With this blog
entry, I bring together my two passions: social justice activism and the world
of theater.
This time of
year, audiences at Broadway and Off Broadway shows are often asked to remain
for a few moments following the performance in order to hear a request for
donations to an organization known as Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Last Friday, however, when
Vice President-elect Mike Pence attended a performance of the mega-hit musical ‘Hamilton,’
the audience heard a different end-of-show message. It was an expression of
concern about the kinds of statements many find to be both offensive and threatening
that have been making national news as they are aired or Tweeted from the inner
circle of President-elect Donald Trump.
Speaking from the stage, actor Brandon Victor Dixon called
on the Vice President-elect to hold off on leaving. This is what Dixon said, reading
from a statement prepared by the show’s creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, its
director Thomas Kail, producer Jeffrey Seller, and Mr. Dixon:
“Vice President-elect Pence,
we welcome you, and we truly thank you for joining us here at ‘Hamilton: An American
Musical.’ We really do. We, sir, we are the diverse America who are alarmed and
anxious that your new administration will not protect us, our planet, our
children, our parents, or defend us and uphold our inalienable rights.
"But we truly hope this show has inspired you
to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us — all
of us. We truly thank you for sharing this show — this wonderful American story
told by a diverse group of men and women of different colors, creeds and
orientations.”
Word got out
immediately, of course, and Mr. Trump quickly responded by Tweeting:
"Our
wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the
cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing. This should not happen!" He later added a second Tweet: “The Theater
must always be a safe and special place. The cast of Hamilton was very rude
last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!"
While Mr.
Pence is hardly the most uncivil member of the future President’s
cohort, he was the one who was there, and so he was the recipient of the
message.
He himself has said he was not offended and that he would “leave it to
others whether it was the appropriate venue to say it.”
For the
record, I find nothing disrespectful about the statement.
What I do find interesting is the silence from Mr. Trump's Twitter feed following an incident the very next evening during a performance of 'Hamilton' in Chicago. An audience member (identified as John Palmer) interrupted the performance by yelling curses aimed broadly at anyone who didn't vote for Mr. Trump. No requests for apologies have emanated from Trump Tower.
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SUGGESTED ACTION
Given that the remarks in New York were made in lieu of a plea for donations to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, perhaps the
next time you are asked to donate, you
could throw a buck or two into the buckets being held by members of the cast as
you exit the theater. Not such a hardship, really. And if you are not
a New York theatergoer, you can always go to their website (CLICK HERE) and
make a donation.
As an FYI, the organization helps men, women and children receive lifesaving medications, health care, nutritious meals, counseling and emergency financial assistance. It is the major supporter of essential social service programs at The Actors Fund, including the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative and the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IS A VERB!
SOCIAL JUSTICE IS A VERB!
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