Review: 'Parade' at Electric Lodge
- Dondre Tuck
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Directed by Saundra McClain, “Parade” is a haunting and powerful retelling of one of America’s most unsettling true stories. With music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and a book by Alfred Uhry, the production at The Electric Lodge brings the 1913 trial of Leo Frank (Adam Fried) to life with raw emotion and unflinching honesty.
Set in Atlanta and Marietta, Georgia, the story follows Frank, a Jewish factory superintendent from Brooklyn, who is wrongfully accused of murdering a 14-year-old girl, Mary Phagan (Sophia Roth). The play examines the antisemitic hysteria and mob-fueled hatred that led to his conviction, while grounding the tragedy in themes of injustice, identity and enduring love.
Each performance in this production feels fully realized and deeply lived in. Fried and Bryce Hamilton, who plays Leo’s wife Lucille Frank, create a partnership that’s tender, tense and profoundly human. Their chemistry reaches its height in the second act when the couple reconnects during Frank’s imprisonment, offering one of the show’s most moving and intimate moments.
Jeremy Ethan Harris opens the musical with commanding energy as a young Confederate soldier, his voice filling the space with both pride and melancholy. Carter Michael’s portrayal of Jim Conley—a janitor at the factory who becomes a key witness—stands out for its charisma and vocal power, bringing dimension to a character often seen only through the lens of the trial.
McClain’s direction is sharp and intentional, transforming The Electric Lodge’s black-box space into something that feels expansive and cinematic. She leans into the story’s emotional depth rather than relying on spectacle, allowing her actors’ performances to carry the weight of the narrative. The pacing feels seamless, with musical transitions that glide from one scene to the next, sustaining tension while letting the emotional beats breathe. McClain’s vision captures both the social turbulence of the time, and the quiet resilience found in moments of truth and connection.
Set designer Izaiah Martinez uses minimalism to striking effect. The stage consists of two brown benches, small tables and an elevated platform framed by Confederate flags hanging on both sides, symbols that instantly place the audience in a charged historical space. Lighting designer Mario Alvarado Tobar adds visual texture through hues of green, blue and amber that shift fluidly with each scene’s tone. Costume designer Michael Mullen completes the world with period-accurate attire that feels lived in, from Lucile’s modest grace to the soldiers’ polished uniforms.
The live music under the direction of Jonny Perl and Alonso Pirio is integral to the show’s emotional heartbeat. The small orchestra, featuring a drummer, pianist and cellist, elevates every scene. Brown’s score moves through the performers like electricity, fueling their emotions and pulling the audience into every note.
“Parade” explores prejudice, racial violence, and the destructive power of media sensationalism. Yet beneath that darkness is a quieter message about love, loyalty and the fight for justice. Lucile’s unwavering support for Leo becomes the soul of the story, her faith shining even when hope seems lost.
The audience’s response said everything during a recent performance. Applause broke out after nearly every number, followed by the kind of silence that only comes when people are fully absorbed. “Parade” at The Electric Lodge is a masterclass in ensemble storytelling, an emotionally charged and thought-provoking production that lingers long after the lights fade.
“Parade” performed from Oct. 23 to Nov. 2 at The Electric Lodge, 1416 Electric Ave., Venice. For more information visit ElectricLodge.org.
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