A community theater production of "The Diary of Anne Frank" in Michigan was marred Saturday night when five masked men positioned themselves outside the venue, brandishing Nazi flags and shouting antisemitic slurs. The threatening display created such tension that audience members required security escorts to reach their vehicles safely.
The cast members, who were portraying Anne Frank and her family, discovered the demonstrators' presence during intermission. In a powerful display of resilience, the actors maintained their roles as Jewish refugees hiding from the Nazis, ensuring the performance continued. "The shocked staff united and completed the performance with strength and professionalism," theater officials stated.
🇺🇸🚨‼️ During a performance of The Diary of Anne Frank in Fowlerville, Michigan, masked protesters waving Nazi flags gathered outside the theater.
The Fowlerville Community Theater informed the audience of the incident at intermission, but the cast continued the play "with… pic.twitter.com/1tYcOEipOv
— TabZ (@TabZLIVE) November 13, 2024
"This production focuses on real people who lost their lives in the Holocaust, and we tried to tell their story as realistically as possible," the theater's statement read. "On Saturday night, things became more real than we expected; the presence of protesters outside gave us a small glimpse into the fear and uncertainty felt by those in hiding."
Representative Elissa Slotkin, a Jewish Democrat who represents the district and was recently elected to the Senate, strongly condemned the incident. "It's more important than ever to fight hatred, especially at the local level," Slotkin wrote on X. "And to the handful of cowardly antisemites hiding behind masks and waving Nazi flags: Nazis always lose."
"Hail Hitler" and "Hail Trump" - People wave Nazi flags outside theatre presenting Jewish play, "The Diary of Anne Frank," in Michigan. pic.twitter.com/bjC2Z1e4Ak
— Bryan Dawson🇺🇸 (@BryanDawsonUSA) November 12, 2024
The performance was held at the American Legion Hall in Howell, a city of about 10,000 residents east of Lansing, which had provided its space to the Fowlerville Community Theater. Legion officials confirmed they had agreed to host the play specifically to address concerns about rising antisemitism.
Bobby Bright, a legion commander and military veteran, told local news outlets, "People were stunned and shocked." He noted that the situation had become so menacing that numerous audience members required security escorts to their vehicles following the performance.
