Amy Arbizzani as Lucille and Nicholas Foster 
as Leo Frank, in Parade.

The Mercury Theater is an intimate gem for performances
of live theater.  The beginning of the show has a large chorus 
of folks in Confederate Civil War uniforms, southern Belles
in fancy dresses, and gentlemanly attired blacks and white southerners singing songs of praise for the "old hills of Georgia". 
This is in fact a Confederate Memorial Day celebration (The Confederate Memorial Day is observed on April 26 in 
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; on May 10
in North Carolina and South Carolina; on May 30 in 
Virginia; and on June 3 in Kentucky, Louisiana, and
Tennessee.) We will later come to see that this sweet Georgia 
peach is actually a Peach filled with worms, and those worms 
are the people of a town where the story takes place. 

This musical is based on a true story, (see links at the end
for some of the history) and though some of the details have 
been left from the script of the play, the story is true and 
tragic. Part of my mind sees anything other than an opera 
which has music and tragedy, as a target missed.  This is
not the "Sound of Music", nor the "Phantom of the 
Opera", but this is a tale and a story so bold and moving
that it might make Richard Wagner proud of its pathos. 
The songs, and there are some goods ones, are more 
memorable than melodic, yet the voices singing them are 
strong and noble. 

The ACLU could host this as a fundraiser, and if Studs 
Terkel would usher, they could raise lots of money.

Nicholas Foster, as Leo Frank is not only believable,
he is grand in his portrayal, his anguish, and his strength
are award winning.  Amy Arbizzani, as Lucille Frank is
strong and resolute with her convictions and love for
the south and her husband, and her performance is a great
match for Nicholas Foster. 

The wife may prefer "howdy" to "Shalom", but her 
combined cultures of the Jewish people and the Southern 
Belles makes for a strong and loving spouse who is not 
afraid to do her all.

The drunken, stumbling choreography brought to life
with Sean Reid playing Britt Craig is grandly performed
with style and execution.  This Off Broadway styled
Confederate Operetta has more than just the bigoted
Evangelical mob of hate singing to the audience, it also 
has the truth and history of an unspeakable page from 
our past.

This show is only set to run 6 weeks and should not be
missed.  Thanks to Bailiwick.

 

PARADE, the Tony-Award winning musical starring Brannen Daugherty as Frankie and Amber Robbin as Mary.

                       Jeremy Rill             Young Confederate Soldier
                         David Belew             Old Confederate Soldier/Judge Roan
                         David Adamick           Aide/Prison Guard
                         Maria Barwegan          Sally Slaton, The Governor s Wife
                         Nicholas Foster         Leo Frank
                         Amy Arbizzani           Lucille Frank
                         Lili-Anne Brown         Minnie, housekeeper for the Franks
                         Gerald Frantzen         Hugh Dorsey, prosecuting attorney
                         Steve Kimbrough         Governor John Slaton
                         Brannen Daugherty       Frankie Epps
                         Amber Robbin            Mary Phagan
                         Joel Ewing              Detective J.N. Starnes
                         Stan Q. Wash            Officer Ivey
                         Randolph Johnson        Newt Lee, night watchman
                         Alanda Coon             Mrs. Phagan, Mary s mother
                         Emily Spokas            Lizzie Phagan, Mary s sister
                         Sean Reid               Britt Craig, reporter
                         James Adkinson          Reporter/Ensemble
                         Michael Harnichar       Mr. Peavy/Reporter
                         Gina Louise Cappetta    Monteen
                         Kate Garassino          Essie
                         Julie Burt              lola Stover
                         Michael Muser           Tom Watson, publisher
                         Richard Blakeney     Riley, chauffeur for Gov. Slaton
                         Rus Rainear             Luther Rosser, defense attorney
                         Gerald Richardson       Jim Conley, cleaning supervisor
                         Jacob Hoffman           Fiddlin  John/Ensemble
                         Lara Filip              Nurse/Ensemble
                         Melanie Merrill Lalone  Ensemble

BAILIWICK REPERTORY THEATRE S SMASH HIT
MUSICAL, PARADE, TRANSFERS TO THE MERCURY THEATER DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND

Chicago, IL- Bailiwick Repertory Theater s best-selling, Jeff-recommended
production PARADE, directed by David Zak, will move to the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport, opening June 6 and closing July 18. The artistic staff and original cast of 30 will remain intact.

