Trump accuses ‘Hamilton’ cast of harassing Pence with post-show plea
President-elect demands apology for speech in which actor Brandon Victor Dixon urged incoming VP to ‘work on behalf of all of us’
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President-elect Donald Trump took to Twitter on Saturday to complain that his vice-president elect, Mike Pence, was “harassed” Friday night by the cast of hit Broadway show “Hamilton,” when one of the actors made a post-performance plea for the incoming administration to protect the rights of minorities.
“Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing.This should not happen!” Trump wrote.
After the curtain call, Brandon Victor Dixon, who plays the nation’s third vice president Aaron Burr, told Pence that the multiracial and multicultural cast is worried about the Trump administration.
“Vice President-elect Pence, I see you walking out, but I hope you will hear us, just a few more moments. There’s nothing to boo here, ladies and gentlemen. We’re all here sharing a story about love,” Dixon said from the stage.
“We, sir, 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,” Dixon said. “We truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us. All of us.”
Our wonderful future V.P. Mike Pence was harassed last night at the theater by the cast of Hamilton, cameras blazing.This should not happen!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016
The Theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016
Pence ducked out before Dixon finished his unprecedented message, but a show spokesman said he stood in the hallway outside the entrance to the auditorium and heard the full remarks.
Trump took exception to the appeal, calling for an apology from the cast of the award-winning musical, which focuses on the life of American founding father Alexander Hamilton.
“The Theater must always be a safe and special place.The cast of Hamilton was very rude last night to a very good man, Mike Pence. Apologize!” Trump wrote.
Dixon tweeted back: “Conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate @Mike_Pence for stopping to listen.”
conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate @mike_pence for stopping to listen.
— Brandon Victor Dixon (@BrandonVDixon) November 19, 2016
The vice president-elect’s appearance at the Richard Rodgers Theater triggered both cheers and boos when he slipped into Row F in the prime orchestra seats.
Outside, many protesters jeered, including one woman who held up a sign with a line from the musical that always gets a cheer: “Immigrants, we get the job done.” Dixon’s speech, which ended with a plea to donate to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, brought down the house.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaG9r6E1RuE
The current first family has been big boosters of the show. President Barack Obama took daughters Sasha and Malia to see it last year after first lady Michelle Obama caught it last spring. Vice President Joe Biden also has seen it, as did Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his trip to the US for the UN General Assembly in September.
The show is the brainchild of Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the musical’s book, music and lyrics. It stresses the orphan, immigrant roots of 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 by a multicultural cast.
The 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.
After Pence left, Jeffrey Seller, the show’s lead producer, said he hopes the politician would share the show’s message of empathy: “I hope that maybe it inspires him to feel for those not like him.”
Seller, a Tony Award winner who has produced such shows as “Rent” and “Avenue Q,” said such notable Republicans as former vice president Dick Cheney and presidential speechwriter Peggy Noonan have come to “Hamilton.”
“This show is absolutely for Republicans as well as Democrats, and we would like to host any Republican who would like to see the show,” he said.
The Times of Israel Community.