PARADE Broadway revival review | 2023 musical production starring Ben Platt, Micaela Diamond

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I saw a production a few years ago, where Leo was left hanging. The cast took their bows. The actor playing Leo Frank didn't. It was incredible. The Audience was so lost and didn't know what to do. The final image was the actor playing Leo just hanging until the Audience left

The hanging scene means so much more from a cultural sense. As a Jew watching, when he recites the Shema it literally took my breath away. The prayer he says is one that is said daily by practicing Jews, and is only supposed to be said out loud on Yom Kippur and right before death. It was truly shocking and emotional, but I wish that other elements of staging (like the ones you discussed) emphasized that for those who don't understand.

I actually live in the town where Leo Frank was lynched, and it was great to see this part of history put into a show. I hope it reaches more people, especially in these times.

Beautiful review - I haven’t seen the production so I can’t fully speak to what you say around 11:20, but I can say as a Jewish man that leaning on and leading with humor despite being the depths of something tragic is a very Jewish trait.

I saw the ORIGINAL Bway production with Brent Carver and Carolee Carmello 25 years ago - it was the final preview and I almost literally ran into Stephen Sondheim in the lobby prior to the show. I was too tongue-tied to say a word!

This show hits incredibly different when you're from the South...I felt the emotions so deeply (more than expected) and there were literally moments when I was moved to tears. The score, the staging, the direction, the orchestrations--so masterfully done.

In the funeral sequence during the 4/5/23 show Frankie instead of sung screamed with such intense anger and vitriol during the lyrics Let him quiver in his boots! Let him run until he bleeds! I won’t rest until I know He’s burning in the ragin’ fires of Hell forevermore! It was bone chilling and gave so much more meaning to when he says “god forgive me what I think/wish right now.”

I NEED Michaela Diamond to break through the big names and land a lead actress Tony nod. She more than deserves!

micheal arden is a GENIUS! saw him in hunchback and saw his direction of once on this island (and spring awakening thru bootlegs shh) and he better get a tony for this. he deserves it!

At some point, maybe after the trip, will you talk a bit in general terms about the experience of going to the theatre in NY vs. London? I always like the "what is the experience like at this venue" part of your London reviews.

I saw Michael Arden’s Spring Awakening (also referred to as Deaf Awakening) in LA before the transfer to NYC and he is absolutely incredible. So glad he is behind this revival as well. I never saw his revival of Once On This Island, though I heard great things. It seems he profoundly understands the responsibility in revitalizing these works and he has such an incredible perspective.

I ushered this show yesterday and got to see it for a second time! The talent in this cast’s acting but especially their vocal ability in the mains and supporting cast is incredible! So glad you got to see it for your visit!❤

The acting was great, but Jake Pedersen as Frankie, the boy who like Mary, was simply amazing. His song, and the anger he showed had me tearing up. Micaela Diamond was also brilliant. Ben Platte was also great, but his role almost felt ancillary to the story, which was more about what was done to him, not what he experienced being done to him.

I’m friends with Alex Joseph Greyson, he CRUSHES it in this show! I’d love to see him get a Tony nomination

The Most Heartbreakingly Beautiful Show.

Another few stand-outs for me are Eddie Cooper who plays Newt Lee the night watchman - he doesn’t get long in the spotlight but was one of the highlights of the night for me. Also loved Jake Pederson playing Frankie Epps - I believe he took over the role from Gaten Matarazzo which is a big name to follow. His character is probably the most broad and he gave me chills when we see him switch from playful and carefree in the beginning to this vengeful ball of rage at the funeral. Really blew me away. SO grateful that the cast recording was released the day I happened to see the show 🙌🏻

Saw it at NYCC and will again in April. Absolutely fantastic!! There is a place for juke-box musicals but it's a true treat to see a deep meaningful yet entertaining one. I think that Ben and Micaela's voices blend so well in strength, timbre, intent. Lucille was written with a lot more personal growth than Leo. Ben plays it true to Leo and is very nuanced and deliberate with his acting choices. The recording really shows that as well as his control of his instrument. I am not Jewish but I understand the significance of the final song, and his clear voice strongly resonates with his understanding and his courage with what is about to happen. When it's broken off abruptly as he falls, I was in tears and gasped along with everyone around me (even though I knew it was going to happen)! The supporting cast is really wonderful, too! I hope Ben and Micaela are both nominated (I'm rooting for Ben to win - I think it will be an uphill battle for Micaela against Annaleigh)! BTW, yes, Ben closes his eyes a lot when doing his own songs, etc. but there is no indication at all of that during the show. Thanks for this well-thought-out review, MickeyJo!

I was lucky enough to see the show a few weeks ago, and being a theatre student (going with fellow theatre students) we picked up on a LOT of techniques that are really similar to theatre practitioner Brecht, everything down to the costumes was strikingly brechtian and as a practitioner Brecht strove for the theatre to carry a message (he even said he wanted the audience to "hang up their coats not their brains") so I think that slight lack of emotional energy you mentioned really works within that lens of a Brechtian style, which, I'd be surprised if it wasn't intentional Genuinely one of the absolute best shows I've ever seen (was actually my first BWay show) and the way it emotionally resonates and exposes this story is fantastic, would be very surprised if there weren't any Tony wins for Parade.

Hello from San Francisco! My BFF Doug Gordy and I saw the original production of Parade at Lincoln Center in 1998 (must double check that year) with Brent Carver and Carolee Carmello. Loved it then, and I've been a big fan of B. Platt since I was privileged to see him early in the run of DEH. I was very excited to see him and Michaela Diamond in Parade at City Center during its week-long run at the beginning of Nov. 2022. And... I guess I'm grateful I did; they and the entire cast were brilliant. But the set design was such that although I was in THE FRONT ROW I missed much of the action. I'm a leetle (sic) annoyed about that. MJ, you make a valid point about the lack of emo during the lynching. I'm a Jewish woman, and I've done some other reading about the Frank case. According to at least one report, on his way to what he knew would be his murder -- a seven hour drive through Georgia backwoods -- he said, "I think more of my wife and my mother than I do of my life." Finally (until the amphetamines kick in) (JK), Bridges is also brilliant score, but while Parade is raised up by the story, while Bridges comes with the baggage of the original novel.