Plymouth State Chorale Presents: Parade

CLOCK PHOTO / NINA WEINSTEIN

On Saturday, April 18, Plymouth State University’s Chorale will be performing a concert version of Jason Robert Brown’s Broadway musical, Parade. 
The musical, which takes place in Atlanta, Georgia, follows the true story of Leo Frank (played by Senior Musical Theatre Major, Andrew Kelley), who was falsely accused of the rape and murder of 14 year-old Mary Phagan (played by Freshman Musical Theatre Major, Becca Mansfield). 

The show focuses largely on the racial intolerance that plagued the southland at the time, and how it affected the outcome of Frank’s trial. Musical numbers comment on the pride of the State of Georgia in the years after the American Civil War, and their unwillingness to change their ways of life. All of these things, as well as circumstantial evidence and false witness reports in the trial, stack up against Frank throughout the show. 

Originally on Broadway, Parade enjoyed brief popularity, having only 84 regular performances. However short its run may have been, the show still won two Tony Awards in 1999 for “Best Book of a Musical” and “Best Original Score.” Now the show will be coming to PSU’s Hanaway Theatre stage in a different way. 

As opposed to a fully staged musical, Parade will be performed as a concert musical. A concert version of musical, in short, is a production of a musical in which no set or costumes are used, and there is a very small amount of blocking or movement on stage. Instead, the focus is entirely on the actor’s dialogue and the musical numbers. 

“In any concert we focus on the text and the drama of the music. So in a way, everything we do is a theatrical piece,” said Dr. Daniel Perkins, the Director of the show. “People are used to seeing costumes and dancing and lighting…we’re doing minimal movement, and we’re pretty much staying in place. So the challenge is to find ways for the singers and actors to really emote and communicate all the passion of their role without the assistance of costumes and makeup and lighting. It takes a lot of emotional preparation.”

For some actors in the show who are used to being in full stage productions, the idea of a concert version of a musical is a little different. 
“I think the biggest challenge is keeping your energy up,” said Junior Music Contract Major, Joe Kratman, who is playing the role of Tom Watson, a journalist who inflames the public in the Leo Frank case. “Especially when its not staged, you have to work a lot harder to convey what you’re trying to convey without the help of a set or props or costumes. You have to convey the story strictly though your physicality and acting and character portrayal.”
“It’s certainly something I’m not used to, but I feel like we get a much more intimate feeling for what the show stands for,” said Sophomore Musical Theater Major Jacob Stone, who is playing the role of Governor Jack Slaton.

As far as what the show stands for, the entire chorale is in agreement that the themes of racism and prejudice in the show are very relatable to what is happening in the world today. In addition to rehearsing for the show, Perkins has his students researching for current events that relate to the events of Parade that occurred in 1913. 

“I think it’s a really important production because the musical is still very relevant to our society,” said Kratman. “Themes of our justice system and how fair or unfair it might be in relation to race and religion are very taboo subjects that people don’t really like to talk about.” 

Stone agreed with Kratman, saying “I absolutely think it’s parallel to things we see in other countries and even in our own country today.

Dr. Perkins hopes that this show will be able to really portray the different problems that the country still faces when it comes to prejudices. “Everyday there’s a new thing,” said Perkins. “Tomorrow it will be something new. Every day in news there’s some story of people who want to exclude others for one reason or another and it just can’t happen.” 

Parade will be performed on Saturday, April 18 at 8:00pm. For information or tickets to the event, contact the Silver Center for the Arts Box Office at 603-535-2787, or purchase tickets online by going to purchase.tickets.com and searching “Silver Center for the Arts.”