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Come on along and listen to the Jonas Brothers on Broadway! Throughout last week, the superstars took over the Marquis Theatre in midtown Manhattan for an exhilarating five-night residency on the very same stage where Nick Jonas made his Broadway debut as Little Jake two years into the 1999 revival of Annie Get Your Gun.
Each night, Nick, Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas shone the bright lights of Broadway onto one of their past albums — starting with 2007’s Jonas Brothers and moving chronologically through 2008’s A Little Bit Longer, 2009’s Lines, Vines and Trying Times and 2019’s Happiness Begins.
“It really is kind of an emotional experience because you’re walking through different chapters of your life and your journey, both as a band and also as family, and kind of where we were at those pivotal moments when we released those albums,” Nick dished to Billboard at SXSW ahead of the residency’s first night.
But those first four shows, filled with songs some of which the siblings hadn’t played in over a decade, were all leading up to Saturday night (March 18), when the JoBros debuted their forthcoming sixth album, The Album, live for the very first time for a select audience of friends, family and superfans lucky enough to snag a ticket. (Yes, Danielle Jonas, Sophie Turner and Priyanka Chopra were all present and accounted for to cheer their husbands on for the evening, as were Mama and Papa Jonas.)
Billboard was also on the scene to hear The Album ahead of its May 12 release via Republic Records. Read on for all the best and most exciting moments from the special, one-night-only occasion.
“Wings” is the One, the Sun, the Light of Day
It’s been less than a month since the Jonas Brothers kicked off their latest era with lead single “Wings.” But that was, of course, more than enough time for fans to memorize every word to the soft rock-laced bop. And though they performed it as part the set during each of the four preceding nights, “Wings” certainly hit differently in context with other songs from The Album. With Nick and Joe trading vocals and a theater full of Jonatics gleefully singing along, the earworm went all the way to the rafters.
It’s Always Love at the “Waffle House“
“Waffle House,” which the siblings have already started teasing on social media, just might be their most personal song yet. “One of the things that we used to do back in the day before we were old enough to go and decompress post-show at a bar, was we would just go to a Waffle House,” Nick explained while introducing the song, “and sit there and spend hours talking about those experiences on stage, life on the road, and it really became a foundation for our relationship as brothers outside of the music that we did together.”
As evidenced by the JoBros sneak peek on TikTok, the surefire highlight — which would be perfect as The Album‘s next single — jitters with a funky groove and harmonies fit for a gospel choir as Joe and Nick preach, “No, don’t get stressed, it’s gon’ get figured out/ Oh, deep conversations at the Waffle House/ Headstrong father and a determined mother/ Oh, that’s why some nights we try to kill each other/ But you know it’s always love.”
The Rest of The Album Is Going to Slap
Nick wasn’t kidding when he declared that the band’s sixth album would be pulling influences and musical inspiration from ’70s acts like the Bee Gees, America, Boston and Stevie Wonder. Track for track, the sneak peek of The Album was an instantly nostalgic thrill ride filled with plenty of harmonies, guitar and the most mature, intimate songwriting from the brothers to date — from the disco-lite pulse of “Sail Away” to the melodic, sensual “Vacation Eyes,” which Kevin adoringly dedicated to Danielle in the orchestra.
Tender ballad “Little Bird” — which the trio wrote from their newly shared perspective on fatherhood (“we’re all dads, but we’re girl dads,” Joe stated to an explosion of cheers from the crowd) — is primed to be a father-daughter dance of choice at Jonatic weddings for years to come, and the horn-infused “Celebrate!” earned the exclamation point in its title by getting the party started as the very first song of the night.
Jonas Brothers on Broadway
Cynthia Parkhurst
“Montana Sky”(the first song the brothers wrote for The Album) was perhaps the most immediate album cut outside of “Waffle House” thanks to its dueling America-style guitars, shoutouts from New York City to George and a lovestruck refrain of “You’re the one, you’re the one walkin’ in my head.” And even without its guest feature from Bellion, album closer brought the theater to a state of euphoria as it morphed from a thoughtful plea into a bombastic, arena-ready finale.
Took a Ship to the Year 3000
After a proper, Broadway-style intermission, Act 2 of the show played out like the greatest of greatest hits collections, including the requisite forays into Nick’s solo career and Joe’s work with DNCE. Especially for the occasion, the former resurrected the gospel version of his 2014 single “Jealous” to divine effect and the latter happily shared the spotlight with DNCE guitarist JinJoo Lee on fan favorites like “Toothpaste” and “Cake by the Ocean.”
