February 23, 2017: The Keegan Theatre presents PARADE, the Tony Award-winning musical by acclaimed playwright Alfred Uhry and composer Jason Robert Brown. PARADE is a stirring musical about a miscarriage of justice in early 20th-century Georgia, when a Jewish outsider was wrongly accused of murder. A love story emerges thanks to the strength, passion and loyalty of Leo’s wife, Lucille. PARADE runs March 11, 2017, through April 8, 2017, at The Keegan Theatre in Washington, D.C.
PARADE boasts an accomplished artistic team with a rich history of collaboration at Keegan, helmed by directors Christina A. Coakley and Susan Marie Rhea. Rhea, Keegan’s associate artistic director, has a long list of Keegan directing credits, including co-direction of the musicals AMERICAN IDIOT, HAIR and SPRING AWAKENING – all of which received Helen Hayes Award nominations for outstanding resident musical. Coakley, in turn, co-directed Keegan’s production of CABARET, which received four Helen Hayes nominations, including outstanding resident musical. Jake Null (2016 Helen Hayes Award winner, Outstanding Music Direction) music directs and five-time Helen Hayes nominee Rachel Dolan choreographs. PARADE features company member Michael Innocenti (WHAT WE’RE UP AGAINST, AN AMERICAN DAUGHTER, LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR) as Leo Frank and Keegan newcomer Eleanor J. Todd as Lucille Frank. The musical also features Chad Wheeler, Malcolm Lee, Cassie Cope, Ricky Drummond, James Finley, Timothy Hayes Lynch, Chris Gillespie, Ava Silva, Harrison Smith, Ashley K. Nicholas, Patrick M. Doneghy, John Loughney, Carl Williams, Molly Janiga, Hillary Thelin, Retta Laumann, Jennifer Lyons Pagnard, and Caroline Wolfson.
“We’ve waited patiently for our chance to do PARADE,” says Mark A. Rhea, Keegan’s founder and artistic director, “and the time has come at last to sink our teeth into this magnificent and sadly still relevant story of hatred rooted in the fear of those who are different. We’ve wanted for years to produce this profoundly moving look at an incredibly tragic story, and to present the triumphs and failures of this moment in human history — Leo’s story, and the story of so many others — with Keegan’s trademark honesty and intimacy.”
The company is thrilled to welcome many artists new to Keegan to this production, performing alongside company members and audience favorites. “Having Michael Innocenti in our back pocket made the project even more attractive to us,” Rhea continues. “This is Michael’s moment, a role he was born to play. When Ellie (Todd) auditioned and we knew we had found our Lucille, the excitement in the room was tangible. This cast is deeply rich with talent, and the more than 50 artists collaborating to bring PARADE to life can’t wait to share it with our Keegan audience at last.”
This is Keegan Theatre’s 20th season performing in Washington, DC. The Keegan Theatre produces powerful productions of classic and modern plays and musicals, offered to the community at affordable prices. Our work is fueled by extraordinary artists in an intimate venue, scripts that put real people out there on the stark edges of life, and an approach to the work that honors clear and authentic storytelling.
