Parade Broadway 2023, a revival of the Tony Award-winning musical set in the true story of Leo Frank, is a beautiful love story about truly seeing each other and the terrible consequences of not seeing.
Parade Broadway 2023
Parade Broadway 2023, a revival of the Tony Award-winning musical about truly seeing each other, stars Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond at the Jacobs Theatre on Broadway from March 16 – August 6, 2023. 🇺🇸
The official synopsis is: “Leo and Lucille Frank are a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in the old red hills of Georgia. When Leo is accused of an unspeakable crime, it propels them into an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice and devotion. Riveting and gloriously hopeful, PARADE reminds us that to love, we must truly see one another.”
Ben Platt is an Emmy, Grammy and Tony award winner. Micaela Diamond is a rising star who has a beautiful voice and is an inspiring actress.
The musical is directed by Michael Arden (Once on This Island – Best Revival Tony winner). The revival comes from New York City Center, which is famous for producing revivals that jump to Broadway.
It’s different from the typical Broadway musical. It’s a beautiful love story set inside ugly events that happened in the United States not so long ago.
The story is relevant because these types of tragedies are starting to happen again in our own country. Politicians and preachers have learned that the more outrageous they are on social media, the more news and donations they get. So they spout the most outrageous conspiracy theories ~ which they don’t even believe themselves. Unfortunately, the real life consequences can be tragic.
It’s time to take a deep breath and get real. Parade Broadway 2023 is a beautiful deep breath.
Get tickets at paradebroadway.com
The Story of Leo and Lucille Frank
The musical is based on the true story of Leo and Lucille Frank, Jewish newlyweds starting their life together in rural Georgia. Leo was a factory boss who was accused of murdering a young girl who worked in the factory.
Based largely on testimony by the person historians now consider the actual murderer, Frank was convicted. It was appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The trial generated a lot of publicity, to which Georgians of the time responded with virulent antisemitism. When the Governor of Georgia commuted Frank’s sentence from death to life imprisonment, a mob that included Georgia politicians, kidnapped Frank and lynched him in 1915.
The case led to a resurgence of a violent white supremacy group, and the formation of the Anti-Defamation League. Historians generally consider Frank to be innocent of the charges. He was posthumously pardoned by the government of Georgia.
That’s some heavy stuff, but the musical is a beautiful love story filled with hope. That’s the message of a people who have been persecuted horribly. We still have hope and invite you to join us in hope.
By the way, this isn’t only a Jewish story, it’s an American story that should resonate for all of us. Love makes the world go round. This is not over yet.