The actor who plays Aaron Burr in the smash musical Hamilton told CBS this morning that there was no reason to apologize for the cast’s message to Vice President-elect Mike Pence after a Friday performance.
Brandon Victor Dixon first noted Pence’s attendance, at which some in the crowd booed. Dixon shushed the boos and welcomed the VP elect and thanked him for attending the show.
“We are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us,” Dixon said in a statement on behalf of the cast, who held hands on stage. “We truly hope this show has inspired you to uphold our American values and work on behalf of all of us.”
Tonight, VP-Elect Mike Pence attended #HamiltonBway. After the show, @BrandonVDixon delivered the following statement on behalf of the show. pic.twitter.com/Jsg9Q1pMZs
— Hamilton (@HamiltonMusical) November 19, 2016
Pence complimented the show on CBS’ Face the Nation Sunday, saying he took his daughter and her cousins to the performance and “we really enjoyed being there.”
“And, yes, I heard the remarks that were made at the end. And, you know, what I can tell you is, I wasn’t offended by what was said. I will leave to others whether it was the appropriate venue to say it,” he said. “…And I just — I just want to reassure anyone, anyone, including the actor who spoke that night, that president-elect Donald Trump is going to be president of all the people.”
President-elect Donald Trump fired off a tweetstorm to 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!
— 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
The cast and producers of Hamilton, which I hear is highly overrated, should immediately apologize to Mike Pence for their terrible behavior
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 20, 2016
Trump also wrote a tweet directed at Dixon that was quickly deleted: “Very rude and insulting of Hamilton cast member to treat our great future V.P. Mike Pence to a theater lecture. Couldn’t even memorize lines!”
The actor responded:
@realDonaldTrump conversation is not harassment sir. And I appreciate @mike_pence for stopping to listen.
— Brandon Victor Dixon (@BrandonVDixon) November 19, 2016
Dixon said today that the cast “wanted to stand up and spread a message of love and of unity considering all of the emotional outpouring since the election.”
“We are men and women of different colors, creeds and orientations, and the resonant nature of the show throughout the world, throughout the global community demands that we make statements when there are important issues, I think, facing us as a community,” the actor said.
Dixon said he was “really appreciative that Vice President-elect Pence stood there and listened to what we had to stay.”
“I know some people have said that a one-sided conversation, or a lecture, is not a conversation, but it was the beginnings of a conversation, I hope, that we can continue to have,” he added.
The cast message, he said, was written by show creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, producer Jeffrey Seller and director Thomas Kail.
Dixon said he didn’t know if Pence had been invited, but “on a regular basis, political figures, celebrities, people who want to come to the show, we know they are coming and they know it’s an option they can come back and they can speak to the cast and talk to us and take pictures.”
“He absolutely could have done that, and if he was unaware at the time, I say to him, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, please come and have a conversation with us,” he said.
Dixon said the Hamilton cast would “absolutely” welcome Trump to the show. Asked if he would apologize to Pence as Trump demanded, the actor replied, “There is nothing to apologize for.”
Proud of @HamiltonMusical. Proud of @BrandonVDixon, for leading with love.
And proud to remind you that ALL are welcome at the theater.— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 19, 2016
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