Max Chernin and Talia Suskauer will lead the company of the upcoming national tour of Jason Robert Brown and Alfred Uhry's Parade, set to launch from Minneapolis' Orpheum Theatre January 21, 2025, as previously announced. Further casting is to be announced.
Chernin and Suskauer will star as Leo and Lucille Frank, respectively. While Suskauer is new to the production, Chernin understudied the role while also appearing in the Tony-winning revival's ensemble.
“Max and Talia are extraordinary artists who bring an incredible sense of identity and empathy to their work, rooted in their Jewish heritage," says director Michael Arden in a statement. "I can’t wait for audiences across the country to witness the remarkable depth, passion, and grace they will bring to their portrayals of Leo and Lucille Frank."
The official premiere in Minnesota will follow technical rehearsals and public preview performances at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, New York.
Arden will be back to recreate his Tony-winning direction, working with his entire Broadway creative team, including choreographers Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant, music coordinator Kimberlee Wertz, music supervisor Tom Murray, scenic designer Dane Laffrey, costume designer Susan Hilferty, lighting designer Heather Gilbert, sound designer Jon Weston, projection designer Sven Ortel, and hair and wig designer Tom Watson. Casting is by Telsey + Co's Craig Burns. New for the tour is music director Charlie Alterman.
Parade tells the true story of Leo Frank, a Jewish man who was wrongfully accused and convicted of murdering a 13-year-old girl in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1913. It features a score by Brown and a book by Uhry.
This production began with a 2022 limited run at New York City Center. Much of that cast continued on with the Broadway transfer, including Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond as Leo and Lucille Frank, respectively. The revival won two 2023 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Direction of a Musical for Arden.
Originally directed by Harold Prince, the musical premiered on Broadway in 1998, receiving nine Tony nominations and winning two, for its book and score. In the years since, a major revision premiered at London's Donmar Warehouse in 2007, which later played Los Angeles' Mark Taper Forum in 2009. The revival uses the revisions from the work's London premiere. The forthcoming tour will be the musical's second, following a first national tour of Prince's original production in 2000.
The national tour is being produced by Seaview, Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, New York City Center, Erica Lynn Schwartz, Pencil Factory Productions, Eric & Marsi Gardiner, Chutzpah Productions, Robin Merrie, Cynthia Stroum, Julie Cohen, Marcia Goldberg, John Gore Organization, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Roth-Manella Productions, Runyonland Sussman, ShowTown Productions, Rachel Styne, Tom Tuft, Benjamin Simpson, Nathan Vernon, Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, and Bee Carrozzini.
Visit ParadeBroadway.com.
