Katie Holmes' play draws protest. Not for her acting!

There were about 30 protesters shouting outside the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on Broadway at this week's preview of Arthur Miller's play, “All My Sons,” starring Tom Cruise's wife, Katie Holmes.

But no, they weren’t protesting her acting.

It was anti-Scientology demonstration, and the demonstrators shouted "Free Katie!" and carried banners that said, "Free Katie, Keep Tom.”

One protester, who wouldn't give his name, told the New York Daily News: "We aren't protesting Katie. But Scientology is a cult and once you become a member you can't leave, and we've heard that Katie isn't able to leave because of Tom Cruise."

Wow. Poor Katie. Just what the girl needs on her big night on Broadway. Bet she’s thinking, "Darn you and your controversial religion. Spoil my night!"

Thankfully, the audience reaction to her performance seemed fairly positive.

Naturally, Tom Cruise called her performance, "extraordinary."

Andrew Morton, the author of that very controversial book,  "Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography," was in the audience.

He told InTouch, "'She handled the stage and moved very well. She was a little stiff at times, but she was up against some big Broadway stars.'

Good thing Tom didn't know Andrew was in the audience.

Will you go see Katie on Broadway? Or was "Mad Money" enough for you?

Photo: Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise in New York.
WireImage

Comments

[203112]

This proves how dumb some people are, particularly these protesters. The fact that they believe that Scientology is any different in cult-like status or utter fantasy from any other major religion just demonstrates their total inability to grasp reality or demonstrate intellectual capacity.

[Dan]

No, actually YOU have just demonstrated your complete lack of knowledge of the Church of Scientology. www.xenu.net Read up and then come back and say Scientology is no more a cult than "any other major religion.' It's a bonafide cult and racketeering organization.

[Tom B.]

Katie's a terrific actress. I'll be there for the show.

[Sparky]

No, actually you just demonstrated your feeling that your religion is not a cult and it is.

All religions are cults. At least the Abrahamic religions are. An invisible friend will reward you with an afterlife for doing anything you want in this world as long as you give your money to your local church, chapel, temple, mosque, meeting house, synod whatever.

Read Numbers in the bible and tell me that it isn't the first pyramid scheme.

Sooner people give up the myth the better off we all will be.

[Researcher]

I did a research paper on Scientology back in college. They're even crazier than most people give them credit for, because they sell you their "bible" (they call it "tech") one page at a time.

Of course, this will only fuel their paranoid delusions. They already think that the world's psychiatrists are out to get them (and that they're a race of insect-like monsters). People in Halloween masks aren't likely to help their paranoia.

But what do you expect from a for-profit religion started by a crazy guy who thought all the psychologists in the world were out to get him?

[Anthony Y.]

Oh Dan, you are so SADLY mistaken. 203112 is absolutely right. Other religions are just as bad as Scientology. The premise of religion is to control people, something you can't seem to grasp. Those who whine and protest about Scientology, and are religious themselves are nothing more than hypocrites.

To you, it's a "cult" when a minority believe in it, but it's a "religion" when the masses go towards it. Who is to say that believing in an invisible man who can listen to your thoughts is anymore valid than the stories of aliens in Scientology? What's the difference between "thetan" levels, and one's "soul" going to heaven? It's all the same to me. Don't even tell me about how Scientology tries to control people. "Thought control"? Oh please. The Christian fundamentalists already have this entire country under control lock, stock, and barrel, and you're talking about the Scientologists trying to control people? Look at this country, where if a man is not Christian, he is subjected to xenophobes around him. Look no further than Obama, when the rumour was spread that he was a Muslim. Look at the Iraq War, carried out by George W. Bush in the "name of God." Look at the Catholic church, and guess how many hundreds of thousands of children that they have raped over the long history of the church? How much money and power has the churches of America extradited from the people and the government? Has Scientology ever done this? I could go on and on about the roman catholic churches, and scores of other religions. If you ask me, Christianity has killed this nation a million times more than Scientology ever has.

These protesters and you are just whiny little kids who are jumping on a bandwagon just because it's the "cool thing to do", these kids and you need to grow a pair and learn some basic thinking skills, and need to learn that any other religion is just as much B.S. as Scientology.

[dennybop]

I have to agree with 203112. Scientology is no more a cult and fantasy than other religions. However, There's no doubt in my mind that Scientology teaches things that are harmful to it's adherents; just like many other religions. Worse than some, less so than others.

[AyHyperbole]

I tend to agree with 203112 that Scientology is no different from other religions in terms of "utter fantasy," but in terms of "cult-like status," yeah, these are real kool-aid drinkers.

[Parker]

Katie Holmes used to be so hot before she met that wacko Tom. Her uniform haircut looks so bad. She used to be a hottie but now she is a nottie. Grow your hair back the way you used to have it. Be your own person. It's too much of a coincidence that she marries Tom and the whole family has that dorky looking bob haircut. Give me a break. Remember how hot she was in the movie the Gift. Those days are long gone. Grow your hair out honey!!!!

[Christopher]

Space ship is coming soon Katie,, nanu nanu

[Xenu the Powerful]

All I have to offer is that Katie Holmes is as good an actress as Tom Cruise is an actor.

Which is to say...

I'm a certifiable Clear, a Level 8. I paid my bucks, and I know other Clears when I see 'em. And Tom is totally Clear.

Come out of the closet, and Cross that Bridge, people. Come to the Light(tm).

[RehabRalph]

Actually, I'm pretty sure that 203112 is merely pointing out that to HIM (or her) ALL major/organized religions are entities that function in a "cult-like" manner, to varying degrees, and are based upon "utter fantasy". It's an opinion...you don't have to agree with it, but to assume someone is uninformed just because they don't agree with you is...well...you know...

