PARADE in Los Angeles

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 3:28pm

Hey Gang --

A somewhat shameless plug because I'm involved with the production, but casting is underway for the Jason Robert Brown/Alfred Uhry musical PARADE at the Neighborhood Playhouse in Palos Verdes, CA.

Amazingly, even though PARADE has been seen in school settings and in a one night concert version at the Musical Theatre Guild many years ago, this marks the first fully staged, professional production of the show in Los Angeles.

This should be an exciting production and since I know the musical has a devout following on this board, I hope you'll follow its progress! More details at www.neighborhoodplayhouse.net

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 5:05pm

Break a leg with this one - it's one of my favorite shows and a truly brilliant piece of work. I hope the production runs flawlessly.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 9:04pm

Please keep us posted re casting...

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 9:44pm

Funny, I live close to their. Too bad I'm busy.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 5/7/08 at 10:05pm

Two question:


Are you guys doing the new licensed version?

and

Which orchestrations are you using?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 1:47pm

The Donmar version isn't being licensed yet (supposedly its going to have a U.S. "unveiling" at a regional theatre in 2009 in the hopes of a possible NYC transfer).

Our orchestrations will be larger than the Donmar's, smaller than the OBC! :)

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 1:49pm

Seriously, keep us up to date on this production. When does it run?

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 1:57pm

Ohhh - sounds great.

Keep us posted!

[B3TA07]

Posted: 5/8/08 at 1:58pm

I wanna reorchestrate it

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/23/08 at 2:53pm

HA B3TA07 - you'll have to talk to the composer about that!

Anyway, for those who were interested - we've cast the show! Some amazingly talented people. Its always exciting when you combine that with great material. I think its going to be a pretty kick ass production.

Both Playbill and Broadwayworld.com have given us some nice early ink in anticipation of the production, which is also very cool indeed:

https://news.yahoo.com/s/playbill/20080522/en_playbill/118000

https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=28186

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 5/23/08 at 5:01pm

Is the band live or taped?

[jaystarr]

Posted: 5/23/08 at 5:04pm

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 5/23/08 at 5:28pm

Well, I'm suppose to be in LA that week! Great timing! If I can get to the location I'll see it. I have a late flight back up the coast. I've wanted to see this show all year. Good luck with the production and thank you for plugging it here for us.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 5/23/08 at 5:31pm

I think it would be fun. I may do one of the songs for one of my projects in Orchestration class, now that I think about it.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/23/08 at 6:11pm

Is it going to be like RENT Remixed? That would certainly be a new take on PARADE.

The orchestra is live - right now its set to be about 12 pieces which is a lot for a tiny theatre space

[bk]

Posted: 5/23/08 at 6:41pm

So, are you Brady or David?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 11:14am

Here's a first look at the publicity pics - always fun to see the characters starting to come to life.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 11:15am

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 11:16am

[morosco]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 12:50pm

At first I thought leo had a big martini in his hands in the second poster. Where are my glasses?

Beautiful art work. Wish I could see the show.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 12:53pm

A Martini Shaker! I love it. Some of the audience may need a martini at Intermission. We'll doctor that poster for the bar.

[aliciag]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 12:57pm

I really hope to be able to make it to this. I've only ever listened to the recording so it would be wonderful to see it on stage.

Thanks for keeping us updated with pictures!

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 1:21pm

Oooh sweet! Wish I could see this one. I REALLY want to design this show some day...and I may get to sooner than I expected, depending on how things play out this year.

Keep us updated. I can't wait to see pictures of the set.

Akiva

[IsolatingAge]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 2:20pm

That's an amazing show. I was in the Philadelphia premier of it a number of years ago. I can't wait until someone stages the revised version. Mostly because Big News is one of my favorite songs and I'm eager to see how the show flows with the new changes.

Question: Was Real Big News cut as well? I wouldn't be surprised if it was. The ending is so complicated with so many people saying so many different things at the same time, it's impossible to know what's going on unless you're actually in the show. Great song though.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 2:42pm

Its interesting because we were initially hoping to do the revised version of the script which I love.

Now that I'm working on the project, in some ways I do think Donmar revision does compromise on some of the musical aspects of the original. I think some of the choral orchestrations in London were either cut or modified because there simply weren't enough voices to go around with a cast of only 15 people doubling parts.


We're doing the show in a tiny space (similar to the size of the Donmar) but with the original script and a cast of 30 and 12 musicians, which retains a somewhat chamber concept but with a company just big enough to carry the show as originally written.

There are a few script quibbles that I think were fixed for London, and I do wish we were able to use the Minnie McKnight testimony, which adds a lot to the story, I think (and a unique female perspective). But the show as originally written still works quite well.
Updated On: 6/6/08 at 02:42 PM