Protesting THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 3:49pm

Got lunch with my parents before today's SCOTTSBORO BOYS matinee I got them tickets for, and walking them over to the theater, there was a loud, obnoxious protest/display going on in front of the Lyceum chanting "Scottsboro Boys No Minstrel Show / [something something] got to go" alternating with "Racist! Racist!" being screamed at old white people shuffling into the theater.

I totally get that doing this production using a minstrel show framework is a provocative concept, and some people will inevitably (and understandably) not be able to get on board with it, and be rubbed the wrong way, but it seems to me that this display is based purely out of ignorance, and not understanding the show's intentions or the way that minstrel element is actually utilized. Oh well.

Updated On: 11/6/10 at 03:49 PM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 3:54pm

ARE YOU F'KING KIDDING ME?

These people need a serious reality check. Thanks for posting.

[MiracleElixir]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 3:56pm

Blurry/crappy photo I took of the small protest group around 2:45..

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 4:06pm

I really just hate humans. It's a musical. ctfo.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 4:10pm

Willing to bet that all/most of them haven't even seen the show.

Nice post. Very sad that the cast and crew and even audience members must walk past this to get in. And weren't the 'Central Park 5' as they call them cleared almost a decade ago now? And the show if anything doesn't clear the air saying the problem doesn't exist anymore. It clearly says racism still exists and something like the Scotssboro Boys can happen again.

I would just like to point to my signature here.

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Posted: 11/6/10 at 4:33pm

I can't even begin to unravel the poster- they are mad because they want another musical about the central park 5? Or they are mad that there is a musical about the Scottsboro boys? I just don't get it.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 4:49pm

It seems like they're talking about two or three separate things, none of which make sense, even if they HAD seen the show.

Are we sure these people are not the old protesters that got kicked out of Times Square a few years ago?

[MadonnaMusical]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 5:06pm

I hope this just gets THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS more attention. The whole point of the show is injustice. It's highly uncomfortable but that's the point if we were comfortable with it it wouldn't be right. It makes perfect sense especially with the brilliant ending it has.

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 5:13pm

When was the last time a new musical was protested?

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 5:43pm

Mah birthday, dawg. N2N protest June 10, mind you it wasnt new at the time, but i just like to talk about myself.

[Cat2]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 5:54pm

I know that the day I attended, audience members seemed to love the show, and showed it with applause. When I went to the restroom, I overheard two African-American women saying that the white people were being disrespectful by clapping loudly. They thought the audience was being racist. I thought that everyone was just enjoying the show and the performances.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 5:55pm

Seeing a show is never a consideration for these people. They just want something to protest. They don't really care about the show - they just want to use it to draw attention to themselves.

In 1993 Hal Prince's new production of SHOW BOAT debuted in Toronto as the first production in a brand new theatre. For months there was heavy advance publicity, but one woman, Stephanie Payne - a member of the board of education no less - started a campaign against the show claiming it was racist, and no one could convince her otherwise. She persuaded her board members to pass a resolution banning their schools form taking students to see the show. She organized noisy protests outside the theatre and the show's temporary box office. She verbally attacked one girl working in the box office, then lied to the media claiming she was never there - until the security video was released showing her walking into the booth and yelling at the poor girl.

Opening night there was a band of about 30 protesters but they did not know that the opening performance started early: By the time they arrived the audience was in and the show had started.

Each and every review pointed out that SHOW BOAT was anything but racists and the furor died down, though it did not subside completely. Ms. Payne, by the way, was just re-elected last month for her 6th term on the school board - this despite the fact that she can't even spell her own name correctly! (She always signs her messages Stephnie!)

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 5:57pm

For a minute today (I was there today) I thought it was part of the show. It was really ridiculous but got the entire audience talking before and after the show about it's themes and if they were offensive or not. I have to say I found the show to be one of the more remarkable musicals I've seen in many years and am going to have to take some friends next week because this needs to be seen.

Posted: 11/6/10 at 6:14pm

Cabaret was accused of being anti-Semitic. Really.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 6:17pm

What about The Capeman?

To these people, get a life.It shines a light on this event in our history. How many people knew of them & their plight before this show?

Where the protests over The Producers? A singing & dancing Hitler drew no protests but this does.

Updated On: 11/6/10 at 06:17 PM

[Mistress_Spouzic]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 6:33pm

It sounds to me like they don't know of, and would be equally offended by things like, The Producers & Cabaret. Sigh. I don't know, I have yet to see Scottsboro Boys but prejudice is not the tone I got from the commercials. I am looking forward to seeing it.

[jv92]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 6:35pm

Note to people protesting:

GET A F*CKING LIFE!

I mean, really! (humph)

[beaemma]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 6:43pm

I saw the show a couple of weeks ago. It accurately portrays the racism of the trials (and minstrel shows) in order to condemn racism and show how events like these trials eventually led to the growth of the civil rights movement. I applauded the artistic quality of the piece and the deeper ideas it portrayed, not the terrible historical events shown on stage. If any of the protestors saw the show, they missed or refused to see the meaning of the show.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 6:49pm

I fully support these guys. I know what it's like organising protets against musicals. It's very hard. I'm currently organising a protest against a local production of Les Misérables which glorifies anti-establishment.

I am also protesting againts the glorification of disfigurement in The Phantom of the Opera next year, if anyone wants to join me.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 6:51pm

I'm helping Christine O'Donnell protest a production of INTO THE WOODS.
Updated On: 11/6/10 at 06:51 PM

[Justice2]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 6:52pm

"but it seems to me that this display is based purely out of ignorance, and not understanding the show's intentions or the way that minstrel element..." It is always helpful to once again hear that our resentment towards your racist views is dismissed by you as our "ignorance" or our "not understanding".
We see the world differently. We have experinced you over and over enough times to know you better than you often know yourselves. I will better understand the scope of your cultural diversity and intellect when you co-sign a song and dance musical about 911 and the World Trade Center or the use of gas chambers during World War II. Leave Black history alone. You have the money and time to do yours justice.

Read more: https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1024123&dt=14&boardid=1#ixzz14XoqATMQ

[Pippin]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 6:52pm

Keep the protests coming, "Freedom" party!!, let's raise the profile of this show and sell some more tickets!!! Thank you for helping to keep this show running.

[Kad]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 6:53pm

I'm protesting Mamma Mia, for advocating... you know, I don't even need a reason to protest Mamma Mia.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 7:00pm

You can all come protest Dirty Dancing in London if you want? xD

[Jon]

Posted: 11/6/10 at 7:15pm

I want to protest the movie "The 25th Hour". How dare Spike lee make a movie about white people?