Tom Cruise is really proud of Katie and so are critics. Katie Holmes’ much talked about Broadway debut took place on Thursday in the midst of anti-Scientology protests.

Although they were not demonstrating against the actress’ acting, more than two dozen picketers kept on shouting, “Free Katie, Keep Tom,” outside the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on Broadway just before the curtain rose.

However, nothing could hold Katie down, as she won critics’ acclaim for her performance in the revival of Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons.”

One could say that Tom Cruise, 46, the “Dawson Creek” star’s spouse, stole the show, as he was the main attraction of the evening, drawing a standing ovation from the audience, but Katie did not let down either. Dustin Hoffman also attended the heavily discussed play’s first preview and the “Mission: Impossible” celebrity did not fail to hug the fellow actor, who was sitting just a few rows away.

Katie Holmes, 29, looked stunning in a royal blue dress and appeared on stage next to prominent figures such as multiple Emmy Award and Tony Award winner John Lithgow, two-time Academy Award winner Dianne Wiest and Patrick Wilson. In spite of the A-list cast, Katie did not disappoint her fans and even surpassed all expectations.

When asked how he felt about his wife’s performance, Tom Cruise, a member of the Church of Scientology, stopped for a few seconds while he was trying to make his way through the crowd and told The Associated Press: “Did you see it? ... It was extraordinary.”

Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” depicts the story of a man (John Lithgow) who provides the Army with flawed airplane components, thus causing the death of 21 men. Even though he claims his business partner is to be considered guilty for the supposed accident, all of his misdeeds start haunting him when his son (Patrick Wilson) decides to marry his partner’s daughter (Katie Holmes).

The official opening of the play is scheduled for October 16 and the play, which was first staged on Broadway in 1947, is due to run until January 11.