PARADE to Close Blackfriars Theatre 76th Season
Jason Robert Brown's score comes to Blackfriars Theatre in Rochester, NY in this story of Leo Frank's 1913 trial
Jason Robert Brown's Tony-winning score comes to life on stage as Blackfriars Theatre (795 East Main Street) finishes up the 25/26 season with Parade, running May 8th-31st.
Anyone seeking a memorable and moving theatrical experience as they cruise into summer need look no further than Blackfriars Theatre and their 76th season closer, Parade. This heart-rending musical is a historical retelling of the 1913 trial of Jewish factory manager, Leo Frank. As the small town of Marietta, Georgia, winds up for its annual Confederate Memorial Day Parade, Frank is accused of murdering a teenaged factory girl. Isolated from the world, he develops a new and deeper love for his wife, Lucille, who tirelessly crusades for his freedom amidst a circus of conflicting accounts, false testimony and mishandled evidence in a town reeling with racial tension. Alfred Uhry's award-winning book and Jason Robert Brown's rousing, colorful and haunting score tell a compelling and provocative tale of justice miscarried through media sensationalism, ultimately revealing a country at odds with its declarations of equality.
Parade comes to Blackfriars Theatre as a long-awaited artistic endeavor for patrons and artists alike. "I first fell in love with Parade when I saw a college production of it 25 years ago,” says Blackfriars executive director, Mary Tiballi Hoffman. “I knew nothing about Leo Frank's trial going in, but the history and heartbreak of what I experienced in that theatre ... well, I've never forgotten it. So, when our Season Soirée audience voted for Parade to be our big musical of the 2025-2026 Season at Blackfriars, I was thrilled. I know our audiences are going to be similarly challenged, surprised, and ultimately moved by this true and timely story."
Due to its stark break from the flashy musical theatre form in which theatre-goers might imagine kick lines full of sequin-clad dancers, Parade's grounded historical narrative and emotionally-driven lyrical lines cement it as a lesser-known cult favorite. This is likely why many actors look to it as a bucket-list opportunity. “It was no surprise when Parade ended up stealing the majority of votes at the Season Soiree last year,” says Blackfriars artistic director, Brynn Tyszka. “Artists near and far wait for this show to come around because it offers a unique challenge to musical theatre performers with challenging songs and characters you can really sink your teeth into. We came close to a record-breaking turnout for auditions, and that's always a thrill because you can be very deliberate about selecting just the right mix of voices to make a score like this really soar.”
No artist was more excited to be a part of this process than production director, Danny Hoskins. “Parade is one of the more beloved contemporary musicals of our time, partly because Jason Robert Brown's Tony-Award winning score is heart-breaking and soul-stirring as it navigates the challenging story of Leo Frank in the final two-years of his life,” says Hoskins. “The other component that makes it so relevant is the fact that the exploration of bigotry, hatred, and racism during the 1913 trial is still prevalent in our world today. I believe the power of theatre and storytelling is to display the struggles we face as human beings and instill in us a hope that we can leave the theater and become part of a change for the better. The beauty and spirit of Parade lie in that opportunity.”
Blackfriars Theatre provides an intimate theatre-going experience, with 126 seats in a wraparound configuration—audiences are never more than thirty feet from an actor on stage. Because of the limited seating, it is recommended that patrons purchase their tickets early to ensure availability. Audiences can see Parade at Blackfriars Theatre from May 8th through the 24th.
The Parade cast includes Lauren Akerley (Monteen), Avabella Antonowicz (Mary Phagan), Jordan Bachmann (Leo Frank), Kolton Bradley (Jim Conley), Patrick Brett (Hugh Dorsey), Cynthia Brito (Angela), Gracee Chambers (Iola), Yakira Capri Coleman (Minnie McKnight), Mara Davis (Sally Slaton), Brooke Finlayson (Mrs. Phagan), Abigail Graham (Essie), Joseph Gregoire (Frankie Epps), Sawyer Herbst (Young Soldier/Britt Craig), Pat McCabe (Luther Rosser/Officer Ivey), Benjamin Monacelli (Tom Watson/Detective Starnes), Abby Rice (Lucille Frank), Don Sheffrin (Old Soldier/Judge Roan), Jalen Taylor (Riley/Mr. Peavy), and John Winter (Governor Slaton). Parade is directed by Danny Hoskins with choreography by Hector Manuel and musical direction by Andy Pratt.
TICKETS
$20–$39. Tickets are available in person at Blackfriars Theatre, online at www.blackfriars.org, or by calling (585) 454-1260. Group, military, and student discounts are available through the Box Office. If available, tickets can be purchased at the door beginning one hour prior to performance. Box Office hours are Tuesday through Friday, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover are accepted at no additional charge (online service fees apply).
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