Ben Platt Speaks Out Against Antisemitic Protests Outside the Broadway Revival Of 'Parade'

The Broadway revival of "Parade" began previews on Tuesday night with some unwanted guests outside the theater. The New York Times reported that "about a dozen demonstrators were seen outside the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater, some holding a sign linking them to the National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi organization."

The show, first produced at Lincoln Center Theatre in 1998, concerns the trial of Leo Frank, "a Jewish factory manager in Atlanta who was convicted in 1913 of raping and murdering a 13-year-old girl. Responding to an outcry about whether Frank had been wrongfully convicted in a trial tainted by antisemitism, the Georgia governor commuted his death sentence. Months later, Frank was lynched by a mob," the Times said.

The producers condemned the group in a statement: "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."

Actors' Equity Association, the union representing Broadway actors and stage managers, also condemned the protest.

The Times added that "In a video recorded by a bystander that was posted to Twitter, the demonstrators are seen and heard targeting Frank and the Anti-Defamation League, a group fighting antisemitism that was founded in the aftermath of Frank's conviction."

"Some of them stood by a banner advertising the National Socialist Movement. One masked protester handed out fliers that promoted a separate group with neo-Nazi symbols and told people outside the theater that they were about to 'worship a pedophile.'"

The Times also said that "Burt Colucci, the leader of the National Socialist Movement, confirmed on Wednesday that local members of his organization had been involved in the demonstration."

Out actor Ben Platt, who stars as Leo Frank in the revival that is scheduled to run until August, issued a statement on Instagram.

Starting with saying that he doesn't usually use social media for such purposes because he's "afraid of it," but felt compelled to after hearing of the protest by some "really disgusting group outside of the theater, bothering some of our patrons on their way in and saying antisemitic things about Leo Frank, who the show is about, and just spreading antisemitic rhetoric that led to this whole story in the first place." He encouraged followers to learn more about Frank's story and for them to come see the show.

He called the demonstration "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, and just made me feel extra, extra grateful to be the one that gets to tell this particular story and to carry on this legacy of Leo."

He concluded by saying, "I just think that now is really the moment for this particular piece and I felt... I just wanted the button on the evening, at least for me personally, to be to celebrate what a beautiful experience it is, and what gorgeous work all my wonderful colleagues did tonight; not the really ugly actions of a few people who are spreading evil. So I just wanted to share that and I have not, you know, it's not my show, I'm not the producer. I'm not in charge. I just am in it and my name is on it and so I just wanted to, you know, to share my two cents."

For more on the Broadway revival of "Parade," follow this link.