PARADE On Broadway - Reviews & News Thread- Page 23

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 4/1/23 at 10:56pm

TaffyDavenport said: "It's April 7, which is Good Friday, and it's replacing the Wednesday matinee which would be on Passover."

Passover is on Wednesday NIGHT, so I think this is just about adding an extra show for a busy tourist weekend.

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 4/1/23 at 11:13pm

Yes, that's true, but I think Passover also factors into in, since Jewish patrons who observe likely wouldn't go to a matinee that day, as it starts at sundown on Wednesday, and would be preparing for Seder. They and Leopoldstadt are the only shows doing it, so there must be a correlation.

Updated On: 4/2/23 at 11:13 PM

[pethian]

Posted: 4/1/23 at 11:30pm

Alex M said: "I'm also interested if Parade wins best revival and they decide to tour this production how it would be conceived across the US, specifically in the south."

The first national tour, in 2000, sadly lasted only 4 months. But a lot has changed since then, so who knows.

 

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 4/1/23 at 11:33pm

I hear you, and it would make sense for them to adjust the show for a Jewish holiday (if only because Platt might want to attend a seder?)  but there are ZERO people who would be unable to see this Wednesday's matinee, but then WOULD be able to see the Wednesday evening show on account of this holiday... so it just doesnt make a whole lotta sense. 

anyway the show seems to be selling really well regardless, 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 4/1/23 at 11:40pm

It makes perfect sense when we're talking about the older Jewish demographic that attends shows on Wednesday matinees, and wouldn't be going to an evening show, regardless. For those patrons, they now have a different weekday matinee to go to next week, instead of none at all, since, for many of them, Wednesday wouldn't be an option.

Updated On: 4/1/23 at 11:40 PM

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 4/2/23 at 9:30am

TellZ said: "People of Atlanta was replaced by Hammer of Justice."

Ah, that's kind of what I figured. Too bad - I far prefer "People of Atlanta."

[Melissa25]

Posted: 4/2/23 at 11:15am

TaffyDavenport: It makes perfect sense when we're talking about the older Jewish demographic that attends shows on Wednesday matinees, and wouldn't be going to an evening show, regardless. For those patrons, they now have a different weekday matinee to go to next week, instead of none at all, since, for many of them, Wednesday wouldn't be an option.

Yes, and Leopoldstadt has a matinee on Friday April 7th too.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 4/2/23 at 3:59pm

I credit Taffy's comment above re them shifting a matinee from Wed to Fri bc the usual matinee crowd wouldn't be available for a Passover eve show but 

Leopoldstadt did not do the same thing: they canceled their Wed EVENING show, and will be doing a Wednesday matinee and a Friday matinee. THIS makes alot more sense if the goal is to accommodate Passover-celebrating patrons/castmembers. 

[TaffyDavenport]

Posted: 4/2/23 at 5:00pm

Whatever the rationale behind the different schedule changes for both shows, my original post was simply to point out that it wasn't just a random Friday, and that the Good Friday and Passover holidays probably both figured into it in some way. Considering it's only the 2 Jewish-themed shows that made any change at all, I think that's a safe assumption, although, honestly, I'm surprised that more shows didn't do it.

[bear88]

Posted: 4/3/23 at 2:10am

Checking out seats for my daughter, who is considering Parade on the day of the Tonys.

There are $145 seats in the rear orchestra and in the front row of rear mezzanine, and $104 and $84 seats near the back rows ($104 for the entire last row, and, for the $84 seats, off to the far side). I know many have favored mezzanine for this show due to the staging. Is the rear orchestra partially blocked because of the overhang? Are those last row rear mezzanine seats too far away? 

Updated On: 4/3/23 at 02:10 AM

[jkcohen626]

Posted: 4/3/23 at 4:31am

bear88 said: "Checking out seats for my daughter, who is consideringParadeon the day of the Tonys.

There are $145 seats in the rear orchestra and in the front row of rear mezzanine, and $104 and $84 seats near the back rows ($104 for the entire last row, and, for the $84 seats, off to the far side). I know many have favored mezzanine for this show due to the staging. Is the rear orchestra partially blocked because of the overhang? Are those last row rear mezzanine seats too far away?"

I haven't seen Parade at the Jacobs, but I saw Company from the very last row of the rear mezz and thought the seats were actually pretty solid. I could see everything clearly and really didn't feel too far away at all. 