But nothing could top classic JoBros hits like “S.O.S.,” “That’s Just the Way We Roll,” “Lovebug” and “Burnin’ Up,” complete with Nick’s iconic delivery of “red dress” which elicited Beatlemania-level screams of adoration from the audience. And yet, no other song from the band’s ’00s-era catalog got quite the same reaction as “Year 3000.” Every fan scream-sang every single word of the 2006 single, filling the Marquis Theater with an electric energy that could’ve super-charged a Flux Capacitor.
Jonas Brothers on Broadway
Cynthia Parkhurst
Kevin’s Lullaby of Broadway
Hysterically, much was made throughout the evening of Kevin finally making his Broadway debut years after his brothers. It even started with Broadway actors Sis, Alex Boniello and Andrew Barth Feldman reading from “The Book” as Nick, Joe and Kevin, respectively, at the start of the show. (“Yeah guys, we know you all did theater! We get it!”) But the running gag turned serious and sentimental when Joe — who took his first Broadway bow in Baz Luhrmann’s 2002’s production of La Bohème — paused the show midway through the second act to properly celebrate Kevin’s debut on the Great White Way. And naturally, he did so by singing the hook from Hilary Duff’s “What Dreams Are Made Of,” giving fans the Disney Channel crossover they didn’t know they needed for the night.
Andrew Lloyd Webber has announced that he will be absent from the opening night of his new Broadway musical Bad Cinderella because his eldest son is “critically ill” with gastric cancer.
The Phantom of the Opera composer shared a statement with The Hollywood Reporter on Saturday (March 18), revealing that his 43-year-old son, Grammy-nominated composer and record producer Nicholas Lloyd Webber, has been fighting cancer for the last 18 months and is currently hospitalized.
“We are all praying that Nick will turn the corner,” Andrew Lloyd Webber said in the statement. “He is bravely fighting with his indomitable humour, but at the moment my place is with him and the family.”
Andrew Lloyd Webber was scheduled to attend the opening night of Bad Cinderella, which he composed, on Thursday (March 23) at New York City’s Imperial Theatre. The new musical is a reimagining of Cinderella, which ran in London from 2021 to 2022.
“I will not be able to cheer on its wonderful cast, crew and orchestra on Opening Night,” the Oscar-winning composer said.
Andrew Lloyd Webber also noted that he has “not been able to attend the recent previews” of Bad Cinderella because of his son’s illness.
Nicholas Lloyd Webber is known scoring the 2017 BBC One drama Love, Lies and Records, along with the 2021 movie The Last Bus. He was also the co-producer of the original cast album for his father’s Cinderella in 2021, which earned him a Grammy nomination for best musical theater album.
The Jonas Brothers hit the Broadway stage on Thursday (March 16) for the third night of their ongoing Broadway residency, and trotted out their Miley Cyrus collab “Before the Storm” especially for the occasion.
The performance marked the first time the siblings had performed the album cut from 2009’s Lines, Vines and Trying Times since at least 2013, though they decided to only run through the first part of the song, sans Cyrus’ opening verse. “I don’t want to lose her/ Don’t wanna let her go,” Nick Jonas belted out before urging the audience, “Sing it out, c’mon!” and letting the packed crowd sing along for the chorus.
“The ONLY part of Before The Storm Nick could tolerate to sing lol,” a fan on Twitter captioned the video she posted of the number. Of course, the youngest Jonas has quite the history with the Endless Summer Vacation singer, considering they dated in their Disney Channel days as teens and Cyrus allegedly based her 2008 hit “7 Things” on their relationship.
For the third night of their takeover at the Marquis Theatre, the JoBros performed the entirety of their fourth studio studio set in full, including a snippet of Common collab “Don’t Charge Me for the Crime” and the live debut of album closer “Keep It Real.”
On Friday night (March 17), they’re set to highlight 2019’s Happiness Begins before the live premiere of their soon-to-be released new LP, The Album, on Saturday (March 18).
Watch the Jonas Brothers sing “Before the Storm” sans Miley Cyrus below.
Good news, Arianators: The first part of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked adaptation will be premiering in theaters a month earlier than expected, the directorannounced on Tuesday (March 14).
