Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond to star in NYCC Gala presentation of Parade — Page 9

dramamama611 said: "Saturday matinee, front balcony, very close to center.

I liked this. Quite a bit, but did not love - which surprised me.

Things I loved: Micaela Diamond - can't wait to see her future, Alex Joseph Grayson , the basic story, the score

Things I didnt: the staging (such a waste of space beyond the center piece), the ensemble vocals, the sound work - many mics were brought up late and vocals sounded very muddy to me, the pacing of the lynching, the book (where I feel most of the problems lie.)

I found Platt to be in between...other than his overly present vibrato, he sounded good. However, I found his acting choices to be...well...non-existent. No urgency, little energy. Even an awkward mensch needs to LIVE. (And can I say, how lacking in anti-semetic feeling this had? Almost like very few cared/noticed he WAS Jewish, except for the one overt time during the trial.)

GLAD I saw it, not sure I'd go back, should it transfer. But, I might.


This is pretty much how I felt seeing it today. I did think most of the cast was extraordinary, but was slightly underwhelmed by Platt. I have to hedge that by saying, he is still remarkable - and I could feel the emotion and believe he embodied Leo Frank, but perhaps it wasn’t the way I expected Leo Frank to be - which may have less to do with Platt and more to do with the story or direction. I wanted more of a character arc rather than how I perceived it was played - on a straight plane.

The real standouts, to me: Alex Joseph Grayson, Michaela Diamond and Gaten (others were great, as well, but those three popped).

The story is a bit thin, I felt - I hadn’t seen it before, and some of the songs were so-so. I actually liked the staging. I liked the platform and the feel of the other cast members in the chair, like spectators in a courtroom. I agree that the sound was just off to me. At times the musicians were too loud or the mics weren’t working right, or something. A couple of songs, the words were drowned out.

I am 100% glad I went and I might be intrigued to see it again, if it transferred, but I am also content in having seen it once.

But oh…the talent….they are all true stars.

Saw this magnificent production on Thursday and have been collecting my thoughts ever since. It led me down the Parade rabbit hole once again. Gosh some stories just captivate you and this is one.

I thought Ben was great. He brought a real sensitivity to Leo that I have not felt since watching Brent Carver. I also thought he pulled himself back the right amount vocally. Didn't oversing it, but still sounded the best I've heard him live.

Micaela Diamond is truly one of our brightest new talents in the theatre community. Her performance was beyond her years in every way. Her Lucille had an awkwardness to her with such a developed sense of strength as she faced each horror thrown upon her and her husband. To hear Ben and Micaela sing together was spine-tingling.

The rest of the cast was uniformly wonderful. I must shoutout the young actress playing Mary Phagan. I thought she had a beautiful voice. All of the young women playing factory workers did. Gaten, too, was wonderful. So glad he is actively pursuing theatre still.

Paul Alexander Nolan was so fantastic - I wanted to just tear him to pieces. What a cruel, cruel character. Jay Armstrong Johnson was good, but not great. Alex Joseph Grayson - WOW. What a powerhouse. That's how you do it, folks.

Always thrilling to see these runs at City Center. There's a feeling of lightning in a bottle at them. So lucky we get to see them. And with JRB conducting that STELLAR orchestra? Cherry on top.

Bravo, Michael Arden.

I heard it is not transferring

Call_me_jorge said: "After that Nepo babies New Yorker article, I wouldn’t be shocked if Ben wanted to take a step back out of the limelight for a few years."

That article is such a load of nothing for these people. Sure some of them were "exposed" as nepo babies, but all of the most famous ones, including Ben, have been getting press about it for YEARS and have been doing just fine.

If all the nepo baby coverage for the Dear Evan Hansen movie didn't tank him, this article won't.

where is it going?? when?

A new Dave Malloy musical directed by Chavkin and choreographed by Tayeh? Sign me up. Wonder what it could be about, is it another epic story, like Great Comet and Moby Dick?

Add me to the list of folk who've heard from someone who is receiving a paycheck from the production that it is transferring. Grain of salt obviously.

SouthernCakes said: "Daddy does have money and connections."

Marc Platt has no involvement with this production. Same with the stage production of DEH.

pollster2 said: "Limited run on Broadway starting in April 2023."

Damn I'll be there in March, any idea how short the run will be?

pollster2 said: "Limited run on Broadway starting in April 2023."

I asked my agent friend with clients in the NYCC production and he said news to me on a transfer as he hasn't negotiated contracts for a Broadway transfer. Then he said, I guess then they're securing a theater so I'll let you know once that's set unless you're hearing just rumors on the site?

SouthernCakes said: "Daddy does have money and connections."

Yeah, such wise insight. Sure, this Encores production was totally sold out and received rave reviews across the board, but its really just that hack Ben Platt's daddy pulling strings for him again! So unfair!

SouthernCakes said: "You love to imply so much with my posts. Never said the man isn’t talented. Just stating he’s had a very big leg up given his father’s career. Same for his brother and his bestie, Beanie. Thems the facts.


I think the word you're looking for is "infer" (not imply).

Also, do you hold people such as Liza Minnelli, Lucie Arnaz, Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave, Jane Fonda, Mamie Gummer, Michael Douglas, etc etc to those same standards? They all had rich and famous parents. Or is it mainly the "Jewish thing" that puts those bees in your bonnet about Platt and Feldstein??