[inception]

Posted: 4/3/23 at 9:40am

I sat second to last row of the orchestra and the seat was excellent. Nothing blocked by the overhang.  I'm tall so I asked the ladies behind me if I was blocking them,  but they said they were OK.

[mshalo18]

Posted: 4/3/23 at 5:42pm

bear88 said: "Checking out seats for my daughter, who is consideringParadeon the day of the Tonys.

There are $145 seats in the rear orchestra and in the front row of rear mezzanine, and $104 and $84 seats near the back rows ($104 for the entire last row, and, for the $84 seats, off to the far side). I know many have favored mezzanine for this show due to the staging. Is the rear orchestra partially blocked because of the overhang? Are those last row rear mezzanine seats too far away?"

What row does rear orchestra start? I was in row L, center orchestra on the left aisle. It was a perfect view- not too far back, no obstructions, and could still see facial expressions.

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 2:11pm

I forgot to post my review from Saturday, but I'll post it now.

This show has to be one of the most underrated masterpieces ever written, and I'm so happy it's getting a new life on the Broadway stage! Ben Platt and Michaela Diamond give masterclass performances that cannot be missed whatsoever! The true story behind this musical needs to be seen by people all across not just America but the entire world! It is sad that antisemitic hate continues to plague this nation. The story shows what monsters people in the South were to other humans back then. That being said, the hateful rhetoric against people of the Jewish faith continues. I want the show to serve as a reminder that we have done many bad things as a nation in the past, but the next generation needs to be the ones who put an end to this evil and hateful plague. The full company was on with the exception of Alex Joseph Grayson. His understudy Prentiss E. Mouton blew me away with his rendition of "Feel The Rain Fall". Michael Arden's direction of this piece is nothing but pure genius! Just like ITW, they focused more on the acting and story/score rather than the set. This set, however, worked wonders. Especially in the beginning when the audience is blinded by white light in the opening chords of "Old Red Hills of Home". I also loved the projections in the background that showed pictures of the real figures of this story. At the end, they show that the case of Leo Frank has been re-opened and will hopefully prove that Leo did not commit such a horrific act. That's all I will say, as I do not want to give anything else away. What's even crazier is that I have seen every musical revival this season, and I can tell you that this year's tony awards are gonna be VERY competitive this year. I honestly think Best Revival of a Musical is gonna be a dead heat between Parade and Sweeney. I really do not know now which to root for, but I am definitely leaning towards Parade at this moment to win. I hope you all can get a ticket for this. Hopefully, it goes on tour after it finishes in August because MANY MORE people need to see this show! Thanks for listening!

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 4:21pm

Haven't seen the Sweeney Todd revival yet, but I've now seen ITW, CAMELOT & PARADE, and for me PARADE is absolutely the 2023 revival to beat. The show we saw at the Good Friday matinee was a superb 2 1/2 hours of theater, and surpassed the original Hal Prince staging by a wide mile. Ben Platt and Michaela Diamond inhabit their roles with such specificity and nuance along with thrilling vocal power-- a perfect pairing. (Okay, my husband still had a problem with Lucille's accent but I did not.) As a Jewish person myself, I still feel you gain something valuable when a stage character who is defined by his/her Jewishness is actually played by a Jewish actor. (As a gay man, I feel the same when an out gay actor plays a gay role-- call me old-fashioned.)

The physical production served the play with simple strokes of great authority, and I've seldom been so impressed by the contribution a skilled video projection designer can add to a show-- the surrounding images were hugely evocative and so helpful in clarifying the story being told. That's really where Michael Arden's staging shined above all else-- making an unwieldy story spanning 2 years incredibly clear. 

This production proves what a beautiful play PARADE has been all along. The packed house makes me hopeful it will at last find the audience it deserves.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 5:12pm

Someone in a Tree2 said: "As a Jewish person myself, I still feel you gain something valuable when a stage character who is defined by his/her Jewishness is actually played by a Jewish actor. (As a gay man, I feel the same when an out gay actor plays a gay role-- call me old-fashioned.)"
 

