November 18, 2004

‘Parade’ is ending

“Parade,” the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that relates the compelling true story of a Brooklyn-born Jewish factory owner falsely accused of murdering a 13-year-old girl who worked in his factory, will be performed Nov. 12 to 21, at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St.

Jesse Manocherian and Jessica Shure as Leo and Lucille Frank in the musical “Parade.”

Based on the book by Alfred Uhry, with music and lyrics by New York composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown, “Parade” will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12; 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14; 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18; 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19; 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21.

Northwestern Professor Dominic Missimi, director of the University’s music theatre program, will direct the student production that features 30 cast members. Missimi has directed more than 30 professional productions for Chicago’s three major music theatres and been nominated several times for the Joseph Jefferson Award for his productions at Marriott’s Lincolnshire Theatre.

“Other musicals have dealt with history, ‘1776,’ for example, but ‘Parade’ also delves into how prejudice can rip and tear at the very fabric of American freedom,” said Missimi.

“Jason Robert Brown’s lyrics are so intricate and poetic that he has been compared to Stephen Sondheim. ‘Parade’ features a lot of stirring, ensemble music that is operatic in its scope. The music is as compelling as the lyrics.”

This non-traditional, multi-scene musical, mainly set on the streets of Atlanta in 1913, was designed to capture the beauty of the period as well as convey the more tragic aspects of the story.

“Atlanta was a small town in 1913, and when this murder occurred, the town practically imploded from the attention,” said Missimi.

In addition to a student stage design crew, the theatre department has worked with John Boesche, a professional projection artist, to help convey what a media circus this 1913 event became.

Tickets for “Parade” are $25 for the general public; $22 for senior citizens and Northwestern faculty and staff; and $10 for students.

To order tickets by phone, call the Theatre and Interpretation Center Box Office at (847) 491-7282.