[A Lost Mind in A Strange world]

Heh...Its funny...In the end all this really doesn't matter. All this spewing of Hate. It does nothing. These words are wasted both mine and the most of the words above ones post. .

In the end, all that matters is the outcome in believing what ever it is you believe. If it gives one virtue,manners (what are those?) Discipline than whats the problem? (Oh and Im sure you can give me "that answer" both.)

Is it so wrong to feel that there are greater things than I? I suppose time will tell of my madness. Good Luck to you all at whatever it is you do.

[Democrats 08]

Now that's a funny one, someone said here "It's a bonafide cult and racketeering organization" just like Southern Baptists, Catholics, Jews.. if you are really stupid enough to think these and many other religions don't keep you brain washed, shun you if you don't follow their rules or that they are not in business together, you live under a rock. I follow no religion, but I think from what good I have heard about Scientology, it seems to help alot of people cope with their past and move on to a stronger and brighter future, Get over it, why would anyone care SO much if someone believes in something so harmless that enlightens their soul? get a LIFE. Don't people have anything better to concern themselves with?

[Jessica]

Who CARES if it's a cult or a religion or even a scam - if SHE is happy with it then why bug her about it.
It's not like she's pushing her beliefs on anybody, right?

[Mary]

What happened to "Freedom of Religion"? Personally I am not a fan of Scientology, but living in the USA we have the right to choose without being prosecuted, or has this changed?????

[jason2]

The reviews said she did very well. The protestors are an embarrassment to New Yorkers and shouldn't bug them. If they have a beef, go into a Scientology Church and take it up with them directly. They aren't killing anyone or bombing things, and they do get people off drugs.

[pj]

don't these jag offs have any thing else to do than bother this nice successful couple?

[Anne]

If scientology didn't constantly try to silence its critics with lawsuits, coercsion, stalking, and other forms of intimidation, no one would bother them. But ask the Judge in the Wollersheim vs. Scientology case about what happened to his dog.

If Scientology didn't treat the members of its "Sea Org" like subhuman slaves, force its female members to have abortions, and lock up those who they saw as "potential trouble sources" in RPF, no one would bother them. Ask Jeff Hawkins--the man who literally brought "Dianeticss" into peoples living rooms-- about his experiences with Sea Org and David Miscaviage.

If Scientology didn't bleed its members dry of their life savings to learn "the tech", no one would bother them. Ask Jason Beghe whether he thinks Scientology is a rip-off. Better yet, ask the elderly German woman who mortgaged her home, depleted her savings, and racked up thousands of dollars in debt to pay for Scientology courses.

If Scientology cared about its members and their welfare instead of the almighty dollar, no one would bother them.

[Glenn]

Cult, religion, superstition are all synonyms for the same thing; they all say the same thing: "We're right, and you're wrong." At least nowadays, *most* of them don't believe the only "answer" is to kill everyone who doesn't believe in their "true faith".

[Martin Welbourne]

Some you people need to get this into your thick heads: This is NOT a religious persecution issue. It is the about the organisation of the the so called "church" of scientology. The abusive, scamming, lying cult that YOUR tax dollars pay for. Yes, scientology is America's official state "religion" because it gets a comprehensive tax exemption status that no other church gets.
If you think that other religions/churches are "just as bad" then, after you have gotten all the facts, go and do your own protest. These people are protesting scientology and to say to them, "don't look there, look over here" is stupid. There are plenty of people to protest the rest of the worlds ills and if you really feel that passionately yourself then you just gotta get off your fat American ass and excercise your constitutional right to do it.

[David West]

None of the other religions have mafia like tactics as their teachings or Dogma but Scientology does.

Lets not forget forced abortions in the Sea Org. Also Operation Snow White was the biggest infiltrations of the U.S. Government in history and it was perpetrated by Scientology. Just check the court papers.

Hubbards own wife was sentenced to prison for this and Hubbard would have gone to prison if he hadn't taken off and spend the rest of his life on the run.

Take a look at www.youfoundthecard.com

Oh yeah, lets not forget Scientology murdering Lisa McPherson and suing the coronor who stated her death was the result of their actions.

[Carnivale]

To those who say that this cult is not worse than any other cult/religion...Maybe. But if I wanted to protest other organizations, a mask wouldn't be necessary. And that is one of the reasons to protest.

To those who say we should leave Katie alone...and do our thing at scientology centers (only a scilon would call them a "church"), I think that is true regarding the regular scientologist. Celebrities get picketed because they are the bait the cult uses to bring in raw meat.

You may think it is just wacky UFO cult...but it is worse. Just google scientology...or read statements from people who have escaped.

People die and lives are ruined.

[Bob Mullins]

I don't think that protesting in front of Kate's opening night is appropriate. However, it does bring something very true to light: Scientology harms it's adherents. BIG WAY.

I started looking into Scientology a while back because of these protesters.

My conclusion: It is a massive crime organization, run by kool-aid drinkers that think they are saving the world. In particular the most loyal members are abused in a systematic and shocking manner.

And I feel I only read maybe a tenth of the stories posted by ex-members before reaching this conclusion.

[Mark Abian]

The difference between Scientology and other religions (besides their beliefs; Scientologists won't tell you theirs) is that Scientology uses harassment, intimidation and coercion to stifle critics and control its followers.

Scientology is big business (followers can spend hundreds of thousands, sometimes even millions) on its courses. It has a substantial budget for and army of lawyers and private investigators that it uses to go after any foe, real or perceived.

Anonymous is just doing what the press and others have been too bullied into submission to do; exposing the truth about Scientology's abusive practices.