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--- A Stage That Speaks Volumes<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dane Laffrey\u2019s scenic design may appear minimal at first, but with Sven Ortel\u2019s historical projections, the CIBC Theatre stage transforms into a living scrapbook. Black-and-white photographs, courthouse records, and newspaper headlines drift across the backdrop, immersing the audience in the era\u2019s tension and injustice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The technical artistry continues with Susan Hilferty\u2019s costumes, which are rich in detail and authenticity, and Heather Gilbert\u2019s lighting, which moves effortlessly from warm sepia tones to stark, cold interrogation light. Every design choice is intentional, guiding the audience\u2019s emotional focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
--- Standout Performances from a Talented Cast<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Max Chernin as Leo Frank captures the character\u2019s quiet vulnerability and sharp intellect, creating a layered portrayal that lingers in the mind. Talia Suskauer as Lucille Frank is the show\u2019s emotional anchor, transforming from reserved Southern charm to unwavering resolve as she fights for her husband\u2019s life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The supporting cast, including Michael Tacconi, Griffin Binnicker, Andrew Samonsky, and Chris Shyer, brings depth and energy to every scene. Ensemble numbers such as \u201cThe Old Red Hills of Home\u201d and \u201cThis Is Not Over Yet\u201d deliver some of the most stirring vocal performances currently on a Chicago stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
--- Music That Demands to Be Heard<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brown\u2019s Tony Award winning score is sweeping, layered, and haunting. The music acts as a secondary narrator, pulling the audience deeper into the emotional landscape of the story. The orchestra balances beautifully with the cast\u2019s vocals, ensuring every lyric\u2019s meaning is felt as much as it is heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
--- Room for Refinement<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While this Parade earns a strong 3.75 out of 4 stars, a few elements keep it from perfection. Sound mixing occasionally softens the emotional impact of pivotal lines, and certain sightlines in the CIBC Theatre limit visibility of subtle performances for some audience members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These issues are minor, but given the show\u2019s emotional depth, technical precision would only enhance its impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
--- Why Parade Resonates in 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an era where questions of truth, justice, and prejudice remain deeply relevant, Parade is more than a historical retelling, it is a mirror to our own time. Arden\u2019s direction refuses to offer neat resolutions, instead leaving audiences with both heartbreak and a renewed determination to remember.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
--- My Final Word:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Broadway in Chicago\u2019s Parade is a masterclass in storytelling, design, and performance. It provokes thought, stirs emotion, and proves why live theatre remains one of the most powerful art forms. With only slight adjustments in sound and sightlines, this production could easily reach perfection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3.75 out of 4 stars \u2014 a must see for anyone seeking Chicago theatre that not only entertains but also challenges and enlightens.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Parade at Broadway in Chicago: Justice, Music, and the Weight of MemoryRating: 3.75 out of 4 stars. Broadway in Chicago\u2019s powerful revival of Parade at the CIBC Theatre is as much an act of remembrance as it is a theatrical triumph. Based on the real-life trial and lynching of Leo Frank in 1913 Atlanta, this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5238,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_metasync_otto_title":"","_metasync_otto_description":"","_metasync_otto_keywords":"","_metasync_otto_og_title":"","_metasync_otto_og_description":"","_metasync_otto_twitter_title":"","_metasync_otto_twitter_description":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"Broadway in Chicago\u2019s Parade at CIBC Theatre delivers a moving, timely revival with standout performances and stunning design. 3.75 out of 4 stars.","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"","_aioseo_title":"","_aioseo_description":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[398],"tags":[178,33,857,858],"class_list":["post-5236","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-theatre-broadway","tag-broadway","tag-chicago","tag-parade","tag-parade-broadway"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tridence.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/PARADE-Chicago-broadway-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1713&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tridence.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5236","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tridence.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tridence.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tridence.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tridence.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5236"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/tridence.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5236\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5241,"href":"https:\/\/tridence.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5236\/revisions\/5241"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tridence.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tridence.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5236"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tridence.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5236"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tridence.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5236"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}