Broadway star abruptly leaves US musical on Tiananmen Massacre during China tour.
Broadway Star Abruptly Withdraws from Musical About Tiananmen Massacre
Broadway star Zachary Noah Piser has made a surprising decision to withdraw from the leading role in a musical about the 1989 Tiananmen massacre, just weeks before its highly anticipated debut.
Mr. Piser, who was on a concert tour in China at the time, announced his withdrawal on Aug. 25 through a brief signed statement on Instagram. No reason was given for his sudden departure.
The American actor, born to a Chinese mother and an American father, was set to play the leading role in “Tiananmen: The New Musical” which is scheduled to debut in Phoenix, Arizona on Oct. 4.
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According to Mr. Piser’s Instagram posts and Chinese state media reports, he was in Shanghai, China, performing Broadway hits when he made the announcement.
His manager, Dave Brenner, revealed to CNN that “a creative difference” led to his withdrawal from the musical.
Just a day before quitting the musical, Mr. Piser expressed his pride in bringing this powerful story to life on stage in an article published by Playbill. He stated, “Having helped develop this piece since 2015 makes originating this role that much more meaningful.”
The Tiananmen Square protests and massacre in 1989, also known as the June 4 incident in China, involved the Chinese communist regime’s military opening fire on unarmed pro-democracy college students and citizens. This brutal crackdown followed two months of mass protests against the regime’s corruption and demands for democracy.
While the exact number of casualties remains disputed, secret U.K. documents released in 2017 suggest that at least 10,000 people were killed during the crackdown.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) strictly censors any discussion or commemoration of the June 4 incident, and engaging in such activities can result in severe consequences, including imprisonment.
Questions Surrounding Piser’s Departure
Wu Zuolai, a cultural scholar and former official at the Chinese Academy of Arts, explained to The Epoch Times that the CCP goes to great lengths to censor any mention of the June 4 incident.
Mr. Wu stated that the CCP takes strict precautions every year around June 4, shutting down any commemorative activities. Even lighting candles or posting about the incident online is heavily censored.
He believes that the CCP played a role in Mr. Piser’s decision to quit the musical, especially considering his Chinese background and the potential impact his involvement could have had.
Mr. Wu raised several questions about the situation. How was Mr. Piser able to perform in China at this time, given the sensitivity of the topic? How did he get invited to tour China? What kind of payment or pressure could have influenced his withdrawal from the contracted performance project?
Mr. Wu warned that this incident should serve as a reminder of the CCP’s United Front strategy, which involves interference through various methods. He emphasized the importance of recognizing the extent to which the CCP will go to achieve its goals.
Hu Ping, honorary editor-in-chief of Beijing Spring magazine, highlighted the ongoing sensitivity of the June 4th incident for the CCP. Despite the passage of 34 years, the CCP continues to cover up the enormity of the crime that occurred in Tiananmen Square on that day.
Mr. Hu emphasized the significance of this incident and urged American society to recognize the CCP’s tactics and interference, which have now reached a point where anything goes.
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