Tony Award-Winning PARADE Revival On Tour- Page 2

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 1/26/25 at 8:47pm

Caught the final matinee this afternoon, and it was a truly beautiful piece of theatre. The songs were gorgeously sung, and the combination of choreography, set pieces, and protections did an excellent job of immersing the audience into the world of 1910s Atlanta. Thematically, this is of course a very dark show, but not overwhelmingly show - there are enough bits of warmth, humor, and hope that keep the audience from being overwhelmed by despair.

Not being familiar with the show, I wasn't expecting it to be as much of an ensemble piece it was, and honestly for a story like this that's the right way to go about it.  Leo and Lucille are the beating heart of the story, but we also see the tragedy from the perspective from many other perspectives, from the media (I particularly appreciated the portrayal of reporters as amoral vultures who care about nothing more than advancing their careers) to other politicians, to a heartbreaking portrayal of the boy who had a crush on Mary Phagan.

The production is seamless - you'd never guess this was a touring production. Aside from a few moments where the sound balance was off, it went without a hitch. And I can confirm they still use Reverand Raphael Warnock's intro.

[MatthewS1]

Posted: 1/27/25 at 6:56pm

Can anyone comment on the new orchestrations? The tour does not have reeds or brass- the band is now 2 keys, drums, percussion, bass, and a string quartet.

[tacotheatrelover]

Posted: 4/6/25 at 4:17pm

I’d like to revive this thread for about little to talk about my experience.

I just saw the matinee in Atlanta, two miles from the pencil factory, and 15 miles I think from Marietta and just the area where the show happened.

I hadn’t seen anything from the show, only heard about 3 songs, and I wasn’t expecting much from this show.

I was so ****ing wrong.

The way this show is able to convey everything is one most shows could only dream of doing, I found myself intrigued during the trial and the lies, found myself sobbing at the end and the part with phagans mother, and honestly all around wanting this to keep going, though I know that would’ve had to come with more pain and suffering.

Max and Talia as Leo and Lucille knocked or out of the park, and I couldn’t see anyone else do it. I’ve heard that Ben and Michaela were amazing, but these two kept me wanting more of their characters. They made me want and want and want more. They pulled me in and I genuinely cried the moment it was pulled away from me.

I write this to you broadwayworld message boards, with a burger in my mouth, tears in my eyes, and my mind utterly ****ed in the best way possible. Please don’t let this end up like the Oklahoma! tour, when that tour should keep running as of right now, let this tour live on and tour for seasons to come

I 100% will be seeing this again. Either live or in bootleg form, this show made me want to do this more in live, and it seems everything I see keeps building that fire. I loved this show, I love the arts, and I want to keep this art form alive for generations to come. 
 

Thanks for reading my bull****, although not New York Times, but a diabetic 16 year old with a crippling Minecraft addiction, and ones whose opinion would like to be heard. If I make it in this industry, I’ll make you all proud, I promise.

[Dan6]

Posted: 4/6/25 at 4:28pm

Thanks for sharing your experience, tacotheaterlover! I saw the revival on Broadway with Ben and Micaela and am very much looking forward to seeing the tour when it gets to LA. More importantly, most of us had “that” theater moment, often at around your age, that set us on a lifetime path of love for the art as either a performer or audience member (for me it was the OBC of A Chorus Line when I was 14), and it’s wonderful to see your enthusiasm and passion and to be reminded of that feeling. Wishing you success! 

Updated On: 4/6/25 at 04:28 PM

[bear88]

Posted: 5/31/25 at 4:46am

I saw it Friday night in San Francisco, where it was moved from the Curran to the larger Orpheum. The show isn’t selling incredibly well, but that made it easy to get $45 center orchestra tickets for a Friday night show that I bought in the mid-afternoon.

I share the enthusiasm for Max Chernin’s performance. He was terrific - subtle, resigned and moving as Leo Frank. There were a lot of fine performances from Broadway vets to performers making debuts in the cast.

I didn’t love everything about Parade but it does a nice job of plunging the audience into its time and place.

[Hest88]

Posted: 5/31/25 at 9:28pm

We just came back from the matinee and echo your thoughts. Although I've listened to the original and Donmar cast albums I've never seen a live production, and found it very moving. Loved Max Chernin's performance.

[DAME]

Posted: 6/24/25 at 11:21pm

The tour is magnificent . Might go again.

Updated On: 6/24/25 at 11:21 PM

[TheatreAddict]

Posted: 6/25/25 at 10:22am

Having seen "Parade" both at Encores and on Broadway, I recently caught the National Tour in Los Angeles, and I'm happy to report that I think the production holds up remarkably well. Max Chernin is not quite as dynamic as Ben Platt, but he is strong, nuanced, and a powerful center to the production. Talia Suskauer suffers a little more in comparison only because Micaela Diamond was so unique as Lucille, but she is solid and more than capable. The supporting cast in NY was stacked, so it's not a surprise that many of their replacements on tour are not quite as powerful, but the real star of the show is the writing by Brown and Uhry, and Arden's flawless production. It's a moving production of a beautiful show, and even more timely now than it was a couple of years ago. I highly recommend it.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 6/25/25 at 11:37am

Saw the tour in LA and was so happy to see such a strong production in magnificent shape. My only gripe, were the projections. With the set as it is, with the large rectangle box in the middle, it is impossible to see many of the projections from different parts of the orchestra. Many people around me were complaining each time a new projection appeared. 

