Parade at Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center

Set in Atlanta in 1913, “Parade” is a true Southern Gothic story. Brooklyn transplant Leo Frank (Arron Ellis) and his Southern wife Lucille (Samantha Craton) are firmly ensconced in Atlanta. Leo manages a local pencil factory, and Lucille is a devoted housewife. They live quiet, sometimes restless lives. Indeed, nothing would suggest that Leo is anything but a faithful husband, hard worker and devoted Jew, with Lucille as his loving partner.

Then, tragedy strikes. Thirteen-year-old Mary Phagan (Noa Levy), a factory employee, is murdered and left in the basement of the pencil factory. The story turns dark in a hurry. Under pressure from the public, Governor John Slaton (Lew Stowers) pushes District Attorney Hugh Dorsey (Mark Haan) to find the culprit. Fanned by the buzzy yellow journalism of Brit Craig (Maxwell Oliver), all fingers point to Leo. Despite circumstantial evidence and questionable motives, public testimony leads to the inevitable conclusion. Leo is found guilty and sentenced to death.