Parade Musical
The voices of the crowd blend into a cacophony of sound as the actors backstage eagerly converse with excitement and apprehension, secretly praying that the audience will enjoy the performance. As the lights cast a warm glow across the stage, Eton S. marches into the spotlight, beginning the performance of “Parade”.
The Nueva spring musical “Parade” is centered around the lives involved with the pre-trial, trial, and post-trial of Leo Frank, a superintendent at the National Pencil Factory during the early 1900s in
Atlanta, Georgia. Although Frank was convicted of murdering a twelve-year-old girl named Mary Phagan, many historians believe that the trial was manipulated by the prosecutor, Hugh Dorsey. The governor of the time, Jack Slaton, along with Leo’s wife, Lucille, believed that Leo was innocent, and they re-interrogated all the witnesses and tried their to best to reopen the case. However, two years after the trial, a mob of men, self-named the “Knights of Mary Phagan,” lynched Leo Frank.
The Nueva spring musical “Parade” is centered around the lives involved with the pre-trial, trial, and post-trial of Leo Frank, a superintendent at the National Pencil Factory during the early 1900s in Atlanta, Georgia.
The process has been arduous for everyone involved with the musical. Since the beginning of the semester, the actors got into character, working on their harmonies and rehearsing their scenes. Once the stage was set, the actors began dress rehearsals, and practiced using props to prepare themselves for the performance while Lisa Share-Sapolsky and the stage managers worked on making the performance come to life.
When Adithi G., actor for Mrs. Phagan, was asked about the entire experience, she eagerly replied, “I would probably characterize it as lots of work, sleep deprivation, crankiness, but also hope and excitement.” Other cast members concur. Nico P., actor for the governor, remarked, “It was tiring, but out of all the Nueva musicals, I would say this has been the best one ever.”
