Parade

Book by ALFRED UHRY

Music and lyrics by JASON ROBERT BROWN

Bigotry, racism, intolerance and prejudice mingle in a musical with a bold, powerful score

25 November-5 December 2009

Parade is a poignant and influential piece of contemporary theatre. Written by Jason Robert Brown, one of Broadway’s most respected young composers, and acclaimed playwright Alfred Uhry (Driving Miss Daisy), Parade re-tells the true story of the trial of a man accused of the murder of a young girl.

This profoundly moving story, winner of Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score in 2000, tells of Leo Frank, a Brooklyn-born Jew living in Georgia, who is put on trial for the murder of a 13-year-old factory worker under his employ. Already guilty in the eyes of everyone around him because of his religion and nationality, Leo's fate is sealed by a sensationalist publisher and a janitor’s false testimony. His only defenders are a governor with a conscience and, eventually, his assimilated Southern wife, Lucille, who finds the strength and love to become his greatest champion.

Parade played to great acclaim at the Donmar Warehouse in 2007, and has recently opened in Chicago featuring T R Knight Grey’s Anatomy as Leo Frank and Lara Pulver, who reprises her Donmar Warehouse role as Lucille.

The Sedos production of Parade uses a cast and crew of over 60, whose normal day jobs range from theatre management, publishing and sign language interpreting, to strategy consultants, commercial analysts and marketing managers. They also include acclaimed actors and singers, with years of theatre training and experience, to deliver a top-quality production in keeping with the reviews of past Sedos shows.

Critically examining themes of bigotry, racism, intolerance and prejudice in a musical with a bold, powerful score, Parade is presented by Sedos, a city-based theatre company, at the Bridewell Theatre (Bride Lane, the City) from 25 November-5 December 2009.

CAST

LEO FRANK | James Franey
LUCILLE FRANK | Pippa Lloyd
BRITT CRAIG | William Hazell
FRANKIE EPPS | Paul Wooller
MARY PHAGAN | Rosanna Vize
GOVERNOR SLATON | Chris de Pury
SALLY SLATON | Deborah Lean
HUGH DORSEY | Jason Thomas
TOM WATSON | Stephen Beeny
MRS PHAGAN | Maria Waters
JIM CONLEY | Ben Fuiava
NEWT LEE | Geoff Chang
THE SOLDIER | Richard Ash
JUDGE ROAN | Paul Cozens
lOLA STOVER | Kimberly Barker
ESSIE | Aimee Hall
MONTEEN | Jamie Lee Pike
LUTHER ROSSER | Chris Purcell
ANGELA | Siobhan Aarons
DETECTIVE STARNES | Chris Warner
OFFICER IVEY | Garry Mannion

ENSEMBLE

Susan Booth
Phillip Deppeler
Tim Garrad
Sarah Lalin
Matt Morden
Paula Mount
Charlotte Price
Jo Webber
Max Wilson

CREATIVE TEAM

DIRECTOR | Alan Pavis
MUSICAL DIRECTOR and CO-PRODUCER | Matthew Gould
CO-PRODUCER | Alex Sandercock
CHOREOGRAPHER | Rachel Parkinson

This production boasts a cast who are able to hold together a stirling ensemble and a rapturous vocal performance.... the vocalists of Sedos are easily able to match the force and accuracy of any West End ensemble, and with rousing flair.... A wonderful set of costumes are atmospherically lit by fiercely stark beams and the band is simply superb.

Parade, 2009, Remote Goat

A riveting production... Musical Director Matthew Gould has obviously worked a great deal with an already very gifted cast, and it has paid off. From Richard Ash’s opening lines to the last note of the piece, Parade is beautifully and emotionally sung... The second act’s ‘All the Wasted Time’ is breathtakingly good, and if there was no other merit to this production, it would be worth seeing for these few brilliant minutes alone.

Parade, 2009, Fringe Review

Bridewell Theatre

  • Wednesday 25 November 2009 7.30pm
  • Thursday 26 November 2009 7.30pm
  • Friday 27 November 2009 7.30pm
  • Saturday 28 November 2009 2.30pm
  • Saturday 28 November 2009 7.30pm
  • Tuesday 1 December 2009 7.30pm
  • Wednesday 2 December 2009 7.30pm
  • Thursday 3 December 2009 7.30pm
  • Friday 4 December 2009 7.30pm
  • Saturday 5 December 2009 2.30pm
  • Saturday 5 December 2009 7.30pm