[pdjennings]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 2:46pm

All performances for the final tour stop in DC listed on the Kennedy Center website are showing as “Currently Not Available” — I wonder if it’s being dropped or if the production is pulling out.

https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/theater/2024-2025/parade/

Edit: they’ve added a note saying that tickets would be “back on sale within a few days.”  Hmm. 

Updated On: 7/1/25 at 02:46 PM

[nealb1]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 3:37pm

Seeing the show on Sunday.  Can't wait!  

[DAME]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 8:22pm

I thought Max Chernin was far superior and more grounded than Platt.  His central performance  allows the entire production to breathe.  Talia Suskauer wasn't as layered as Micaela Diamond but that might be because everything else seemed so rich in texture.  You will get a full view of the projections from the mezzanine.  But I am too old to sit up there.  I need to be able to make out their faces.  From the mezzanine they ae just a blur.

[George in DC]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 9:28pm

I would love to see the tour, but as long as the rapist felon is head of Kennedy Center, I will not be a patron to them any longer

 

[Jocelyn3]

Posted: 7/1/25 at 11:36pm

There was a panel discussion after a recent performance in LA, and the subject of concluding the tour at the Kennedy Center came up. With a smirk and a bit of giddiness, Jason Robert Brown said it was definitely happening. 

[Idiot]

Posted: 7/4/25 at 6:03pm

I saw it last week here in LA and I'm going back next week to take two friends before it closes.  I loved the NYC limited run - but I think this is a tick better.  Max fits the period vibe and overall content better than Ben did.  I love Ms. Diamond, but I have no idea what accent she was doing in NYC.  I can't say Talia is nailing it - but she doesn't grate my natively Southern ears as badly.  This production is superb. 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/4/25 at 6:09pm

I had a feeling Talia was the wrong person for this, and a lot of these posts sound like that’s indeed the case. Such a shame as there’s dozens of women (as always) just waiting for a break who could have done it justice. 

[Esther2]

Posted: 7/4/25 at 6:52pm

George in DC said: "I would love to see the tour, but as long as the rapist felon is head of Kennedy Center, I will not be a patron to them any longer

"

I had no intention of seeing this to begin with, but now I'm considering it.  It's exactly the type of show he'd hate, and it will help support my family and friends who work there.  And since it was booked before he crashed the joint... maybe.

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 7/4/25 at 7:10pm

DAME said: "I thoughtMax Chernin was far superior and more grounded than Platt. His central performance allows the entire production to breathe. Talia Suskauer wasn't as layered as Micaela Diamond but that might be because everything else seemed so rich in texture. You will get a full view of the projections from the mezzanine. But I am too old to sit up there. I need to be able to make out their faces. From the mezzanine they ae just a blur."

Agreed

i saw both Platt and Chernin on Broadway (caught one of Max’s two performances) and loved Max’s Leo way more than Ben’s. Max’s acting and vocal is just golden. 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/4/25 at 7:17pm

Interestingly the Kennedy Center website still shows tickets as not being sold, with the same “back in a few days” note.

Whatever the issue is, I can’t see it being solved over this holiday weekend. And if it DOES go back on sale, to lose that many days of potential sales is a lot of money that may not come around again. 

Editing To Add: Someone on Reddit just posted that they’re a Kennedy Center subscriber, and their Parade tickets are no longer visible in their My Tickets section of their subscriber account. 

Updated On: 7/4/25 at 07:17 PM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 7/4/25 at 10:33pm

I’ve heard they’re just moving to the Eisenhower. Seems like they over estimated how popular the show would be and booked it in the Opera House.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/5/25 at 3:45am

Call_me_jorge said: "I’ve heard they’re just moving to the Eisenhower. Seems like they over estimated how popular the show would be and booked it in the Opera House."

Yes indeed, some Reddit posters are now saying their tickets have been changed to the Eisenhower Theatre (which has around 1200 fewer seats than the Opera House) and that the length of the run may have been shortened as well, based on ticket dates that have/haven’t been moved in their online account yet. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/5/25 at 1:37pm

^ Yeah, my tickets have been changed to the Eisenhower as well so the show is still happening. 

I had no intention of seeing this to begin with, but now I'm considering it.  It's exactly the type of show he'd hate, and it will help support my family and friends who work there. 

I completely understand, I have mixed feelings about attending as well. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 7/5/25 at 2:00pm

I think having the show sell out, which I know is unlikely, would be enough to get under Trumps skin and the perfect way of “protesting.” 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 7/5/25 at 2:05pm

100%

[SisterGeorge]

Posted: 7/5/25 at 6:34pm

Call_me_jorge said: "I think having the show sell out, which I know is unlikely, would be enough to get under Trumps skin and the perfect way of “protesting.”"

I seriously doubt Trump has ever heard of this show or has any idea what it's about. But a sell out engagement would give the KC something to crow about--finally--and images of full houses and large crowds to post all over social media, without context, of course. And they are shameless enough to use it as proof that they are indeed as welcoming to everyone and as committed to diversity as they claim they are.