PARADE back in New York City

[emills612]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 2:42pm

Okay, HEY everyone! I have a favor to ask of all of you. Please please please go and SIGN my petition to move the Writers Theatre of Chicago's production of PARADE to New York. I'm hoping either Roundabout Theatre Company or Manhattan Theatre Club takes notice and goes into talks with the theatre about it after they finish their run. This is SO incredibly important to me. SHARE THIS WITH EVERYONE YOU CAN. EVERY THEATRE AND NON THEATRE PERSON. The ONLY way we can tell this story is if we show that people care. I beg of you. SHARE THIS EVERYWHERE YOU CAN and SIGN!

https://www.change.org/p/roundabout-or-mtc-bring-writers-theater-s-parade-to-new-york-city

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 2:58pm

I hate to sound like a cynic because I really do love your love for this production..

But...

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 3:02pm

^ Love this more than I can say.

OP is probably a lovely person but any excuse to use this comeback is worth it.

[emills612]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 3:11pm

Thanks for your response! 

[LarryD2]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 3:13pm

Question for the OP: Are you involved in this production in any way? Not judging, just genuinely curious.

[emills612]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 3:19pm

Oh no, no! I wish I was! I'm a Directing major in New York and I have a few professors and the head of my program who suggested that I grab the attention of the Writers Theatre in Chicago and Gary Griffin, who I've been talking to for a little now, and get them to try and get in contact with either Roundabout or MTC to bring PARADE back to New York. I just haven't heard this much buzz about a production of PARADE since the LA "revisal" in 2009. 

[emills612]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 3:35pm

The petition isn't so much to make anything definite, but you know, producers want to know they'll turn a profit, I get that. I'm just trying to start a conversation. I think a lot of people who want a PARADE "revival" make these big Broadway dream casts with a dream theatre and dream producer. I just believe in this show and believe in its relevancy today. My mentor/program director has good friends at the Writers and at Roundabout and MTC. A few of my directors have worked with MTC, and I've already been in contact with Gary Griffin and Michael Halberstam, the Artistic Director over at the Writers. It's just about getting the ball rolling in SOME direction. 

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 3:43pm

I totally love your passion.  And i'm being 100% genuine.  It sounds like you're pursuing and studying what you love!  Sadly, there is no ball to roll in any direction in regards to this production coming to Broadway.  Most of "the best" works of theatre in America can't come to Broadway and shouldn't come to Broadway.   And I think, furthermore, the most recent revivals of Jesus Christ Superstar and Ragtime paint a grim picture of what would be this production of Parades fate if it came to Broadway.   

[emills612]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 4:19pm

Well I refuse to let go of this show. And negativity will follow me wherever I go, but I have a lot of hope. "This is NOT over yet". Thank you for your thoughts.

[TheSassySam]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 5:45pm

Speaking of which... do you have any discount codes for this show? 

 

I got a ticket awhile back, but got sick and couldn't exchange the ticket.  

[Owen22]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 6:55pm

Well, Parade (though far, FAR from one of my favorite shows personally) has a healthy following, and Gary Griffin has directed on Broadway before, and it's do for a return. So this isn't as much of a pipe dream as other posters here are leading you to believe. And Writers Theatre is small so I'm guessing an off-Broadway revival is what you're hoping for? Probably not with the entire (or any of) the Chicago cast ( Brandon Uranowitz as Leo perhaps?) but I would say with those reviews, it's a possibility.

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 6:58pm

I don't know about Broadway, but thanks for letting me know about this. I'm up by Chicago, I might just see this before it closes.

[emills612]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 7:01pm

Yes! Thank you! That's what I've been trying to say! Off-Broadway would be perfect, especially with the way they do the show now, smaller theatre - more chamber than anything. Even a theatre produced with Keen Company would be great! Their revival of tick...tick...BOOM, which my good friend Christine O'Grady choreographed, was great and got great reviews and great press! I'm not saying PARADE belongs in a Broadway house again, no way. I'm just saying it deserves another life and its long overdue for another life in New York City, not necessarily Broadway.

