Theater News

Audience Member Ejected After Proposing to Keira Knightley During Thérèse Raquin

The disruption took place during the revival’s first preview.

Keira Knightley stars in Roundabout Theatre Company's upcoming revival of Thérèse Raquin.
Keira Knightley stars in Roundabout Theatre Company's upcoming revival of Thérèse Raquin.
(© Jenny Anderson)

The first preview of Broadway's Thérèse Raquin, starring Keira Knightley, got off to a rocky start on Thursday night when an audience member was ejected after trying to talk to Knightley from the mezzanine.

According to the New York Daily News and other reports on social media, the patron got up, walked to the mezzanine railing, and began shouting, "Christ was born of a virgin! Keira marry me!" An usher led the man back to his seat and waited for security to arrive. Knightley and her scene partner, Tony winner Gabriel Ebert, did not respond, agitating the patron even more.

As security arrived, the patron then allegedly tossed a bouquet of flowers onto the stage from his seat. Knightley and Ebert kicked the flowers into the wings as the patron was removed from Studio 54 in handcuffs.

Roundabout Theatre Company released the following statement: "Roundabout takes the safety of their actors and audiences very seriously and extra security will be added beginning tonight. For obvious reasons, we cannot comment on the exact nature of the additional security measures."

Knightley and Ebert are joined in the cast by Judith Light, Matt Ryan, David Patrick Kelly, Jeff Still, Mary Wiseman, Glynis Bell, Alex Mickiewicz, Sara Topham, and Ray Virta. Evan Cabnet directs the production, which opens October 29.

This disturbance is unrelated to another high-profile incident at Studio 54, during which actor Shia LaBeouf was ejected during a performance of Cabaret and later arrested for disorderly conduct.

For tickets to Thérèse Raquin, click here.

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