Chu excitedly shared the news via Instagram, writing that he and his team were “deep into shooting WICKED here in London” before officially announcing the new release date. “Bring the family, bring your friends…it’s going to be a ride!!! appreciate all your support through this long production process. Shooting two movies at once is no small feat.”
The film version of the hit Broadway musical — which will star Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba — was initially meant to hit theaters on Christmas Day of next year (Dec. 25, 2024). But in the spirit of giving thanks, Wicked Part 1 is now set to be released next Thanksgiving (Nov. 27, 2024), meaning that fans can catch the film one month sooner.
Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that the original release date was pushed up reportedly in order to help the film “build an audience over the year-end holidays,” while also remaining “beneficial from a consumer products standpoint.”
Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Keala Settle, Bowen Yang, Ethan Slater and others are also set to star in the film. Yeoh, who took home the Academy Award for best actress on Sunday (March 12), said earlier this year that she was “really looking forward” to getting to film alongside Grande and Erivo. “Those two are so adorable, so gorgeous, so talented,” she said.
See Chu’s announcement about ‘s new release date below.
“Do we shock you?”
Schmigadoon! raised the curtain on its season 2 trailer Wednesday (March 8), and it’s full of sex, sass and, well, all that jazz.
As the two-minute teaser opens, Cecily Strong’s Melissa and Keegan-Michael Key’s Josh are back from the magical, musical land of Schmigadoon!, trapped in the daily humdrum of their lives. “It feels like we should be happier,” the Saturday Night Live alum laments. “I want Schmigadoon! Happy people and bright colors!”
However, when the pair go off in search of the town from season 1, they get more than they bargained for by stumbling into Schmicago — a racier, seedier city inspired by Broadway’s Chicago that comes complete with a feisty narrator portrayed by Titus Burgess.
“Clearly we’re in the next era of musicals here,” Strong explains to a baffled Key. “These musicals are darker with more sex and violence. … How are we supposed to make a happy ending here? These musicals don’t have happy endings!” (Cue Key locked up in a jail cell for the murder of a chorus girl and Strong performing a slinky tap number in handcuffs.)
Other famous faces in season 2 of the Apple TV+ series are Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Ariana DeBose, Jane Krakowski, Ann Harada, Martin Short, Dove Cameron and Aaron Tveit, who appear to satirize Broadway favorites from Cabaret and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street to Hair (“Sounds like someone needs a lesson in the power of happiness; who wants to get naked?”).
The second season of Schmigadoon! is set to premiere April 5 on Apple TV+. Check out the music-filled trailer below.
Reggae brings vivid images to mind. Stripes in red, gold, black and green. Sun-kissed palms lining shores of the Caribbean Sea. Bob Marley’s dreads shaking to the beat.
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Less common is that of Jimmy Cliff in a slouched mustard cap, brandishing a gun in each hand, with all the smooth cool of Shaft meets John Wayne. That iconic, hand-drawn image graced the poster for Peter Henzell’s 1972 film The Harder They Come starring Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican singer-actor who also performed half of the hit soundtrack. Arriving before Marley became an international phenomenon, The Harder They Come is widely credited with introducing reggae to global listeners.
It was also Jamaica’s first feature film, released a decade after the nation’s independence from the U.K. Fifty years later, on the golden anniversary of its New York release, The Harder They Come officially opens on March 15 as an off-Broadway musical stage adaptation at The Public Theater in New York City (the show is currently in previews). Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks pens the book; Tony Award nominee Tony Taccone directs; Tony Award winner Sergio Trujillo co-directs; Kenny Seymour is the music supervisor; and choreography comes from Edgar Godineaux.
In keeping with the film, The Harder They Come tells the story of aspiring singer, Ivanhoe Martin, with Natey Jones playing Cliff’s original role. A rural fish-out-of-water who arrives in Kingston eager to realize starlit dreams, he falls in love and manages to cut a record, but finds his ambitions thwarted by gatekeepers and rigged systems. Ivan relentlessly fights to assert agency over his own existence, becoming both outlaw and local hero in the process. His record ascends to anthem status, a rallying cry of uplift that sweeps the island.
The original soundtrack’s reception mirrored the film’s plot, changing the soundscape of global music by popularizing the vigorous percussion, upbeat skank stroke and the hypnotic 4/4 tempo found in reggae. Its sonic and cultural influence spans decades and genres—influencing everyone from DJ Kool Herc to The Rolling Stones to Maroon 5 to Beyoncé.
