Jason Robert Brown's Parade starring Euan Morton in D.C.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 8/18/11 at 2:30pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-First-Look-at-Euan-Morton-and-Jenny-Fellner-in-Ford-Theatres-PARADE-20110818

Ok...why didn't I know about this?! I friggin' love Euan Morton!

[mallardo]

Posted: 8/18/11 at 7:27pm

And congrats to Jenny Fellner. A nice step up to leading lady in a great show.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 12:09am

I love Euan Morton. I have always wanted to see a production of PARADE. There's cheap buses to D.C. = Soooo beyond thrilled!

[regnad kcin]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 12:59pm

This looks lie it will be a wonderful production. Much of the supporting cast are Signature Theatre regulars, and are terrific. I'm curious why this show did not fare better on Broadway. Was it just too dark (a la Scottsboro Boroys) for tourists?

[dreaming]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 1:01pm

Hmmm. I really am considering making a trip to see this. (Does this have any shot at a transfer? I love Euan Morton.)

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 1:32pm

Well, regnad, the show was a coproduction between Livent and Lincoln Center. Long story short, Livent went bankrupt and Lincoln Center didn't have the funds to keep it open. Which was not helped by the fact that the show received a very tepid response from several critics, including the dreaded Brantley.

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 2:04pm

I am already lookign at bus and train schedules to DC.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 2:08pm

Take the Bolt Bus. About $20 each way, IIRC. Cheapest, easiest means of travel.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 2:50pm

So stoked for this- bought tickets way back in May! I think it's so fantastic Ford's Theatre is finally bridging out beyond dinner-theatre tourist fare. Not that they aren't good at that, but they do tend to be rather safe in their choices. I'm really really excited to see what they do with this, and I hope it brings in enough of a crowd that their bravery will be rewarded for the sake of further endeavors.

[sorano916]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 4:16pm

Ford's Theatre has a really good Under 35 program. Tickets are only $15. I just bought mine today. :)

[charlesjguiteau]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 5:49pm

@ regnad, Seems to me there were several reasons Parade failed at Lincoln Center back in '98. Let's face it, a show about bigotry and anti-semitism in Atlanta in the 1920's was never going to be a smash hit, but the Prince production seemed to have a few more points working against it: though Leo and Lucille were played by consummate pros, I never felt much chemistry in the love story onstage, such as it was. There were countless villains in the piece, but hardly any sympathetic characters (including Leo Frank himself). Compare that to Les Mis with its series of saintly leads and even its villain gets a song of forgiveness.

It's a shame, too. I loved the score and still replay it all the time. Several scenes popped into magnificent life during the show: the parades themselves that open and close each act-- beautiful ghostly moments in time. Also the spectacular scene during the trial when Leo creepily begins to sing and dance as his bigoted neighbors would have viewed him in "Come Up to My Office."

But what was the overarching image we took away from the production that sunk the show in my mind before it had begun? I giant tree placed center stage in Riccardo Hernandez's set from the moment the lights came up. Knowing nothing about the plot, I turned to my partner and whispered "Lynching Tree." Start a show with that image and what chance does the show have to overcome it?

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 5:53pm

Damn it. If only it overlapped with VANYA.

[mallardo]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 6:16pm

Can we assume that this will be the version of the show JRB prepared for the Donmar production in London and later at the Taper in LA?

[alliez92092]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 9:50pm

Yes, the Donmar version is the only one that's being licensed now.

This is yet another show I'm adding to my list. Really happy to be living in DC this year :)

[charlesjguiteau]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 2:30am

Good news then. We thought the Taper production found a wonderful balance in the show and was much more effective and moving than the Prince version. And I'm sorry to say I don't know Euan Morton's work, but I gotta say that T.R. Knight was a revelation as Leo Frank-- had no idea the part had so much depth and nuance before.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 9:41am

But the question is, will this be using the orchestration that's been used at the Donmar and the Mark Taper Forum or will they expand it?

[Katurian2]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 9:48am

Tweet JRB about it- he's actually really great with answering performance and licensing questions.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 11:31am

Apparently the Donmar revision/orchestration is the only one that is being licensed now which, in my opinion is a shame.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 11:41am

Yes MB, I agree with the fact that the scaled down version( Orchestrations) is the only one available is a travesty as it is simply gorgeous score and needs a huge pit to get the power of the music across.

I do not feel that the scaled down cast was necessary and from what I hear it gets kind of muddy with all the characters switching roles, especially those with such prominent ones two. Watson becoming the guard, or Brit Craig becoming the Mayor. It is too confusing.

I do however love the new material given to Watson making him a more fleshed out character. He is deliciously evil.

Updated On: 8/21/11 at 11:41 AM

[mallardo]

Posted: 8/21/11 at 11:57am

I saw it both in London and LA and I seem to recall that the character doubling was increased for the LA production. Am I wrong about that?

Updated On: 8/21/11 at 11:57 AM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 9/23/11 at 11:06pm

I wanted to bump this because I know that they had their first performance tonight. If anyone here saw it, would they be willing to share their thoughts.

And I'm also deeply saddened to hear that they're sticking with the Donmar orchestrations because:

A) I thought the Don Sebesky orchestrations were also being offered as an alternative according to JRB.

B) The Sebesky orchestrations are just plain bettah!

[JeanneMarie]

Posted: 9/24/11 at 8:51am

I went to invited dress rehearsal. I have never seen the show so my response to it may not have the weight that other more savvy members responses might have. To answer a posted question this production has character doubling (and sometimes tripling). They were, of course, still working on sound, lighting and other issues. That being said, the acting was so good that issues aside, I was caught up in the story right from the beginning. Euan is spot on in his portrayal of Leo. The love story - how Lucille and Leo, living a distant marriage, become a real couple by going through this deeply trying experience together - anchors the show. Gives it its heart. Jenny and Euan make it very believable. The supporting cast is uniformly good with so many stand out performances it is hard to single out one. A couple of director's choices are a bit jarring but hopefully those will be modified. 3.5 out of 4 stars.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/24/11 at 8:54am

I do not feel that the scaled down cast was necessary and from what I hear it gets kind of muddy with all the characters switching roles, especially those with such prominent ones two. Watson becoming the guard, or Brit Craig becoming the Mayor. It is too confusing.

Yeah, I wanted to know how it worked having the same actor playing Newt Lee and Jim Conley.