Parade Review – The Lessons of History

The true story of Leo Frank’s arrest, conviction, and death sentence for murder in 1913 in Georgia – and subsequent mob lynching – still holds a fascination which led to the creation of a musical in 1998 with book by Alfred Uhry, who had a keen personal connection: his great-uncle owned the pencil factory run by Leo Frank where the murder occurred. With music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, PARADE premiered on Broadway in December 1998 and won two Tony awards for best book and best original score. The first major United Kingdom production of PARADE starring Bertie Carvel and Leo Frank and Lara Pulver as his wife was in 2007. In 2008, both stars were nominated for best actor and actress in a musical. The UK production transferred to the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles in 2009, where it played for two months. Thereafter, PARADE gathered dust until 2023, when the production was revived on Broadway and won the Tony award for best revival of a musical. In 2025, the Ahmanson Theatre is proud to present PARADE.

Talia Suskauer and Max Chernin – Photo by Joan Marcus

The time is mostly 1913, and the place is Atlanta, Georgia. Brooklynite Leo Frank (Max Chernin) has moved to Atlanta to accept a lucrative position as manager of a large pencil factory. Since his wife Lucille hails from Atlanta, their new home seems like the perfect choice – even if Jewish Leo feels like an outsider in the tight-knit conservative Southern city. But the couple have settled in and seem comfortable – until the unthinkable happens: Mary Phagan, a 13-year-old factory worker, is raped and murdered in the factory’s basement. Police immediately look for suspects – and Yankee Jewish Leo Frank and his African American security guard/janitor fit the bill to a T. When Governor John Slayton tells detectives and prosecutor to find the killer as soon as possible, they pick the well-educated, Jewish, Northerner Leo Frank because, after all, what’s another Black man being accused of the murder of a white girl going to get them? And so Frank’s and Lucille’s lives are changed overnight. In the midst of the worse years of Frank’s life, Frank and Lucille finally fall in love, a bittersweet reward for both.

Prentiss Mouton and Oluchi Nwaokorie – Photo by Joan Marcus

Skillfully directed by Michael Arden with musical direction by Charlie Alterman, PARADE features lyrics that tell the story and some very clever and complex music – perhaps not memorable music, but nonetheless powerful music. Kudos to Chernin and Suskauer, who have the commanding voices to match. When the entire large ensemble cast get together on the stage, singing and dancing their hearts out, the very walls tremble. The creative team does an excellent job of bringing 1913 to life – including Dane Laffrey’s scenic design, Susan Hilferty’s and Mark Koss’ costumes, Tom Watson’s hair and wig design, Sven Ortel’s projections, Heather Gilbert’s lighting, and Jon Weston’s sound. All in all, this is a highly creative and competent production and clearly a well-planned team effort.

Chris Shyer, Alison Ewing, and PARADE cast – Photo by Joan Marcus

PARADE is a fascinating, thought-provoking, and timely examination of history, racism, parochialism, and anti-Semitism coupled with love, justice, and devotion. Don’t forget that the trial of Leo Frank led to a revival of the defunct KKK – but also the birth of the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish civil rights organization which still exists today. The entire package is wrapped in often intense lyrics – and lovely music which pervades the theater.

PARADE ensemble cast – Photo by Joan Marcus

PARADE runs through July 12, 2025, with performances at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays, at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Sundays. The Ahmanson Theatre is located in the Music Center, 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Tickets begin at $40.25. For information and reservations, call 213-628-2772 or go online.