The previously announced Tony nominee Euan Morton (Taboo, Sondheim on Sondheim), who'll play wronged Leo Frank in the fact-inspired work, will be joined by Jenny Fellner (Broadway's Mamma Mia! and Wicked) as Frank's wife, Lucille, who stood by her husband when he was accused of murdering a factory girl in 1913 Georgia. A Southern community hostile to Frank's Jewish heritage prompted the miscarriage of justice.
Ford's Theatre (co-producing with Theater J) presents the Washington premiere of the Tony-winning musical drama, directed by Stephen Rayne, Sept. 23-Oct. 30. Opening night is Sept. 27.
The musical was originally co-conceived by Harold Prince.
The DC Parade cast also includes Kevin McAllister as Jim Conley, Lauren Williams as Mary Phagan and Stephen F. Schmidt as Governor Slayton, with Carolyn Agan, Sandy Bainum, Christopher Bloch, Peter Boyer, Erin Driscoll, Will Gartshore, Kellee Knighten Hough, Matthew John Kacergis, Christina Kidd, James Konicek, Deborah Lubega, Sean-Maurice Lynch, Chris Sizemore, Christopher Talbert and Bligh Voth.
Parade won 1999 Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score, and was nominated for acting, design, direction, choreography and Best Musical. Ford's is producing a revised version of the property, seen at the Donmar Warehouse in London and Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. The Ford's staging is original and not related to those earlier productions. The creative team includes choreographer Karma Camp; scenic designer Tony Cisek; music director Steven Landau; costume designer Wade Laboissonniere; lighting designer Pat Collins; sound designers David Budries and Charles Coes; wig and makeup designer Anne Nesmith; dialect coach Lynn Watson; fight director Brad Waller; production stage manager Brandon Prendergast; and assistant stage manager Kate Kilbane.
For more information, visit www.fords.org.
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The production is the first work in Ford's Theatre's "The Lincoln Legacy Project," a five-year effort to create a dialogue around the issues of tolerance, equality and acceptance."
