Spreading the News Revival

Dear Readers, we live in divisive times. That’s no news to anyone. Our society is extremely polarized with many basing beliefs on fear, misinformation, and xenophobia while those in charge propagate that division by spreading lies. Sadly, this kind of behavior has been around forever, but if we can look at stories of this ilk, then maybe we can learn to rise above them. And that’s where shows like “Parade”, currently performing at the 5th Avenue Theatre, come into play.

As a Yeshiva boy with Ashkenazi DNA, my reaction to PARADE may have been more visceral than that of people who dislike OUR TOWN staging, see no reason for Leo Frank's lynching to become a big musical, or simply don't have Jewish skin and blood in the game.

The producers of Parade, Ben Platt, and various cast members, have responded to antisemitic protestors at the show's first preview last night.

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the greatest theatrical works (non-musical) from 1920-2020; see if your favorites made the list!

For Tennessee theater audiences, this weekend presents a bounty of theatrical riches, with six shows opening: Blackbird Theatre's Red, Sideshow's Crumble (Lay Me Down, Justin Timberlake), Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre's Spreading it Around, Boiler Room Theatre's Parade, Tennessee Women's Theater Project's Shooting Star and Street Theatre Company's latest incarnation of Macabaret.