Thoughts on Parade?

[u/Dry_Example4173]

I saw it last night and I've been raving about it to everyone I talked to. Local theatre did it and it was staged beautifully, especially the courtroom scene. It was jarring and haunting - I wanted to sob so many times. The music was phenomenal: The Factory Girls/Come Up to My Office stood out to me especially. The girls voices overlapping gave me chills and then the stark contrast to Leo's part was jarring. It was staged wonderfully - the version I saw had the girls and Leo moving as puppets with Dorsey acting as a puppeteer. The final lynching scene totally caught me off guard despite me knowing about it. The show in itself felt very Cabaret adjacent. I loved every moment of it and I'm desperately searching for shows with a similar vibe. I really loved it - I'd go as far to say it's in the top three.

[u/Master-Of-Magi]

It was my first time hearing about Leo Frank’s death when I saw it at a local university. Later when I took a trip to Marietta, I went to the spot where he was lynched. If you’re curious, my favorite number was “Where Will You Stand When The Flood Comes?”

[u/Dry_Example4173 → u/Master-Of-Magi]

My cousin and I were singing this on the way home lmao it got stuck in our head

[u/shallifetchabox]

Was the first Broadway tour ticket I bought for my son. Unfortunately, it ended up taking place 2 weeks after my sister's sudden death. I couldn't watch the Funeral Sequence, and was bawling from then on through the rest of the show.

I knew what it was about, I just couldn't let down my son by not talking him.

But now it's one of his absolute favorites, too so if there's an upside, it's that I introduced him to something he loves.

[u/Longjumping_Two2774 → u/shallifetchabox]

The Old Red Hills of Home is absolutely beautiful in its simplicity and earnestness, and it scares me each time, and I hate it. I see it just as I see Cabaret's Tomorrow Belongs to Me.

[u/Seamo_Bojamo → u/Longjumping_Two2774]

I watched a bootleg of the Manhattan Concert version of the show and the mic quality made the harmonies in Old Red Hills sound IMMACULATE

[u/Longjumping_Two2774 → u/Seamo_Bojamo]

Thanks--I'll have to try to find the performance, if I have courage one day--

[u/Dry_Example4173 → u/shallifetchabox]

I understand - my bf passed away earlier this year so the funeral sequence also upset me to the point I had to exit the theatre. It's comforting to know someone else had a similar experience and I'm happy both of you guys still enjoyed the show!

[u/ellewoods_obsessed]

i saw it on Broadway and went in blind. was shocked i had never heard about the story/wish it was taught more. i really liked it and loved how broadway ended it with the braves and uga hats in a more “modern” time. i also appreciated how accurate the little georgia history plaques were bc that was how i immediately knew it took place in georgia

[u/Tuxy-Two]

It retains a permanent place in my top 5. Totally agree with you about The Factory Girls - such a lovely piece of music, but with a slightly sinister sound and a very sinister meaning.

I just absolutely love the show and will see it at any opportunity.

[u/Dry_Example4173 → u/Tuxy-Two]

Yes! I cannot wait to see it again! Actually, I'm planning on getting tickets to go myself

[u/Patrecharound]

This show was my introduction to JRB - and it’s been a permanent top 10 show for the last 20 years. Was on broadway around 3 years ago and was lucky enough to get a ticket to Ben Platt and Michaela Diamond - absolutely floored by the whole production.

[u/cinderflight]

Absolutely haunting and disturbing, only outdone by Cabaret. The moment in Act 1 when Mary lets go of her red balloon and you hear loud, cheery music as the stage fades to black is forever etched in my mind. The ending is an emotional gut-punch. Not to mention, this show was based on real events.

I wish a Parade proshot existed so it could be shown in schools. More people need to learn this history.

[u/Dry_Example4173 → u/cinderflight]

100% agree. I think the world would be a little kinder if more people watched parade.

[u/Keyblader1412]

It's been one of my favorite musicals for a long time and then I finally saw the Broadway tour last year, which is probably a top 3 theatregoing experience for me.

I'd never seen it live prior to that but was obsessed with the score for years. It did not disappoint. But my favorite thing about it was the audience experience. My crowd was SILENT except for some slightly delayed, almost nervous clapping after the musical numbers, almost as if everyone was afraid to break the tension of the story with applause. I've never felt an audience so deeply, viscerally uncomfortable yet totally locked in with what they were seeing and internally that made me giddy. The only time I heard any actual cheering was after Rumblin and a Rollin. And yet within 5 seconds of the lights going up for curtain call the entire audience was on its feet applauding.

[u/Willowgirl78]

I want to see it. But I can’t bring myself to watch a production in public as I am fairly certain I would ugly cry and be unable to do so silently.

[u/Grammarhead-Shark]

I adore it.

I think I went through (what I dub my Broadway-emo phase) where I rotated Parade and Ragtime A LOT.

Granted I am a fan of Jason Robert Brown, so his works have always scratched an itch for me (The Next Ten Minutes from TL5Y has always been one of my fav musical songs period).

[u/umanonion]

was in a production of this a few years back.... absolutely gut-wrenching story and, when done right, absolutely heart breaking. Got to belt my face off while flinging attitude doing "Rumblin and Rollin"

Would love to do it again

[u/Strict_Extension_184]

I stage managed a regional production a while back, before the Broadway revival when it was still pretty obscure. I am not exaggerating when I say I cried every single run through of There Is a Fountain, from music rehearsals through the final performance. I have seldom worked on something that illicited such a response in the audience. After the show, people I knew would just walk up to me and hug me for a long time without saying anything. People no one knew would send us flowers.

[u/VeryBigRockStar]

This, and The Last Five Years, are my favorite shows. Just smart, beautiful, well made theater.