Parade study guide

A Supplementary Study Guide Research by Jenna Stelmok Compiled by Katie Foster

Table of Contents Table of Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 1 Synopsis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 2 SECTION 1: History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 4 Based on a True Story: Meet the People Who Shaped the Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 4 Timeline of the Trial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5 Yellow Journalism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 6 SECTION 2: About the Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 7 About the Playwright, Director and Composer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 7 Production History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 8 SECTION 3: Arden Theatre Co. Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 9 Production Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 9 Production Photos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 10 Who’s Who? Meet the Cast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 11 SECTION 4: Glossary & Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14 Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 15 Curriculum Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 16 Discussion Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 19 Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 21 1

Synopsis SPOILER ALERT ACT I

Parade opens in Marietta, Georgia, during the American Civil War. In 1862, a young Confederate soldier says goodbye to his love as he prepares to leave to fight for his country. Years quickly pass, and we enter 1913. The once young soldier is now an older, one-legged veteran, who prepares to march in the annual Confederate Memorial Day parade.

As the parade begins, we meet Leo Frank, a Jew from Brooklyn, NY, who feels entirely out of place in his southern home. He feels discriminated against because of his Jewish faith, Yankee origins, and college degree.

Even Leo’s relationship with his wife is uncomfortable, as she plans a picnic for them on a day that his extreme work ethic calls him into the office. We soon learn that Lucille is upset over the state of her marriage to Leo, as she feels unappreciated, and wonders whether Leo is the right man for her.

The next characters introduced are Frankie Epps and Mary Phagan, two teenagers who flirt over the idea of going to the pictures together. Mary flounces away from Frankie, on her way to the pencil factory to collect her pay from Leo. A brief scene between Mary and Leo takes place in Leo’s office, which ends abruptly.

That night Leo is woken roughly, and brought back to the factory by Detective Starnes and Officer Ivey, where Leo learns that Mary’s body has been discovered in the basement.

The officials immediately place blame for the murder on Newt Lee, an African-American night watchman who found the body, but Newt manages to convince the two men that Leo might be the guilty one. Leo is then arrested, but not charged with the crime. People across town begin to hear of the incident, including Mary’s mother and reporter Britt Craig. The town is wrought with anger and tears, and Frankie swears to get revenge on Mary’s killer, with help from Tom Watson, a writer for an extremist right-wing newspaper.

Newt is released from jail after an interrogation, on the reasoning that hanging another African-American man will not be enough to appease the community. Instead, the pressure is turned up on Leo, and reporter Britt Craig continues his hunt for a story.

While in jail, Leo’s lawyer, Luther Z. Rosser, vows to bring Leo home. However, local prosecutor Hugh Dorsey convinces a janitor from the factory, Jim Conley, to falsely testify against Leo, in exchange for immunity from a previous jailbreak. Lucille, constantly surrounded by reporters, collapses from the stress and tells Leo that she will not be able to stand his trial, which he begs her to reconsider.

Leo’s trial begins, with the majority of evidence against him having clearly been fed to the “witnesses” by prosecutor Dorsey. Even Frankie testifies that Mary once told him that Leo looked at her “funny,” which three of Mary’s friends echo in response. The girls all testify in court that Leo tried to lure them into his office on various occasions, with inappropriate intentions.

Although Leo’s lawyer warns against it, Leo ends Act I by giving a heartfelt speech on his own behalf.

Unfortunately, he is not believed, but instead found guilty, and sentenced to death by hanging. Act I ends as Leo and Lucille embrace in fear, while the crowd celebrates around them, as “justice” has been served.

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ACT II

Leo has begun appealing his trial. In the Northern United States, there is great disapproval of the way that the trial is being handled, with much belief that there is anti-Semitism occurring around the charges. Conversely, two African-American characters wonder whether people would be so upset if the either the victim or the man being convicted were black.

Lucille attempts to help her husband by revealing important information to reporter Britt Craig. This sparks a fight between the couple, but Lucille continues her advocacy for her husband, even confronting the Governor Slaton at a party and accusing him of being a coward for not looking into the conviction. The governor agrees to reopen the case, and Leo and Lucille are thrilled. Governor Slaton visits Mary’s friends, who admit that they made up their story, on behalf of Hugh Dorsey. It becomes clear that the witnesses in Leo’s case were all fed stories to tell in court by Dorsey. Factory janitor Jim Conley sticks to his original story, even though it is clear that there are many discrepancies between his tale and the hard evidence.

