Parade or Songs for a New World? — Page 2

No problem! I shall look forward to it as well

I think what's interesting about it to me is how everything went wrong. Everything was botched: the investigation, the autopsy, the trial... you name it.

Parade does a good job of showing the class issue--many people did resent Leo Frank for employing "child labor." Mary Phagan represented the epitome of southern girlish innocence, and Frank was seen as ruining that innocence. So I guess it wasn't much of a stretch for them to think that he'd ruined her innocence in that other way, too. Also, Parade doesn't really show this, but racism against blacks played a role too. No one thought Conley, a black man, would be smart enough to make up and remember his complicated affidavit. And Frank's lawyers didn't think that a black man's word would ever be taken over a white man's, so they were overconfident and didn't try as hard as they should have.

Oh man, I've seen a lot of photos of the lynching and it always gets to me. There's one where you can make out where the face is and stuff... gah. What REALLY gets me are the photos from earlier, like when Leo Frank was a kid or pictures of him and his friends at college... I also recently found online pictures of the historical sites as they are today: various houses, the old location of the National Pencil Factory, the lynching site (an office stands there now but there's a plaque on it that says "Wrongfully accused, falsely convicted, wantonly murdered" (I might be off on some of the wording, too lazy to look it up.) I am dying to go to Atlanta and Marietta someday to see this stuff for myself!

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Updated On: 2/3/06 at 11:34 PM

It's a very bitter story, actually... I didn't discover this musical until last year, in 2005. I don't live anywhere near New York City so I wouldn't have gotten to see it on Broadway, but I found out that the US tour came to a local theatre in 2000. I was so upset! If only I had known about it back then! But I also think that, well, I was younger then... maybe it wouldn't have had such significance for me.

I'm hoping to see a local production someday, if one ever happens... though frankly the thought of high schools doing it makes me laugh. Imagine a parent coming to see a happy little high school show and getting the story of a lynching. XD

However, I did shell out money for the complete libretto and I've read it several times. I actually got it after I went crazy mad about the case and did all sorts of reading on it, which is why the changes/inaccuracies stood out for me so much... I actually think that Parade's libretto is its weak spot (not the song lyrics but the talking ones) and most people have said so as well.

Still, like I said, work of genius. When I got the OBC from the library I put off listening to it because it sounded so darn depressing. Finally I put it on just to get it over with... and, well, I was hooked right at "The Old Red Hills of Home." You know when you put on a cast recording and you know from the beginning that you're in for something amazing? It was so like that for me. And like I said, I cried so hard at the end. I don't think I've ever cried so hard over a recording before.

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Being a GA citizen myself, it's really sad to see how not many people don't know about this musical around here. Not many productions do it at all. I wish it had a bigger name because I think it's really cool to have a musical set entirely in GA. I have been hooked on this musical recently and I just adore it so much. I am trying to convince my hometown community theatre to put it up because not many people know about the show, but we all know about the Leo Frank story thanks to GA History class in Jr. High. Yey for JRB!!!

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There actually is a "Happy Days" musical. It's been running here in LA for a while now. I think it plays at a place called "The Falcon Theatre" (owned by Gary Marshall, go figure). They have been workshopping and developing it for a move to a bigger venue. They even got a star to play Richie. I think it was Joey McIntire.

Congrats, a musical set in Wisconsin.

Thanks Spork. This was a really interesting thread. Oney's book sounds really interesting. I'll put it on my list of things to read (an ever growing list).

Songs for a New World is more similar sounding to L5Y than Parade. I probably listen to Songs... more, as more songs fit out of context, but I think Parade is a better score. And any recording with Carolee Carmello on it is worth having.

Well I have been in the show, and Gov. Slaton, historically goes into exile and actually moves North to escape the threats against his life due to his letting Leo Frank serve life, instead of death. In the show during "Where Will You Stand When the Flood Comes?" he leaves when the crowds present danger after he gives his speech in that number!

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U guys are AWESOME
PARADE is a landmark musical!
I saw it a Rainey Sunday afternoon
and mostly knew JRB as a rehearsal pianist
From the first number to the last I was dewey eyed
One of the best things Harold Prince did it he Last 10 Years
He did enough to relax
But PARADE is full of amazing things
Jessica Molarsky!
So many great people
I like it so much I think it could be added to some Opera Reps.

U guys made me put it back on my CD player
THANKS

I am a brand-new JRB fan... I got The Last 5 Years last Sunday, and by Tuesday I had all 3 shows. He is AWESOME. His music is absolutely stunning. The lyrics are a little iffy, but there's enough poignancy in there to make up for the crap. I like L5Y best, but I can't decide between the other two. I like Parade for its story (and it made me cry!), but Ty Taylor is in SFANW, and... I love him. I saw in twice in We Will Rock You (Vegas) and he's just awesome.

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I am listening to Songs for a New World as I type this at my desk!

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Parade is a masterpiece, IMHO. JRB's finest work and definitely one of my favorite musicals of all time, ever. There are a handful of songs that can bring me to tears just by thinking of them. (No, I'm probably exaggerating. But.) It was the first show I ever saw my lovely Carolee in, too, so it's memorable for that alone.

You can't go wrong with SFANW, though. I think it might be more accessible because it isn't a book musical, you know, so the songs stand on their own. But in the long run, Parade is better.

After reading what all of you guyz said I went out this morning and got PARADE and I almost bought "Songs for A New World" but something told me to get PARADE and I did and it sounds GREAT so far.

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