Playbill: On February 21, as patrons lined up for the first preview performance of the Broadway revival of Parade—a musical about the true story of the false conviction and murder of a Jewish man named Leo Frank in 1915—members of a far-right, Neo-Nazi movement protested outside of the Jacobs Theatre. The individuals carried signs with hateful rhetoric hand-written, shouting at theatre-goers and attempting to give out antisemitic flyers to those in line to see the show.
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One of the last comments that I wrote was about how the theater is supposed to be a safe space. Seeing something like this is both devastating and heartbreaking. Growing up as Jewish in today’s America has many moments that are truly terrifying and this is one of them. As anti-semitism is on the rise, it’s hard to not live in fear of the hatred all around us. Now, we’re seeing this hatred and bigotry literally on our doorstep. No one should have to deal with neo-nazis shouting at them in their place of work or when they’re trying to see a beautiful show about a heartbreaking Jewish story. I want to be able to continue working in this industry without having to fear I’ll tell a story that gets me killed. We deserve to be able to tell our stories and have people hear them. However, while this display of hate is saddening and scary, we will still tell our stories and not let these people affect us.
What happened outside the first preview performance of "Parade" is deeply unsettling. It is a sad reminder that hate and bigotry still exist in our society and that the arts, which are meant to inspire empathy and understanding, can become a target for those who seek to spread division and hatred.
It is heartening to see that the cast and crew of "Parade" did not let these protests deter them from putting on their show. They continued to perform with professionalism and dedication, even as they were faced with such hostility and intimidation.
The fact that this incident occurred on Broadway, one of the most prominent cultural landmarks in the world, underscores the importance of art and its ability to challenge and inspire us. It is also a reminder that we must remain vigilant against hatred and bigotry and that we must continue to use the power of the arts to promote inclusivity and understanding.
The fact that Neo-Nazis exist in this world today is absolutely absurd and terrible. It is so imperative that this story should be told. I can’t believe people are filled with this much hate against other human beings. They should not have been there at all, shouting at the theatre goers and protesting against this show. For the cast and crew of this show, I applaud their bravery and passion for standing up and supporting this story that’s being told. Parade is truly a powerful show and I hope to see it one day. But for now, I hope that the cast and crew can remain safe without the harassment and antisemitism of Neo-Nazis during their run. The theatre is supposed to be a safe place and this act made it not safe at all. It makes me wonder if acts like this will continue to happen on Broadway, because if so, something needs to be done.
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