The Center Theatre Group presentation of the London production, directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Rob Ashford, begins Sept. 24. T.R. Knight ("Grey's Anatomy," Broadway's Noises Off), Lara Pulver, Michael Berresse (A Chorus Line; Kiss Me, Kate; The Light in the Piazza), Tony nominee Charlotte d'Amboise (A Chorus Line, Chicago), Tony Award winner Christian Hoff (Jersey Boys) star in the tale of social injustice in 1913 Georgia.
The cast for the musical by composer-lyricist Brown and librettist Uhry (who each won Tonys for their work on the show in 1998-99) will also feature Brad Anderson, Will Collyer, Karole Foreman, Laura Griffith, P.J. Griffith, Curt Hansen, Deidrie Henry, Lisa Livesay, Hayley Podschun, Rose Sezniak, David St. Louis, Phoebe Strole (Spring Awakening) and Josh Tower. Additional casting will be announced.
Opening is Oct. 4, and performances will continue through Nov. 15.
Tickets are available by calling (213) 628-2772 or by visiting www.CenterTheatreGroup.org.
* This production represents rewrites since the 1998-99 Broadway production (which earned Brown a Best Score Tony Award and Uhry a Best Book Tony). The musical was co-conceived by Harold Prince.
Knight, formerly George of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy," will play Leo Frank, with Pulver reprising her Olivier Award-nominated London turn as Lucille Frank in the tale of injustice in Atlanta.
Knight appeared on Broadway opposite Patti LuPone in the 2001 revival of Noises Off, as well as in Tartuffe, and received a Drama Desk nomination for his role in Off-Broadway's Scattergood. Pulver received an Olivier Award nomination for the Parade role of steely wife Lucille in London's Donmar Warehouse production of Parade. She currently appears on the BBC series "Robin Hood."
Here's how TCG bills the musical: "A shameful event in American history and a poignant love story are at the heart of Parade…[which] follows the true story of the arrest, conviction and lynching of Leo Frank in post-Civil War Atlanta, Georgia. Mary Phagan, a 13-year-old factory worker, has been murdered on the day of the 1913 Confederate Memorial Day parade. Frank, the factory's superintendent and a Jewish outsider, is immediately cast as a suspect. As the media frenzy ensues, with journalists thirsting for news to boost circulations and ambitious politicians seeking votes, Frank — the transplanted Yankee — becomes the scapegoat. His wife, Lucille, passionately works for her husband's release from jail but public hatred continues to rise to a fever pitch. Despite the terrible circumstance, Leo and Lucille find a renewed commitment to each other as well as a moment of transcendent grace in their tragedy."
Rob Ashford won the Best Choreography Tony Award for Thoroughly Modern Millie.
The new Donmar Warehouse production received 2008 Olivier Award nominations for Best New Musical, Best Theatre Choreographer and Best Director, among others.
