 Parade
A Musical in 2 Acts. Book by Alfred Uhry. Music and lyrics by Jason
Robert Brown. Co-conceived and directed by Harold Prince.
- Choreographed by Patricia Birch.
- Settings by Riccardo Hernandez.
- Costumes by Judith Dolan.
- Lighting by Howell Binkley.
- Sound by Jonathan Deans.
- Musical supervision and direction, Eric Stern.
- Orchestrations by Don Sebesky.
Vivian Beaumont Theatre, New York - Opened 17 December, 1998; closed
28 February, 1999 (84 perfs.)
SYNOPSIS
The story of Parade is true,
centering on the 1913 "Trial of the Century" in which Leo
Frank, a Brooklyn-born Jew living in Atlanta, was falsely accused of
killing Mary Phagan, a young girl working in the factory he managed.
Leo was railroaded through a trial, found guilty and sentenced to hang.
His wife, Lucille, launched a heroic campaign to save his life, eventually
convincing the Governor to overturn the death sentence — only
to have a mob of vigilantes drag Leo from prison in the middle of the
night and lynch him.
The show's title refers to the annual parade held on Confederate Memorial
Day, for it was on that day in 1913 that the murder took place. The parade
(which is seen at the start, middle and end of the musical to mark the
passing of years) was a rallying point for proud Southerners still affected
by their defeat in the Civil War.
Public outcry over the little girl's death was easily stirred up by
political opportunists and a rabid press. Small wonder that Georgians
were quick to condemn an outsider like Leo Frank and take justice into
their own hands.
At the forefront of this tragic tale is a heartbreaking love story.
Before the trial, Leo and Lucille Frank were formal and restrained with
one another.
When the crisis exploded around them, they both emerged stronger despite
the struggle, discovering a deep passion for each other that they had
not known before. "All the Wasted Time," their duet towards
the end of the show, is a sublime expression of grown-up love.
-THOMAS COTT
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