'All My Sons' theatre run with Katie Holmes faces protesters

Sep 19, 2008, 9:45 GMT

08/16/2008 - Katie Holmes - Katie Holmes Arriving at Rehearsals in Manhattan on August 16, 2008 - Manhattan - New York City, NY, USA © Janet Mayer / PR Photos

Katie Holmes faced angry protesters who pleaded with her to quit "perverted" Scientology last night (18.09.08).

Around 20 activists from a group calling themselves Anonymous picketed the actress' opening night of 'All My Sons' at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in New York.

The group wore masks and brandished signs saying, "Scientology is a cult!", "Run Katie Run!" and "Free Katie! Keep Tom."

One protestor said: "We are not boycotting Katie, we are not boycotting the play, we are protesting against Scientology.

"It is evil. Scientology kills people. It follows you home at night. It is perverted."

Tom Cruise - who is married to Katie and introduced her to the bizarre religion founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard - braved the mob to attend the performance.

The actor showed his support from the front row where he shared an embrace with 'Rain Man' co-star Dustin Hoffman.

Afterwards, a proud Tom smiled and said the show was "extraordinary".

Outside, the crowd had swelled to more than 150 fans who carried signs saying, "Well done Katie".

'All My Sons' - which also stars John Lithgow and Dianne Wiest - is scheduled to run until January 11, 2009.

Anonymous - who describe themselves as a "leaderless worldwide group of concerned citizens" - recently staged a protest at the Scientology Center in New York and have also been picketing outside the New Village Academy private school in Calabasas, California, which is funded by Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.