Broadway actor, Ben Platt, took to Instagram on Wednesday to address The National Socialist movement, a neo-Nazi hate group, who stood outside of the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in New York City.
As previews began for the Broadway revival of PARADE, a musical featuring the Tony award-winning actor as its lead, the group stood outside of the theatre in protest against the show’s protagonist, Leo Frank.
The tweet below shows some protestors addressing audience members waiting outside of the theater:
The National Socialist Movement, a neo-Nazi hate group, is protesting outside of the Broadway revival of “Parade,” stating that Leo Frank, the subject of the musical, was a pedophile. pic.twitter.com/wbGMjRubZL
— Jake Wasserman (@jacobhwasserman) February 22, 2023
“For those who don’t know, there were a few Neo-Nazi protestors from a really disgusting group outside of the theatre, 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 continued, “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 theatre, can be, and just made me feel extra, extra grateful.”
See Ben Platt’s full address below:
View this post on Instagram
The musical drama that tells the story of Leo Frank, a Jewish factory manager from Brooklyn who moved to Atlanta. Frank was accused of raping and murdering a young girl named Mary Phagan, who worked in his factory, and was subsequently sentenced to death. The musical follows Frank’s trial, his eventual lynching, and the aftermath of his death.
Over the course of the investigations, the police arrested several men, including Lee, Frank, and Jim Conley, a janitor at the factory. Today, the consensus of researchers is that Frank was wrongly convicted and Jim Conley was likely the actual murderer.
“Parade” is a poignant reminder of the injustices that can occur in our society. The musical portrays Frank as a sympathetic character who was targeted for his religion and his social status. It is a moving work that explores themes of prejudice, justice, and the corrupting influence of power.
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