Thank you for this beautifully-put insight. We so often go round and round on this site about who should be allowed to play what roles and it seems like such a difficult conversation because creating rules seems...punitive? But what you wrote above...I've yet to see someone put it so elegantly before. Yes...actors are actors and actors should be able to act...but you are right...there is something to gain and value to be added when an actors' personal experience can deeply inform that of the characters. I will never stop using this phrase when I get into these conversations. Thank you so, so much! 

 

[Ensemble1680343767]

Posted: 4/10/23 at 6:37pm

Someone in a Tree2 said: "As a Jewish person myself, I still feel you gain something valuable when a stage character who is defined by his/her Jewishness is actually played by a Jewish actor."

Just wanted to add that a new piece came out today (What Ben Platt learned reading Leo Frank’s letters https://forward.com/culture/542317/ben-platt-parade-evan-hansen-leo-frank/) and Ben Platt shared similar thoughts as you: “I think with all the conversations we’ve had now about authentic storytelling and in this day and age, this story that is so specifically about Jewish oppression and antisemitism and it’s intrinsic to the lines and characterization, it feels like absolutely they should be Jews,” Platt said. But for other roles and material, he’s less stringent. It’s a “case by case” issue, he says."

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 4/14/23 at 7:11am

Finally caught this last night.  I have to say, after being introduced to Parade through a college production, I didn't have much appreciation for the show.  But this revival makes a case for it being an excellent piece of writing.  The music direction makes every nuance of the score soar and Michael Arden's direction drives home the story and - most importantly - why it's relevant to us as an audience.  The care taken with the words and music made me really appreciate what I found lacking in this Sweeney Todd revival.  With this and Into the Woods (and, to be honest, their recent production of Dear World), City Center has really made a case for itself as a producer of high quality productions bringing out the strengths in musical storytelling. 

Now, please, can we get some more Michael Arden directed musical revivals.  The 3 that have made it to Broadway have all been superb and, with the competition I've seen so far, I'd give him the Tony.

[binau]

Posted: 4/14/23 at 7:12am

I agree. Michael Arden is making a name for himself and I will now see anything he does. 

[inception]

Posted: 4/14/23 at 8:39am

kidmanboy said: " With this and Into the Woods (and, to be honest, their recent production of Dear World), City Center has really made a case for itself as a producer of high quality productions bringing out the strengths in musical storytelling.

100%

Dear World was fantastic, beyond anything I could have hoped for.

I went into Parade unsure about it, and came out a believer.  Truly excellent.

I liked that neither were quite as bare bones as the production of Into the Woods.  What ITW had was superstar casting.  

 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/26/23 at 11:11am

Does anyone know if Ben/Micaela stage door?

[mshalo18]

Posted: 4/26/23 at 4:41pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Does anyone know if Ben/Micaela stage door?"

They do not- but they will come out, wave and blow kisses to the crowd as they are quickly ushered into their waiting car.

[Pashacar]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 3:29pm

Was looking for tickets today, and to anyone who says Ben Platt is not a draw...go to Telecharge and look at the seat maps for the weekend he is out (May 19-20). There's barely a single ticket sold on any of them, whereas the performances immediately before and after are very well sold.

[PipingHotPiccolo]

Posted: 4/27/23 at 11:46pm

Pashacar said: "Was looking for tickets today, and to anyone who says Ben Platt is not a draw...go to Telecharge and look at the seat maps for the weekend he is out (May 19-20). There's barely a single ticket sold on any of them, whereas the performances immediately before and after are very well sold."

Oh please as if his daddy didn't buy up all the tickets for all the shows immediately preceding and following his vacation days, and ALSO personally contacted every single ticket buyer to make sure no one buys any tickets when hes out! 

[Lot666]

Posted: 4/28/23 at 5:06pm

My husband and I attended the 4/13/2023 performance of Parade. We found the entire cast to be tremendous and couldn't recall ever hearing so many powerful, yet crystalline, voices in one show (Sweeney Todd, take a lesson). The set was somewhat simplistic and, one might argue, of a curious design, but it was effectively used. We thought Ben Platt's solitary presence throughout the intermission was an inspired touch. Also highly effective was the bookending of the show with largely identical opening and closing numbers, which sadly illustrated just how little some of the more atrocious aspects of American culture have changed over the past 150 or so years.

Here's hoping for a "Best Revival of a Musical" Tony, along with "Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical" for Ben Platt and "Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical" for Alex Joseph Grayson!