PARADE is an explosive view of American history, centered on the trial 
of Leo Frank in Atlanta in 1913. With soaring melodies, PARADE is a 
love story told against the panoramic background of Anti-Semitism, racism, and the changing American South. Alfred Uhry ("Driving Miss Daisy")
and Jason Robert Brown, one of Broadway s most promising young composers ("Songs For A New World"), have created this exciting new Tony  Award winning musical. Chris Jones of The Chicago Tribune called
it "A moving, truthful performance.. .directed with passion and daring.., 
the vocals are exceptional," Mary Houlihan from The Chicago Sun-Times said it is "Impressive.. .a marvelous portrayal... PARADE proves that musical theater can tell a challenging story with grace and heart," and Jonathan Abarbanel of The Windy City Times raved that "PARADE is 
the most ambitious work in Bailiwick s 22-year history, and may be its greatest achievement. Don t let this PARADE pass you by."

In 1913, Leo Frank, a Brooklyn-born Jew living in Georgia, is put on trial for the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan, a factory worker under his employ. Already guilty in the eyes of everyone around him, a sensationalist publisher and a janitor's false testimony seal Leo s fate. His only defenders are a governor with a conscience, and, eventually, his assimilated Southern wife who finds the strength and love to become his greatest champion.

Daring, innovative and bold, PARADE won Tony  Awards for Best Book and Best Score in 2000. Its subject matter offers a moral lesson about the dangers of prejudice and ignorance that should not be forgotten.

Amy Arbizzani and Nicholas Foster star as Lucille and Leo Frank.
Ms. Arbizzani played Alma Stossel in Bailiwick s annual production
of THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER and she recently appeared in the Goodman's LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, while Mr. Foster, seen locally in RAGTIME for Light Opera Works and THE WILD PARTY at Circle Theater, makes his Bailiwick debut.

Other featured players include Jamie Axtell (DR. SEX) as Prosecuting Attorney Hugh Dorsey, Sean Reid (DR. SEX) as the newsman Britt Craig, and Steve Kimbrough (POSEIDON) as Governor Slaton. 14-year-old 
Amber Robbin makes her Bailiwick debut as Mary Phagan, and Alanda Coon (GYPSY) is featured as her mother. Brannen Daugherty (108 WAVERLY) plays Frankie Epps.

Others in the 30 member ensemble previously seen at Bailiwick include David Adamick and Maria Barwegan from THE CHRISTMAS SCHOONER; Julie Burt, Steve Best, and Kate Garassino from DR. SEX, Gina Capetta from GYPSY, David Belew from PINAFORE!, Russ Rainear (CORPUS CHRISTI) and Randolph Johnson (GEORGIA TOM). Making their Bailiwick debuts are James Adkinson, Lili-Anne Brown, Ronnie Duncan, Joel Ewing, Gerald Frantzen, Jacob Hoffman, Stephanie Jacobs, Nate Johnson, Melanie LaLone, Gerald Richardson, Jeremy Rill, Emily Spokas, and Stan Q. Wash.

The orchestra for PARADE includes: Musical Director Alan Bukowiecki, Piano/Conductor, Robert Ollis, Keyboard, Mary Malefyt, Violin, Joe Loeffler, Trumpet, and Ethan Deppe, Percussion.

PARADE s regular performance schedule is Wednesday and Thursdays at 7:30 pm ($30), Fridays at 7:30 pm ($35), Saturdays at 5 pm and 8:30 pm ($40), and Sundays at 2:30 pm ($40). Free dinner at Blue Bayou is included in the ticket price on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday Evening performances. This offer must be mentioned when making your reservation, and is subject to availability. Individual tickets and flex pass
subscriptions are available by calling 773-325-1700. 
Valet parking is available.

August 16, 1915 was the day that Mr. Leo Frank was killed
for being someone different from the others.

The Confederate Memorial Day is observed on April 26
in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; on May
10 in North Carolina and South Carolina; on May 30 in
Virginia; and on June 3 in Kentucky, Louisiana, and
Tennessee. 

Below are two links on the history of the trial
 

http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org

http://www.cviog.uga.edu/Projects/gainfo/leofrank.htm

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