Hamilton audience boos VP Mike Pence; Trump tweets his outrage

Emily Craig, Assistant News Editor

Vice President Elect Michael Pence recently attended a showing of Hamilton: An American Musical at Richard Rogers Theater in New York City, where the cast gave him a message that spoke volumes across social media.

Mr. Pence attended one of the Nov. 18 showings of Hamilton, at which he was booed several times during the night by the audience. Videos were shared on Twitter and Facebook of the crowd’s audible dislike of Mr. Pence as he both arrived at and left the theater.

Flickr/Photographing Travis
The set of Hamilton: An American Musical where Mr. Dixon made his statement.

When the curtain call began at the end of the show, Mr. Pence was escorted out of his seat, but Tony and Grammy Award Nominee Brandon Victor Dixon had a few extra words to say to the Vice President Elect before he left the theater.

“Vice President Elect Pence,” Mr. Dixon said, “I see you walking out but I hope you hear just a few more moments.”

Mr. Dixon joined the cast of Hamilton: An American Musical this past August as the lead role of Aaron Burr.

When Mr. Dixon gestured to Mr. Pence and acknowledged the Vice President Elect’s presence in the audience, the theater echoed with a chorus of booing. Mr. Dixon immediately quieted the crowd, saying, “There’s nothing to boo, ladies and gentlemen. There’s nothing to boo.”

Continuing his short speech, Mr. Dixon said that Hamilton is a story of love and that just as the musical has a message to share with the world, the cast had a special message for Mr. Pence and President Elect Donald Trump. The message began with a formal welcoming of Mr. Pence to the theater and thanked him for attending the Friday night showing of the Tony Award-winning musical.

“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. We truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and to work on behalf of all of us,” Mr. Dixon said, “All of us.”

As a final remark, Mr. Dixon once again thanked Mr. Pence for attending the show and thus concluded the Hamilton cast’s message for the newly elected Trump administration.

The next morning, Mr. Trump took to Twitter to voice his distaste of the statement made by the Hamilton cast.

“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!”

Not long after that tweet came another from President Elect Trump, stating that the theater should be a place where people feel welcomed and safe.

“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!”

Mr. Dixon replied to the tweets, saying, “@realDonaldTrump conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate @mike_pence for stopping to listen.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On “Fox News Sunday”, Mr. Pence made a brief statement about his encounter at the Richard Rogers Theater that night:

“I did hear what was said from the stage. I can tell you I wasn’t offended by what was said. I will leave to others whether that was the appropriate venue to say it.”

Many fans of the musical supported the Hamilton cast and the statement made, but no other outstanding reports were made following the weekend after the Nov. 18 show.