A small however vocally aggressive group of antisemitic protesters exterior the Broadway venue housing the primary preview of the revival Parade shouted slurs and decades-old accusations towards the musical’s most important character, Leo Frank.
Parade tells the based-on-fact story of the wrongly accused Frank, a Jewish man tried and finally lynched in 1913 Georgia for the homicide of 13-year-old Mary Phagan.
The protesters exterior the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on W. forty fifth Street final night time resurrected among the identical accusations made towards Frank in his day and towards Jews but at present. In one cellphone video of the incident, a protester could be heard loudly telling the traces of ticketbuyers, “Even in early 1900s Blacks and whites united to hang the Jew.”
Other shouts reported included “[Leo Frank is] a Jewish pedophile” and “Learn the truth about what you’re going to see tonight. You’re paying $300 to go f*cking worship a pedophile, you might as well know what you’re talking about.” Another protester was heard saying, “Romanticizing pedophiles, Wow!”
Ben Platt, the Broadway star who portrays Frank in Parade, took to social media following the incident to deal with the matter. In two Instagram movies, an emotional Platt mentioned he had simply gotten dwelling from the present feeling so pleased with his solid and crew when he noticed the socials media studies of the protesters. “Now that’s going to be the kind of stamp on the evening in terms of the public perceptions.”
“A really disgusting group saying antisemitic things about Leo Frank…it was very ugly and scary but a wonderful reminder of why we’re telling this particular story.” He added that he feels “extra extra grateful that I’m telling this story and carrying on the legacy of Leo.”
Platt additionally thanked the Jacobs theater employees and the Shubert Organization “for keeping us super secure, as you will be when you see the show.”
He inspired his followers to “give attention to the work, not the ugly actions of some who’re spreading evil.
The productions producers issued an announcement of their very own, writing, “If there is any remaining doubt out there about the urgency of telling this story in this moment in history, the vileness on display last night should put it to rest. We stand by the valiant Broadway cast that brings this vital story to life each night.”
The producer assertion recognized the protestors because the antisemitic, Neo-Nazi members The National Socialist motion.
Jake Wasserman, the Engagement Editor for The Forward, a number one supply of reports, opinion and tradition via a Jewish lens since 1897, shared a video of protestors exterior the theatre on Twitter (see it beneath).
Parade, which illustrates how the antisemitism prevalent within the South in the course of the early twentieth Century makes clear – simply as historical past has performed – that Frank was not responsible within the homicide the lady and did not obtained a good trial on account of his being Jewish.
The musical, written Jason Robert Brown (music and lyrics) and Alfred Uhry (ebook), was first carried out in 1998 and received two Tony Awards.
See Platt’s video feedback beneath.
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