Reflection upon these layers of legacy and relevance were at the heart of this adaptation. “It’s about the right for someone to sing their song,” says Parks. “It’s such an important film to world culture, and to the people of Jamaica. So we came with respect. We’re not reinventing the wheel, but we are rolling the wheel forward.”
The play flushes out the film’s minor and supporting characters, giving nuanced and elevated considerations to everyone’s stories. Elsa, Ivan’s love interest played by Meecah, is given her own songs. Ivan’s mother, Daisy, who originally appeared in a single scene, has a show-length arc witnessing Ivan’s journey. The policeman with whom Ivan comes in fatal contact is mourned on stage. “The shooting is an accident. We don’t glorify that beat in the show. Ivan is the hero, but there can be more than one. Everyone has a point of view that’s interesting and worth hearing,” Parks notes.
This philosophy of multiplicity, that various perspectives are worth showcasing and reexamining, resounds in the setlist as well. Fans of the original soundtrack will hear all the familiar favorites, but in a new order and with additional music stitched in. “Many Rivers to Cross,” for example, is deftly shifted to an emotional and climactic moment. Repurposed gospel hymns heighten the narrative—such as Ivan and Elsa falling in love to “Just A Closer Walk With Thee.”
Natey Jones (center) and the company of the world premiere musical The Harder They Come, with book and additional new songs by Suzan-Lori Parks, songs by Jimmy Cliff, co-direction by Sergio Trujillo, and direction by Tony Taccone, at The Public Theater.
Joan Marcus
As much for style as necessity Parks admits, “in the musical, the joyous challenge is assuring the music makes sense coming out of characters’ mouths. It’s not an easy thing to do. You can hear a song in the background during a film scene, and that’s cool. In a musical the character has to turn to you and sing that song.
“I was writing the script with one hand while flipping through Jimmy Cliff’s catalog. Our show has many songs from his brilliant catalog that aren’t on the original soundtrack. We’ve also got classic hits from Toots and The Maytals and Desmond Dekker. When we needed a song that I couldn’t find in the treasure troves of Jamaican classics, I wrote one. So I’ve written three songs for the show.”
The task of blending it all together into a seamless sonic experience fell to music supervisor, orchestrator and arranger Seymour.
“I liken music to an engine with many moving parts. Every part has a roll, like pistons firing at the right time. It’s a balance. There are so many iconic songs in the show, and they stem from a cultural movement. People are most familiar with the one drop every third beat, but that’s not all there is,” he says.
Reggae has its own history within Jamaican music. Ska developed first in the 1950s combining mento, calypso, jazz and rhythm and blues. Rocksteady then dominated Jamaica’s dance scene of the mid-1960s. All three dynamic styles are celebrated in The Harder They Come, with Seymour highlighting instruments like the bubble organ and reggae’s famed bass guitar. “They each have nuances and intricacies. Approaching this piece, first and foremost, was about maintaining the musical and cultural integrity,” Seymour affirms.
Though the show takes place in the ’70s, contemporary beats are also woven into the production’s sound. Says Seymour, “Everything from dancehall to dub is a part of the reggae Jamaican culture. They all play a part, and where they are introduced is very slick. There will be something for everybody. Speaking to today’s audience, this is going to spark old memories and make new ones.”
Godineaux has also taken care to infuse the choreography with traditional and contemporary styles of dance. As dance was not part of the original film, Godineaux steered away from the musical theater template to reflect Jamaican culture as much as possible.
“You have to show this world and who these people are not only with their words, but in their body language. It was like creating a whole new genre for this story. That was the best part for me.
“There is a lot of movement that goes with the reggae vibe, but the most authentic has a lot of gyration. Everything involves the pelvis, a sense of inner going out. A lot of people see that as vulgarity, but that’s not what this culture is about. It’s more about intimacy, wearing your heart on your sleeve. It’s about enjoying life, feeling the spiritual side of life, and emanating that to anyone next to you whether dancing or just conversing with them,” he proposes.
The thematic notion of faith, woven throughout this production, will perhaps be the most notable update for familiar fans. While church life is at the fabric of Jamaican society, its role was barely touched upon in the film other than Ivan’s first adversary being a preacher. Yet in the lyrics of the film and play’s title song Ivan sings, “They tell me there’s a pie up in the sky / Waiting for me when I die / But between the day you’re born and when you die / No one ever seems to hear you cry.”
