Patrons of Broadway musical "Parade" targeted by Neo-Nazis
NEW YORK -- Theatregoers were antagonized Tuesday night by antisemitic protesters outside the revival of the Broadway musical "Parade," which aims to shed light on that very issue.
As CBS2 found out, the protest only fueled determination that the show must go on.
As the cast of the musical bowed for its first curtain call, outside before the show, it was a much different story.
Video shows self-proclaimed "Neo-Nazis" walking down the ticket line mocking patrons for attending the musical, and trying to hand them antisemitic materials.
The musical dramatizes the true story of Leo Frank, a Jewish man who was wrongly convicted of murder and lynched by a mob in Georgia in the early 1900s.
Theatregoers told CBS2 even though there were only a few protesters, the situation was frightening.
"They were yelling, you know, 'Leo Frank's a pedophile' and those sorts of things, so yeah, it was scary," ticketholder Ben Glidden said.
In a statement, the producers of "Parade" said, "If there is any remaining doubt out there about the urgency of telling this story in this moment in history, the vileness on display in front of our theater last night should put it to rest."
"It was definitely very ugly and scary, but a wonderful reminder of why we're telling this particular story and how special and powerful art and, particularly, theater can be," actor Ben Platt said in a video posted on Instagram.
Watch Jessica Moore's report
"Gut reaction is that it's outrageous and infuriating. I certainly believe that 'Parade' was targeted," said Howard Sherman, U.S. columnist for The Stage in London. "As shocking as it is that 100 years later this story needs to be told, we have to tell it, we have to keep telling it, and we have to keep telling every possible story to make people aware of the degree of racism, of antisemitism, that is leveled in this country."
The Anti-Defamation League said the protest should only further motivate the talented cast and crew to "keep fighting for good."
There was a long line Wednesday for the revival's second preview on Broadway, and thankfully, the crowd was undisturbed.
After word spread about Tuesday's hateful display, some people bee-lined to the theater to buy their ticket.
"I saw that and I was like, I gotta go support the show now," ticketholder Brandon Cayetano said.
"So I said, you know what, I'm gonna come and support this play and this theater," ticketholder Art Benger said.
There seemed to be extra security at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Wednesday, but some ticketholders were still anxious.
"Last night, I literally was, like, sweating. I was shaking," ticketholder Michael Haber said.
"I had a ring that I was wearing also with Hebrew writing, and I took it off 'cause you don't know what's gonna happen," ticketholder Elizabeth Maxman said.
"The whole thing about Broadway and live theater, it's an accepting community. It's a celebration of everyone and all different diversities," Haber said.
"Parade," starring Platt and Micaela Diamond, is holding a limited 24-week run at the Jacobs Theatre.
