Celebrity News November 19, 2016
VP-elect Mike Pence Booed at 'Hamilton,' Plus: Cast Member's Speech
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Vice President-elect Mike Pence took in the Friday-evening performance of the smash-hit musical "Hamilton" on Broadway, only to receive a chorus of boos (and a few cheers) from the audience, reports Broadway World.
Along with the icy response he provoked on arrival, Pence's presence also seemed to encourage strong reactions from the audience at relevant moments during the show, which is about the life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton and the birth of the United States.
On hearing the line "immigrants, we get the job done," the crowd gave a spontaneous standing ovation, an obvious commentary on Trump/Pence campaign promises to build a wall on the Mexican border and to deport millions of immigrants. Loud applause marked other lines, like, "winning is easy, young man, governing is harder," and one about how the vice president "doesn't have a real job anyway."
At the curtain call, things got even more real, with actor Brandon Victor Dixon — who is currently playing Aaron Burr, the man who mortally wounded Hamilton in a duel — spoke directly to Pence, welcoming him but adding, "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, sir. But we truly hope that this show has inspired you to uphold our American values, and work on behalf of ALL of us — ALL of us."
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People magazine reports President-elect Trump tweeted criticism of the booing, angrily demanding that the cast apologize for having "harassed" Pence.
Dixon replied, "conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate @mike_pence for stopping to listen."
"Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda weighed in on the controversy, expressing his approval for how the cast conducted themselves and welcoming everyone to his show with a tweet that read, "Proud of @BrandonVDixon, for leading with love. And proud to remind you that ALL are welcome at the theater."
