Broadway star Zachary Noah Piser has withdrawn from the LEADING ROLE in the musical “Tiananmen: A New Musical,” just weeks before its debut in Phoenix, Arizona.⁠ ⁠ “I have withdrawn from the musical Tiananmen,” Piser wrote in a brief signed statement posted on Instagram. ⁠ ⁠ A day before Piser’s withdrawal, he was quoted on Playbill saying, “I am proud to bring this powerful story to life on stage. Having helped develop this piece since 2015 makes originating this role that much more meaningful.”⁠ ⁠ Although Piser’s manager said Piser quit the musical due to “creative differences,” it is speculated that pressure from Chinese authorities might have played a role. ⁠ ⁠ The Tiananmen musical, which is directed by Darren Lee with Music Director Kevin White, is about the bloody 1989 crackdown on democracy protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square that resulted in hundreds — if not thousands — of deaths. According to a press release, the musical is “a vital reminder of the fragility of human r...