A still from the video of Ben Platt performing at The White House.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed Parade composer Jason Robert Brown and stars Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond to a White House event celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month, where they performed songs from the musical currently playing on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th Street). Watch the president and first lady’s speeches, and the stars’ performances, at this video link here.
Leo and Lucille Frank (Platt and Diamond) 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.
Parade is directed by Michael Arden, with book by Alfred Uhry, music and lyrics by Brown, and co-conceived by Harold Prince. Platt and Diamond lead a 33-person cast that features Alex Joseph Grayson as ‘Jim Conley,’ Sean Allan Krill as ‘Governor Slaton,’ Howard McGillin as ‘Old Soldier/Judge Roan,’ and Paul Alexander Nolan as ‘Hugh Dorsey.’ They will be joined by Jay Armstrong Johnson as ‘Britt Craig,’ Kelli Barrett as ‘Mrs. Phagan,’ Courtnee Carter as ‘Angela,’ Eddie Cooper as ‘Newt Lee,’ Erin Rose Doyle as ‘Mary Phagan,’ Tony Award nominee Manoel Felciano as ‘Tom Watson,’ Danielle Lee Greaves as ‘Minnie McKnight,’ Douglas Lyons as ‘Riley,’ and Jake Pedersen as ‘Frankie Epps.’
The Broadway Blog review for Parade noted, “Startling in its freshness and piercing in its performances, Parade has returned to Broadway offering one of the season’s most sophisticated scores and stories. Michel Arden’s lean production wastes no time, and neither should this review: this Parade, starring Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond, is richly sung, thrillingly paced, and unfortunately timely as antisemitism continues to plague our nation.”
Parade is playing at Broadway’s Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th Street) in a strictly limited engagement through Sunday, August 6 only. Previews started Tuesday, February 21 ahead of a Thursday, March 16 official opening night. This production first premiered at New York City Center where it was instantly sold out, playing November 1-6, 2022.
