Stephen Schwartz Pulls Gala After Kennedy Center Drops His Name

The Maestro Walks Away

Stephen Schwartz, the composer behind Wicked and Pippin, stunned Washington’s cultural elite on Monday by canceling the Kennedy Center’s annual gala that bears his name. The move came hours after the Center quietly rebranded the event, stripping Schwartz’s name from invitations and promotional materials.

A Name Erased

Staffers noticed the change last week when digital invites landed in inboxes touting the "Kennedy Center Honors Gala" instead of the long-standing "Stephen Schwartz Celebration of American Musicals." No press release, no board vote, no courtesy call—just a line item in next quarter’s budget.

"If my name isn’t on the door, my music won’t be on the stage," Schwartz told Playbill in a brief phone call Tuesday. "I built this gala from a one-night sing-along into a national showcase. I won’t stand for erasure."

Fallout on the Potomac

The Kennedy Center’s chairman, former diplomat Carla Reinhardt, issued a measured statement late Tuesday: "We respect Mr. Schwartz’s decision and remain grateful for his decades of artistry." But inside the marble walls, the mood is tense. Donors who purchased $25,000 tables are demanding refunds; caterers have already started trimming staff.

• Ticket sales: down 38% in 48 hours
• Sponsorship pledges: $3.2 million at risk
• Broadcast rights: NBC re-evaluating live coverage

What Happens Next?

The Center is scrambling to rebrand the October 14 gala as a broader tribute to American musical theater, but insiders say no A-list talent has committed. Meanwhile, Schwartz’s camp hints at a rival concert at the National Theatre, possibly streaming on Apple TV+.

One veteran board member summed up the stakes: "We just turned a celebration into a cautionary tale."