The creative team teases out that conflict and some thoughtful convergences between the secular and the religious in this adaptation. Parks recalls saying to Meecah, “Remember that in his day, Jesus was the ultimate revolutionary. The fact that Elsa’s falling for the bad boy isn’t so far off base from what she believes in every Sunday.”
Godineaux speaks fondly of a rehearsal moment with the cast. “I did a lot of research for this piece, speaking with people like Kwame Dawes. He helped me understand more about Kumina, which is a spiritual connection to the culture from a dance perspective.”
The Kumina religion, of which music and dance are paramount, was brought to Jamaica by enslaved people of the Congo region in West Africa. The drumming heard in its ceremonies influenced Rastafarian music, creating a direct through line to the rhythms of reggae.
“In Act 2 we have what I call The Blessing of The Soil. When the cast members, many people of Jamaican descent, saw me add that movement they said, ‘You’re blessing the land! My grandparents said that’s what you have to do to get things to grow.’ I put that in the movement because I thought that’s something people of all cultures could recognize and connect to.”
Chelsea-Ann Jones, Dana Marie Ingraham, Morgan McGhee, Natey Jones, and Housso Semon in the world premiere musical The Harder They Come, with book and additional new songs by Suzan-Lori Parks, songs by Jimmy Cliff, co-direction by Sergio Trujillo, and direction by Tony Taccone, at The Public Theater.
Joan Marcus
Connectivity—between past and present, local and worldwide, individual spirit and communal belonging—is at the core of this story, both within its narrative and enduring legacy. It is a testament to the power of one song, one rhythmic drop, to make sonic tsunamis ripple across oceans.
Says Parks, “The Harder They Come is an uplifting, affirming show. Once the music starts, it never stops. You see the exuberance of a community and you’re reminded of your own. Wherever you come from, whoever you are. It’s got a groove that’s undeniable.”
Broadway’s Funny Girl starring Lea Michele has a few months to prepare for its final curtain call. On Thursday (March 2), the production’s official Instagram account shared that the show’s final performance will take place on Sept. 3.
“Hey, gorgeous! We’re having so much fun with you on Broadway, we’re sticking around until September 3rd! Don’t miss @leamichele, @raminkarimloo, @grimeystepz, and @tovahfeld! Get your tickets now. #FUNNYGIRL,” the musical’s official Instagram account tweeted.
The news of Funny Girl‘s final performance date comes amid a series of Broadway musical closures in recent months — Almost Famous, KPOP, Beetlejuice, Take Me Out and A Strange Loop all played their final performances between December and February. Funny Girl has managed to consistently pull in numbers, and in December, broke broke a box office record at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway after grossing $2 million across eight shows in December. The earnings marked Funny Girl as the first production to do so since Mean Girls, which previously held the record with a $1.99 million gross.
Michele joined the revival musical in Sept. 6, 2022, following the departure of Beanie Feldstein. During the former Glee star’s run, the production has brought in between $1 million to $2 million per week. On Billboard‘s Cast Albums chart, Funny Girl currently sits at No. 3 and has nine total weeks on the chart. The set previously peaked at No. 1.
Up next for Funny Girl is a tour starting in Providence on Sept. 9, which will make stops in Atlanta, Detroit and more. “Additional tour cities and casting information will be announced at a later date,” the musical’s official website reads.
See Funny Girl‘s announcement below:
Jonas Brothers are headed to the Great White Way! On Friday (Feb. 24) the band announced their new run of shows, Jonas Brothers on Broadway.
“Your boys are back in town,” Joe, Kevin and Nick Jonas wrote on their official social channels to share the news. “We’re coming to Broadway and playing the Marquis Theatre March 14-18!! Each night will be focused on a different album and we’ll be playing all the hits. Believe us when we say you won’t want to miss these shows…”
The siblings will highlight five of their albums — including 2007’s Jonas Brothers; 2008’s A Little Bit Longer; 2009’s Lines, Vines and Trying Times; and 2019’s Happiness Begins — in chronological succession before capping the series of concerts with the first-ever live performance of their forthcoming studio set, The Album, on March 18.
Jonatics can register for the Verified Fan Onsale through Ticketmaster now through Sunday (Feb. 26) at 11:59 p.m. for a chance to purchase tickets.
