Parade was performed in the Nuffield Theatre from 7th-9th December 2016

Cast and Crew

Director - Robbie Love
Musical Director - Alex Hardgrave
Producers- Katherine Dodds & Abi Beaven
Assistant Producer: Jack Whitmore
Stage Managers- Abbie Jones, Luke Morgan & Laurence Bickerton
Lighting Assistants: Trisha Mistry and Shaun Dempsy
Sound Designer: Stephen Robinson
Sound Assistant: Matthew Mann
Set Design Assistant: Emma Turner
Props Assistant: Beth Slater
Costume Assistants: Georgina Timms and Pauline Muszi
Make Up Assistant: Rachel Melvin
Backstage Assistants: Abigail Dutton & Andrew Lay
Assistant Musical Producer: Chris Holloway

Band
Violin: Harry Messenger 
Viola: Daniel Alcaraz Carriba
Bass: Matt Carter
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet: Emma Pritchard
Horn : Rob Richardson
Percussion: Katie Dodsworth-Lilley
Cello: Charlotte Page

Leo Frank: Josh Utting
Lucille Frank: Jess Turton
Jim Conley/Riley: Eduardo Medina
Newt Lee/Minnie McKnight/Angela 1: Charity Bedu-Addo
Mary Phagan: Cat Hitchcock
Frankie/Young Soldier: Matt Dobie
Hugh Dorsey/Old Soldier: Jamie Lonsdale
Britt Craig/Jack Slaton/Mr Peavy: Ewen Roberts
Tom Watson/Detective Starnes: Katie Marrin
Judge Roan/Ensemble: Freddie Evans
Mrs Phagan/Sally Slaton: Sophie Goodman
Angela 2/Ensemble: Nia Shuler
Luther Rosser/Officer Ivey: Jordan Summerfield
Iola Stover/Ensemble: Shannon Lenton
Monteen/Ensemble: Sarah Redford
Essie/Ensemble: Lucy Unsworth
Ensemble: Naomi Chidambaram, Clare Fletcher, Viktor Hristov, Minji Kim, Emily Millard

With a book by acclaimed playwright Alfred Uhry (‘Driving Miss Daisy’) and a rousing, colourful and haunting score by Jason Robert Brown (‘Songs for a New World’, ‘The Last Five Years’, ‘Bridges of Madison County’), ‘Parade’ is a moving examination of the darkest corners of America’s history.

In 1913, Leo Frank, a Brooklyn-raised Jew living in Georgia, is put on trial for the murder of 13 year old Mary Phagan. Already guilty in the eyes of everyone around him, a sensationalist journalist and a caretaker’s false testimony seal Leo’s fate. His only defenders are a governor with a conscience and, eventually, his southern wife who finds the strength and love to become his greatest champion.

Daring, innovative and bold, ‘Parade’ is filled with soaring music and a heart-wrenching story, offering a moral lesson about the dangers of xenophobia, prejudice and ignorance that should not be forgotten.

"You are coming home, Leo. It's only a matter of time" - Lucille Frank

Publicity & Trailer

Rehearsal Photos

Performance

Review

Based on a true story, this Toni award winning musical presented by LUTG is definitely going to be pulling at a few heart strings this week.
Transporting us to 1913 Georgia, Frankie (Matt Dobie) bookends this musical with confident and engaging solos showing just one perspective of the journey we are taken on. And it wasn’t just the performance; the fantastic manipulation of minimal set allows us to hop seamlessly between the cute playing flirtation of Frankie and Mary Phagan (Cat Hitchcock) and the all too real tensions of marriage between Leo (Josh Utting) and Lucille Frank (Jess Turton). It’s fair to say I was invested in them all from the beginning.
Like Frankie, I felt I was just getting to know little Mary when things are shaken beyond what we’re expecting. I’ll be surprised if there’s a dry eye in the audience at this point particularly after Matt’s passionate response to tragedy. Again, the actors did a fantastic job but the goosebumps from the suspended violin and the chill of the lighting effects combined with the atmospheric stage smoke leave no doubt of the acute pain of friendship and loss.
But it’s not all pain and loss as Ewen Roberts presents a comedic performance among tragedy as a very believable drunk. It’s almost like he’s practiced in the art, or maybe just got a quick tipple from the band backstage. Having said that, I must congratulate Musical Director, Alex Hardgrave, because the band were on point throughout the show with so much music to learn and thankfully, what happens backstage, stays backstage. I don’t know how they did it with such a music heavy show and so little time.
Shortly after, we got to explore the real meaning of justice and racism as each witness certainly brought the courtroom to life. I was amazed at the beautiful voice of Cat Hitchcock as little Mary made her return in the statements while simultaneously disturbed by the uncomfortable account from the factory workers involving Leo Frank and driven close to tears by the gut wrenching cry from Mrs Phagan (Sophie Goodman). The question is what’s the verdict?
Cue the interval before diving straight back into the tensions of Leo and Lucille Frank and the challenges of being in love and being in prison. Throughout this act they present a dynamic duo of the little hope we can find in this musical. These challenges are only made more real as convicts coming in from the audience force us to make our own decisions on justice, topped with a fantastic and suave solo from Jim Conley (Eduardo Medina) as we decide.
We are indulged with one more glimmer of hope between Leo and Lucille as their trials of love continue and by this point, I just wanted to run on stage and join their picnic it was so adorable. An incredibly moving performance of love through near impossible circumstances to the gorgeous backdrop of All the Wasted Time. If you’re not an emotional wreck by this point, you’re doing better than me. This constant search and struggle for justice is enough to stir anyone.
After starting this musical just seven weeks ago, it all came together from the directing and producing of Robbie Love, Katherine Dodds and Abi Beaven respectively, right down to the very semiquavers of the clarinet part, every detail was thought of. I for one am very much looking forward to opening night when every little quirk is ironed out and the rest of the audience are transported to a very emotional 1913 Georgia. If I had to pick a man of the match? That’s a tough one when in all honesty, everyone came together for a great show but I have to say, it’s a close call between the truly standout performances from Josh Utting as principal man, Leo Frank and Harry Messenger on violin. But you will have to make your own verdict as it is well worth a watch. The only question is, who killed Mary Phagan?

-Written by Abi Andrews