center as he cancels performance over rebrand (Original Post) highplainsdem 4 hrs ago OP

Bravo, sir! tanyev 4 hrs ago #1

No one should want to participate in a fascist bullshit takeover of a beloved institution. mdbl 4 hrs ago #2

I keep hearing Rick Wilson..."Everything Trump touches, DIES." ProudMNDemocrat 4 hrs ago #3

I had to do a double-take at the headline. Wednesdays 4 hrs ago #4

I sort of like the fact that I had to do a double-take and actually 'think' about that title. erronis 2 hrs ago #18

I would cut wicked and paste it in front of rebrand. GreenWave 2 hrs ago #19

Thank you Mr. Schwartz. twodogsbarking 4 hrs ago #5

Good for him! SheltieLover 3 hrs ago #6

Potentially illegal? murielm99 3 hrs ago #7

The name change is illegal. highplainsdem 3 hrs ago #10

I know that. murielm99 3 hrs ago #11

It wasn't at all clear from what you posted above that you did know that. You could have made it highplainsdem 3 hrs ago #14

That's the key. calimary 2 hrs ago #22

EXCELLENT! CTyankee 3 hrs ago #8

Profound thanks, Stephen Schwartz. Paladin 3 hrs ago #9

Its gonna just be Kid Rock and Nicki Minaj on repeat there sboatcar 3 hrs ago #12

They could have Stallone recite poetry for an hour or so Bengus81 3 hrs ago #15

And Jason Aldean BeneteauBum 3 hrs ago #17

Don't forget Ted Nugent! ShazzieB 2 hrs ago #20

Glad to see this! calimary 3 hrs ago #13

Resist! BeneteauBum 3 hrs ago #16

That's okay............. popsdenver 2 hrs ago #21

Let sanity prevail! Evolve Dammit 14 min ago #23

tanyev

(48,629 posts)

1. Bravo, sir!

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 10:45 AM

4 hrs ago

mdbl

(8,074 posts)

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

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 10:47 AM

4 hrs ago

ProudMNDemocrat

(20,594 posts)

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

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 10:54 AM

4 hrs ago

BRAVO Artists!

Wednesdays

(21,560 posts)

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

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 10:57 AM

4 hrs ago

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

(22,610 posts)

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

Reply to Wednesdays (Reply #4)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 12:41 PM

2 hrs ago

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

GreenWave

(12,248 posts)

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

Reply to Wednesdays (Reply #4)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 12:43 PM

2 hrs ago

twodogsbarking

(17,557 posts)

5. Thank you Mr. Schwartz.

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 11:33 AM

4 hrs ago

SheltieLover

(76,514 posts)

6. Good for him!

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 11:36 AM

3 hrs ago

murielm99

(32,667 posts)

7. Potentially illegal?

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 11:46 AM

3 hrs ago

WTF?

highplainsdem

(59,814 posts)

10. The name change is illegal.

Reply to murielm99 (Reply #7)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 11:51 AM

3 hrs ago

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

(32,667 posts)

11. I know that.

Reply to highplainsdem (Reply #10)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 11:56 AM

3 hrs ago

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

highplainsdem

(59,814 posts)

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

Reply to murielm99 (Reply #11)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 12:16 PM

3 hrs ago

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

calimary

(88,975 posts)

22. That's the key.

Reply to highplainsdem (Reply #10)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 01:28 PM

2 hrs ago

“…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

(67,768 posts)

8. EXCELLENT!

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 11:47 AM

3 hrs ago

Paladin

(32,246 posts)

9. Profound thanks, Stephen Schwartz.

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 11:48 AM

3 hrs ago

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.

sboatcar

(681 posts)

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

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 12:12 PM

3 hrs ago

Bengus81

(9,785 posts)

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

Reply to sboatcar (Reply #12)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 12:18 PM

3 hrs ago

BeneteauBum

(311 posts)

17. And Jason Aldean

Reply to sboatcar (Reply #12)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 12:30 PM

3 hrs ago

Playing one stupid song over and over.

Peace ☮️

ShazzieB

(22,193 posts)

20. Don't forget Ted Nugent!

Reply to sboatcar (Reply #12)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 01:05 PM

2 hrs ago

calimary

(88,975 posts)

13. Glad to see this!

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 12:15 PM

3 hrs ago

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

BeneteauBum

(311 posts)

16. Resist!

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 12:27 PM

3 hrs ago

Peace ☮️

popsdenver

(1,497 posts)

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

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 01:10 PM

2 hrs ago

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

(21,472 posts)

23. Let sanity prevail!

Reply to highplainsdem (Original post)

Fri Jan 2, 2026, 03:19 PM

14 min ago

Reply to this discussion