Protesters interrupt Muny production of ‘Aida’

A group of “Black Lives” protesters interrupted the Muny production of “Aida” Tuesday night in Forest Park.

Between 30-50 people carrying a “The Muny Says Black Lives Matter” banner sang and chanted slogans from the free seats at the outdoor theater, causing a 20-minute delay as the musical’s second act was starting. Among the chants: “This is what democracy looks like.”

As the protests grew louder, Muny officials called for the three actors singing the first song of the second act – Michelle Williams, Zak Resnick and Taylor Louderman peforming “A Step Too Far” – to leave the stage. Floodlights came on in the audience seating area while police were called to the scene of the demonstration.

Some members of the group climbed a spiral staircase to unveil a banner on a production tower at the back of the seating area, while audience members looked on. Some of them hollered taunts at the protesters, while others left their seats.

The demonstration came on the second anniversary of the fatal shooting of black teenager Michael Brown by a Ferguson police officer.

Police allowed the group to make its way through the upper part of the seating bowl and disperse, and the play restarted from intermission after brief remarks from St. Louis native and noted Broadway performer Ken Page, a member of the “Aida” cast.

From the stage, he led the audience in a prayer, asking that “to understand what’s important, to whom it’s important and why it’s important. We ask this is the name of our Creator, who created each and everyone of us ...” He noted that the protests mirrored “what this show is about” — the story of a doomed love between a Nubian slave princess and an Egyptian soldier.

He also said, “We all know that black lives matter, but that doesn’t mean that other lives don’t matter.”

As the play resumed, a police helicopter circled the theater for most of the second act, shining a large spotlight on areas of Forest Park near the Muny as protesters left the area.

Many of the theater goers remained for the rest of the production, though some of the crowd did leave during the protest. An estimated 10,000 people were at the show, running through Sunday and marking the final production of the seven-show Muny season.

Four members of the group were arrested following the demonstration, according to media reports in St. Louis.

This story was originally published August 10, 2016 at 10:08 AM with the headline "Protesters interrupt Muny production of ‘Aida’."