News of the JoBros’ Broadway gig comes on the same day the threesome released “Wings” as the soaring lead single off The Album. The full studio effort, meanwhile, is set to be released May 12 via Republic Records. It was pushed back one week from its original May 5 release date in order for fans to be able to purchase the LP on vinyl.
Most recently, the brothers received their very own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a star-studded ceremony that was attended by their wives — Danielle Jonas, Sophie Turner and Priyanka Chopra — as well as collaborators Ryan Tedder and Jon Bellion.
Check out the Jonas Brothers’ Broadway announcement below.
Moulin Rouge! has found a new Satine. On Thursday (Feb. 23), the Broadway musical announced that “Get Out (Leave)” singer JoJo will be joining the cast starting this spring. JoJo’s appearance in Moulin Rouge! will serve as her Broadway debut.
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“I can’t believe I’m finally able to say this… I’m making my Broadway debut in MOULIN ROUGE!!!” JoJo excitedly shared with followers on Instagram. “When I first saw this musical I fell instantly head over heels in love. I watched from the edge of my seat, hanging onto every word of every song. This show is a full on feast for the senses and the opportunity to play Satine feels like the culmination of so many dreams. I cannot believe I get to join this phenomenal cast and company!!!! You guys blow me away!!!”
She continued, “Special love & respect to @ashleyloren who currently SLAYS as Satine: theee most incredible badass singer actress artist i’m lucky to call friend and experience her sisterhood and generosity of spirit. * Thank you to the amazing producers and directorial staff for believing in me like you do. Performing on Broadway and living in NYC?! This is all a dream come true. I know this show means so much to so many and I promise to put all I have into every single night as Satine.”
JoJo will take the stage at Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre starting on Tuesday, April 11. The limited engagement will last for 14 weeks, and concludes on July 16. Derek Klena will return to Moulin Rouge! as Christian. Ashley Loren, the production’s current Satine, and Aaron Tveit (Christian) will deliver their final performances on April 9.
See JoJo’s Instagram post below.
While it’s said that art imitates life, Ben Platt learned all too well recently that life also tends to imitate art.
In an Instagram Reel posted late Tuesday night (Feb. 21), Platt spoke out about a group of neo-Nazi, antisemitic protesters who appeared outside the Jacobs Theater for opening night of previews for Parade on Broadway.
After taking a moment to congratulate the cast and crew on an “amazing” opening night, Platt addressed the protests outside the show. “There were a few neo-Nazi protestors from a really disgusting group outside of the theater … saying antisemitic things about Leo Frank, who the show is about, and spreading the antisemitic rhetoric that led to this whole story in the first place,” he said.
Parade centers around the true story of Frank, a Jewish factory worker who was wrongly convicted of murder in 1913. After his sentence was later commuted, Frank was lynched by an antisemitic mob in 1915. Frank’s trial and eventual murder gave rise to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), now one of the largest Jewish civil rights organizations in America.
Video clips posted to Twitter by The Forward editor Jake Wasserman show protestors from the National Socialist Movement (an antisemitic hate group, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center) standing outside the theater on Tuesday with banners referring to Frank as a “pedophile.” Claims like these are part of a continued effort by antisemitic hate groups to implicate Frank in the murder of Mary Phagan, despite historical consensus that he was innocent.
Platt said that the protests were “definitely very ugly and scary,” but focused instead on the importance of Frank’s story. “It was a wonderful reminder of why we’re telling this particular story, and how special and powerful art and especially theater can be,” he said. “I wanted the button on this evening, at least for me personally, to be to celebrate what a beautiful experience [the show] is and what gorgeous work all of my wonderful colleagues did tonight, not the really ugly actions of a few people who are spreading evil.”
The producers of Parade also chimed in online, saying, “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.”
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of ADL, called the protests an example of “vile antisemitism” that highlights “the importance of telling Leo Frank’s story” in a statement to Billboard. “The irony should not be lost on anyone that these antisemitic extremists decided to protest a play that details the true story of the lynching of an innocent Jewish man by an antisemitic mob, and used it as an opportunity to spread conspiracy theories and hate,” he wrote. “ADL locks arms in solidarity with the entire cast and wants to especially thank the producers of the play and Ben Platt for their poignant statements speaking out in the face of hate. Despite the presence of a half-dozen neo-Nazis, New York City will continue to remain no place for hate.”
See Platt’s full video below: