Is there anything Katie Holmes can’t do? The actress made her heavily discussed Broadway debut in the revival of Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” on Thursday night and she even won praise for her performance in the play. Her biggest fan, nevertheless, was none other than her husband, Tom Cruise, who told PEOPLE how proud he was of his spouse.

Nonetheless, action started off even before the curtains went up in the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater, as a group of approximately 20 protesters mounted a demonstration against the Church of Scientology outside the theater. Nothing can hold Katie down, however.

Katie Holmes, 29, looked dazzling in a royal blue dress and appeared on stage next to renowned figures such as multiple Emmy Award and Tony Award winner John Lithgow, two-time Academy Award winner Dianne Wiest and Patrick Wilson.

Arthur Miller’s “All My Sons” portrays the story of a man (John Lithgow) who sells flawed airplane components to the Army, thus generating the death of 21 men. In spite of the fact that he claims his business partner is the one to be blamed for the so-called accident, all of his sins start haunting him when his son (Patrick Wilson) decides to tie the knot with his partner’s daughter (Katie Holmes).

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

Before the play began, he told People he was "so proud" of her.

Although previews for the play began on Thursday, the official opening is due for October 16.