What Do Critics Think of Parade Starring Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond? | Playbill

The Verdict What Do Critics Think of Parade Starring Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond?

The production is directed by Michael Arden and conducted by Jason Robert Brown.

Micaela Diamond and Ben Platt Joan Marcus

Reviews are in for the first-ever Broadway revival of Jason Robert Brown and Alfred Uhry's Parade, which opened at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre March 16 after beginning previews February 21. The limited engagement continues through August 6 with Michael Arden at the helm.

The production comes to Broadway following a 2022 run at New York City Center. Much of the cast from that production has continued to Broadway, including Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond as Leo and Lucille Frank, respectively.

Also returning from the City Center run are Alex Joseph Grayson as Jim Conley, Sean Allan Krill as Governor Slaton, Paul Alexander Nolan as Hugh Dorsey, Jay Armstrong Johnson as Britt Craig, Courtnee Carter as Angela, Eddie Cooper as Newt Lee, Erin Rose Doyle as Mary Phagan, Manoel Felciano as Tom Watson, Danielle Lee Greaves as Minnie McKnight, Douglas Lyons as Riley, Florrie Bagel as Nurse, Max Chernin as Mr. Turner, Christopher Gurr as Luther Rosser/Mr. Peavy, Ashlyn Maddox as Monteen and Others, Sophia Manicone as Iola Stover, William Michals as Detective Starnes, and Jackson Teeley as Officer Ivey.

Both Howard McGillin and Stacie Bono are also continuing with the company, but in new roles; McGillin has replaced John Dossett as Old Soldier/Judge Roan, and Stacie Bono replaces Jennifer Laura Thompson as Sally Slaton.

New to the company for the Broadway bow are Jake Pedersen as Frankie Epps, Kelli Barrett as Mrs. Phagan, Emily Rose DeMartino as Essie and others, Beth Kirkpatrick as Nina Formby, and Charlie Webb as Young Soldier. Rounding out the company as swings are Harry Bouvy, Tanner Callicutt, Bailee Endebrock, Caroline Fairweather, Prentiss E. Mouton, and Aurelia Williams, along with standby Ryan Vona.

Read the reviews here. 

The Associated Press (Mark Kennedy)*

The Chicago Tribune (Chris Jones)* 

CitiTour NY (Brian Lipton) 

The Daily Beast (Tim Teeman)

Deadline (Greg Evans) 

Entertainment Weekly (Emlyn Travis)

The Guardian (Adrian Horton) 

The New York Times (Jesse Green)*

New York Stage Review (Steven Suskin, Bob Verini)

New York Sun (Elysa Gardner)

New York Theatre Guide (Joe Dziemianowicz)

The New York Post (Johnny Oleksinski)

TheaterMania (Hayley Levitt) 

Theatrely (Kobi Kassal)

TimeOut NY (Adam Feldman)

Variety (Frank Rizzo) 

The Washington Post (Peter Marks)*

The Wrap (Robert Hofler)*

The Wall Street Journal (Charles Isherwood)* 

*This review requires creating a free account or a paid subscription.

Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.

Parade tells the true story of Leo Frank, a Jewish man who was wrongfully accused and convicted of murdering a 13-year-old girl in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1913. It features a score by Brown and a book by Uhry.

Originally directed by Harold Prince, the musical premiered on Broadway in 1998, receiving nine Tony nominations and winning two, for its book and score. In the years since, a major revision premiered at London's Donmar Warehouse in 2007, which later played Los Angeles' Mark Taper Forum in 2009. The revival uses the revisions from the work's London premiere. The sold-out gala engagement at New York City Center ran November 1–6, 2022, with Brown conducting the orchestra. Read reviews for that run here.

Arden's creative team has largely been reunited for the Broadway bow, with music director Tom Murray, scenic designer Dane Laffrey, costume designer Susan Hilferty, lighting designer Heather Gilbert, projection designer Sven Ortel, and hair and wig designer Tom Watson reprising their work. Christopher Cree Grant, who choreographed the City Center run, is joined by co-choreographer (and wife) Lauren Yalango-Grant. Newly joining the team are sound designer Jon Weston and production stage manager Justin Scribner. The production is cast by The Telsey Office's Craig Burns, who also handled the City Center run.

Parade's Broadway run is produced by Seaview and Ambassador Theatre Group, along with co-producers Alex Levy, Kevin Ryan, Eric & Marsi Gardiner, Interscope & Immersive Records, Erica Lynn Schwartz, Creative Partners Productions, Marcia Goldberg, John Gore Organization, Cynthia Stroum, Tom Tuft, Benjamin Simpson, Nathan Vernon, Brian & Nick Ginsberg, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Roth-Manella Productions, Chutzpah Productions, 42nd.Club, Ahava 72 Productions, The Andryc Brothers, The Array, At Rise Creative, Caiola Jenen Productions, Coles Achilles, DeRoy Brunish Productions, Fakston Productions, Federman Batchelder, Pencil Factory Productions, Renard Lynch, Robin Merrie, Rubin Stuckelman, Runyonland Sussman, Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Bee Carrozzini, and New York City Center.

Visit ParadeBroadway.com.

See Ben Platt, Micaela Diamond, More in Parade at New York City Center

 
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