[emills612]

Posted: 6/15/17 at 7:02pm

Of course, Alex! The production is PHENOMENAL, so go support it while you can, it's been extended to July 9th now! 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 7/16/17 at 12:15am

Just got back home from the final performance and it was absolutely a beautiful production! It also helps I love the music. Pretty spectacular show and the cast was superb. Especially Lucille and Leo. I also enjoyed the actress playing Minnie. Jason Robert Brown was sitting across the aisle from me and it was cool to see his reactions to his own show. I wonder if he has any plans to see the Bridges production at the Marriott while he's in town. I could definitely see this show making a leap to off-Broadway if not Broadway. It's brilliantly staged and it seems like it sold well enough to warrant a transfer.

[markypoo]

Posted: 7/16/17 at 9:48am

I've seen the show four times; including the original Lincoln Center production and the touring company in 2000.

Yet I've never been made the least bit aware of any character named Minnie.

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 7/16/17 at 10:45am

I could have heard it wrong. I'm referring to the servant character.

[asimplegal2]

Posted: 7/16/17 at 11:38pm

Minnie McKnight. A pretty important character. I guess you weren't paying great attention all those times you saw it.

[markypoo]

Posted: 7/17/17 at 7:19am

Why, yes.

I certainly MUST NOT have been paying attention ALL THOSE TIMES.

And so that I don't continue - horror of horrors - to live in continued ignorance, kindly enlighten me as to how her character adds any heft to the drama whatsoever.

And I'm literally defying you to do so.

[Mike Bevel]

Posted: 7/17/17 at 9:16am

markypoo said: "Why, yes.

I certainly MUST NOT have been paying attention ALL THOSE TIMES.

And so that I don't continue - horror of horrors - to live in continued ignorance, kindly enlighten me as to how her character adds any heft to the drama whatsoever.

And I'm literally defying you to do so."

Isn't Minnie one of the people who give false testimony? Her relationship with Lucille is fraught, and gives some context as to why she'd give that false testimony in the first place.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 7/17/17 at 9:47am

Minnie is the maid. Minola McKnight. Lucille mentions her many times. Her character feels very significant in this production (she sings a Rumblin' and a Rollin' but even if previous productions have downplayed her... she has a whole moment where she's center stage during the trial. 

Regardless. Don't be a dick. You're an adult. We're all friends. 

[newintown]

Posted: 7/17/17 at 10:04am

It sounds as though this was a rather successful regional production. Good for all involved.

However, nothing about the show leads a thoughtful observer to believe that a NYC revival would have much success - and the poster above who noted that the show is "do" ("due"?) for a revival might want to recall that the original production had an exceptionally brief nonprofit run (85 performances, no transfer, no significant extension); true, the score won a Tony - but in a year so devoid of original material, incidental music was a competitor.

But if a group of investors decide that they can spare a few million to lose on an Off Broadway production, (or significantly more on a commercial production), then bless their hearts. But if they come to a belief that a few signatures on a petition predict financial success, well - caveat emptor.

Updated On: 7/17/17 at 10:04 AM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 7/17/17 at 10:22am

There was a time when you knew that no smart producer/investor would take on a project based on an internet petition, and I'd like to think that remains true. Unfortunately there are now a lot of stupid producers/investors out there...

[asimplegal2]

Posted: 7/17/17 at 10:34am

markypoo said: "Why, yes.

I certainly MUST NOT have been paying attention ALL THOSE TIMES.

And so that I don't continue - horror of horrors - to live in continued ignorance, kindly enlighten me as to how her character adds any heft to the drama whatsoever.

And I'm literally defying you to do so.

 

"

Your original point wasn't that Minnie doesn't "add heft to the drama." You said that she literally isn't a character in the show. She is. No point in bragging about how many times you've seen the show if you don't remember key elements of it. Minnie gives a testimony that Leo Frank was acting suspicious in his home the night of Mary's murder.

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 7/17/17 at 10:40am

In the original production, Minnie's testimony did not exist. It wasn't until the London production where Minnie became part of the plot. The London production also saw the scaled down orchestrations, the removal of PEOPLE OF ATLANTA and BIG NEWS, and the addition of HAMMER OF JUSTICE. All of which, I think, did a disservice to the score.

Updated On: 7/17/17 at 10:40 AM