Theater Pizzazz’ Melissa Griegel was on the scene to capture opening night photos (March 16) for Parade, starring Tony Award-winner Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond who lead a 33 person cast at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre. During curtain call, Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond were joined by two-time Tony nominated director Michael Arden, two-time Tony Award-winning book writer Alfred Uhry, three-time Tony Award winning composer Jason Robert Brown. Immediately after the show New York State Governor Kathy Hochul came backstage to congratulate Platt, Diamond, and the entire cast and creative team.

Parade’s original Broadway production, directed by 21-time Tony Award-winning legend Harold Prince (who co-conceived of the musical alongside Uhry and Brown), premiered in 1998. This new production is the first time Frank’s story has been told on Broadway since.  

Michael Arden – Alfred Uhry – Jason Robert Brown
Micaela Diamond – Ben Platt
Howard McGillin
Jay Armstrong Johnson
Alexander Joseph Grayson

Parade also features Alex Joseph Grayson as ‘Jim Conley,’ Tony Award nominee Sean Allan Krill as ‘Governor Slaton,’ Tony Award nominee Howard McGillin as ‘Old Soldier/Judge Roan,’ and Paul Alexander Nolan as ‘Hugh Dorsey.’ They will be joined by Jay Armstrong Johnson as ‘Britt Craig,’ Kelli Barrett as ‘Mrs. Phagan,’ Courtnee Carter as ‘Angela,’ Eddie Cooper as ‘Newt Lee,’ Erin Rose Doyle as ‘Mary Phagan,’ Tony Award nominee Manoel Felciano as ‘Tom Watson,’ Danielle Lee Greaves as ‘Minnie McKnight,’ Douglas Lyons as ‘Riley,’ and Jake Pedersen as ‘Frankie Epps.’

The cast is completed by Florrie Bagel as ‘Nurse,’ Stacie Bono as ‘Sally Slaton,’ Max Chernin as ‘Mr. Turner,’ Emily Rose DeMartino as ‘Essie & Others,’ Christopher Gurr as ‘Luther Rosser/Mr. Peavy,’ Beth Kirkpatrick as ‘Nina Formby,’ Ashlyn Maddox as ‘Monteen & Others,’ Sophia Manicone as ‘Iola Stover,’ William Michals as ‘Detective Starnes,’ Jackson Teeley as ‘Officer Ivey,’ and Charlie Webb as ‘Young Soldier.’

Parade will play a strictly limited engagement through Sunday, August 6 only. Tickets for are on sale at www.paradebroadway.comwww.telecharge.com, by calling 800 447 7400, or at the box office at the Jacobs Theatre.

Photos: Melissa Griegel

Featured Image: Curtain Call