Why Is It Called 'Parade'?

[CapnHook]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 9:12pm

I purchased the cast recording of PARADE a few months ago, and have been addicted to it unlike any other cast recording in the past. It's been playing constantly on my computer each time I am online.

I have never seen the show, and wish I could have seen it years ago when it was on Broadway and later on tour. However, I am aware tour dates mysteriously were cancelled and no other production has since occured. My reading of posts from the NYU production made me realize this was a show in which I did not own on CD.

It is a very powerful score, and I'd imagine a very moving show. Listening to it - no applause. Just silence. Awe. Tears.

A question I have: why is it named 'Parade'? In the song "This Is Not Over Yet," Leo mentions "forget your big parade." That's it.

PLEASE DO NOT GIVE AWAY THE PLOT. If you must give away the plot in answering my question - DO SO. Otherwise, KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT!

I have my conclusions on what I believe happens from listening to the CD over and over, but I will leave it to that. Hopefully, I will see a production sometime soon.

Thank you!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 9:16pm

I assumed it was named "Parade" because the producers thought they wouldn't sell as many tickets to "Lynching!"

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 9:17pm

Well, there is the annual Memorial Day Parade they talk about. I have not seen the show, but I assume there is more to the title than that.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 9:22pm

The show is, in many ways, a celebration of Leo Frank's life and how deserving he is of his own parade.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 9:43pm

I agree with Joe--I think the title was a commercial decision. Personally, I think the title is stupid, as it has nothing to do with the show except for the fact that some of the play's action takes place around the annual parade. It's like when Rogers and Hammerstein wrote "Carousel"--there might before some sort of vague implied metaphor there, but really, it was just the easiest name to sell. Although personally I think the original title that Hal Prince and Jason Robert Brown came up with, "The Devil and Mary Phagan," would have been much better, although such a name would have suited the show more if it were an off-Broadway piece rather than a commerical Broadway show.

[JenD512]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 10:00pm

It's called "Parade" because the events of the show took place during the Confederate Memorial Day parade in Atlanta, which is a meant to be a day of pride and remembrance of the south and th confederate soldiers lost during the Civil War.

However, due to the events of the show, and what ended up happening to Leo Frank (without giving it away), the day ironically became something that the people responsible had nothing to be proud of. It's meant to be ironic.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 10:01pm

JenD512,

Thank you.