NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump demanded an apology from the cast of the Broadway musical "Hamilton" a day after an actor in the hit show delivered a pointed message about diversity to his running mate who was in attendance. The speech aimed at Mike Pence prompted angry responses from liberals and conservatives alike — underscoring yet again the fractious aftermath of the 2016 election.
The
bitter back-and-forth came after the vice president-elect caught Friday
night's performance of "Hamilton" with his nephew and daughter. A
mixture of boos and cheers could be heard inside the theater as Pence
took his seat. When the show ended, Pence was asked by a cast member to
hear a prepared speech after the curtain call from the multiracial and
multicultural cast, saying it is concerned about the Trump
administration.
"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," said Brandon
Victor Dixon, who plays Aaron Burr, the nation's third vice president,
as his fellow actors joined hands. "We truly hope that this show has
inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all
of us."
The
unusual address quickly went viral and Trump on Saturday tweeted that
it was "very rude," arguing that Pence was "harassed" and theater "must
always be a safe and special place." He urged the cast to apologize.
Dixon responded on Twitter that "conversation is not harassment sir" and
added that he appreciated Pence stopping to listen.
Pence
had ducked out before Dixon finished the unprecedented message but
heard the full remarks from the hallway outside the auditorium.
Trump
transition officials did not immediately respond to requests for
comment. A representative for the show said none of the cast members
would be available to speak Saturday.
Melissa
Kremholz, of Indianapolis, the capital of Pence's home state of
Indiana, attended the show Friday night and was seeing it again Saturday
afternoon. She said she could see how Dixon's speech might be
interpreted as impolite and gave Pence credit for coming, but backed the
Broadway cast's right to explain how uneasy many Americans feel.
"I
think it was really important for them to speak what they had to say
because the whole musical talks about how our country came to be and our
American values and how our country was built on immigrants and people
of all different backgrounds," she said. "I think it's really important
that they actually spoke their minds and I think they did so very
respectfully, too."
The
show's official Facebook page was inundated with comments ranging from
calling Dixon's speech "disrespectful," ''inappropriate" and "uncalled
for." Many threatened to not buy tickets to future performances. Tickets
for the show are not available for another year; "Hamilton" is sold out
through September 2017.
The
American Civil Liberties Union weighed in on the side of the Broadway
cast, saying the First Amendment is a cornerstone of America "even if it
sometimes makes our leaders uncomfortable."
"President-elect
Trump needs a refresher on his high school civics class. Americans
don't apologize — not even to presidents or vice presidents — for the
lawful and proper exercise of their constitutional rights," ACLU
Executive Director Anthony D. Romero wrote in a statement.
But
Noel Leifer, from Manchester, New Jersey, who was in line to see a
matinee Saturday with his wife, Peggy, said he understood why so many
people felt that actors lecturing the next vice president from a
Broadway stage were somewhat impudent.
"It
was a protest. It was a bit disrespectful. They are going to be the
leaders of the country. I didn't vote for them — I think they're poor
candidates — but they're still going to be leaders," said Leifer, who
was celebrating his wife's birthday with tickets he bought a year ago.
As
for a boycott of the show, he didn't think that would ultimately fly.
"I don't think too many people who have spent the money for this show
are going to boycott it just to make a protest statement."
The
musical is by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the story, music and
lyrics. It stresses the orphan, immigrant roots of first U.S. Treasury
Secretary Alexander Hamilton and has a terrifically varied score,
ranging from pop ballads to gospel to sexy R&B. It has been cheered
for reclaiming the nation's founding story with a multicultural cast.
Miranda,
in a tweet, said he was "proud" of Dixon and the "Hamilton" cast "for
leading with love," before reminding people that everyone is welcome at
the theater.
Miranda
had been a big booster for the failed presidential campaign of Hillary
Clinton, including performing at an all-star fundraiser for her last
month. The cast also put on a special "Hamilton" show at a Clinton
fundraiser last summer.
The
person playing Alexander Hamilton that Pence saw was Javier Munoz, an
openly gay actor. Pence supported numerous efforts to ban gay marriage
as governor of Indiana and opposed unfettered federal funding for HIV
and AIDS treatment.
Many
in the Broadway community quickly defended the actions of the
"Hamilton" cast, including new Tony Award-winner Cynthia Erivo, who
mocked: "You want the theater full of people you have alienated to be
protective of you?" And Josh Gad, a Tony nominee for "The Book of
Mormon," wrote: "I know the booing upsets some of you. But this is what
happens when you run on a platform of hate."
Janise
Gray, of Union, New Jersey, who saw the show Saturday afternoon,
considered the speech an anguished cry from those fearful they will be
pushed aside under Republican rule.
"One
way or another, we want everybody to be represented and the way the
campaign was, it wasn't feeling that everybody was being represented,"
she said, adding that she was glad Pence came.
"From
what I've heard, it sounded like it was fair and equitable. It was just
a statement of 'please represent everyone. We are a diverse country and
we need to be inclusive,'" she said. "That's what this country was
founded on."
___
Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits
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