After much debate, and research on the trial by Leo himself, Governor Slaton is convinced to change the outcome of the trial. Leo’s death sentence is lifted, and he is instead condemned to life in prison in Milledgeville, Georgia. The townspeople of Marietta are enraged, but Leo and Lucille are thrilled and have effectively rediscovered their love and affection toward each other. Leo especially realizes how he truly has underestimated and underappreciated his wife. They celebrate their love in Leo’s new prison, and Lucille ends her visit, confident Leo will be released soon.

After Lucille’s departure, a gang of masked men appears, including Frankie Epps and the two police officers.

They kidnap Leo, and return him to Marietta, where they hang him from an oak tree. Naturally, Lucille is wrought with sadness, but takes comfort in the belief that Leo is now free and with God. Parade ends full circle, as the Confederate Memorial Day Parade begins once again.

Leo Frank and Company during Confederate Memorial Day Parade

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BASED ON A TRUE STORY Meet the people who shaped the characters Leo Max Frank (April 17, 1884-August 17, 1915): a Jewish-American factory superintendent, originally from New York, Frank graduated from Cornell University with a degree in mechanical engineering. In 1908, Frank moved to Atlanta at the invitation of his uncle, to work at the National Pencil Company. He met Lucille Selig shortly after, and they were married in 1910. In 1913, Frank was convicted of murdering 13-year-old Mary Phagan, a factory worker at the company. Frank’s conviction and subsequent lynching drew attention across the nation to questions of anti-Semitism in the United States. Many believe that Frank was convicted because he was seen as a rich, northern Jewish man who thought himself better than those who worked for him. Indeed, Frank was labeled with many stereotypes in a case of law where it was later found that evidence was improperly handled, witnesses lied in the courtroom, etc. In 1986, Frank was granted a posthumous pardon for the murder of Phagan, but was never officially cleared of the conviction.

Mary Phagan (June 1, 1899-April 26,1913): born in Florence, Alabama, Phagan was born into a family of tenant farmers. Her father died shortly before her birth, at which point her mother moved the family to East Point, Georgia, where they opened a boarding house. Phagan left school at age ten to work part-time in a mill. In 1912 the National Pencil Company hired her, and she began work running a knurling machine (which inserts the erasers into the metal bands of pencils). Phagan was laid off from work due to material shortages, and went to claim her last week’s pay a few days later. That same night, her body was discovered.

Jim Conley: born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1886, Conley was one of 10 children. He lacked formal education, but allegedly learned to read and write on his own, on a very basic level.

There are no surviving official documents regarding Conley’s birth or death, although it is claimed by some researchers that Conley passed away in the early 1960s, while other accounts claim he passed in the early 1950s. He began work at the National Pencil Company in 1911, where he worked as the factory janitor during the time of Phagan’s murder. Conley had a history of alcoholism, as well as multiple arrests. He was arrested as a possible suspect in the Phagan case because he was found rinsing out a shirt that had the appearance of bloodstains on it, which he claimed was rust. He was quickly released as a suspect. Conley testified in court that Frank had murdered Phagan, and required Conley to help him dispose of the body—for which Conley later received jail time. Today, many believe that Conley was the real murderer of the girl.

Hugh Dorsey (July 10, 1871-June 11 1948): born in Fayetteville, Georgia, Dorsey moved to Atlanta with his family at a young age, where his father worked as an attorney. Dorsey studied law at the University of Virginia, after which time he joined his father’s law firm. In 1910, Dorsey was appointed solicitor-general of the Fulton County Superior Court. In 1913, he became prosecuting attorney in Frank’s murder trial. Dorsey’s campaign to convict Frank received a large amount of media coverage, especially after the attorney won his case and convicted Frank with the murder. Dorsey’s victory contributed to a popularity that helped him be elected as the Governor of Georgia from 1917-1921. He later ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate. He ended his career as a superior court judge in Atlanta, from 1935 until he passed away in 1948.

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Timeline of the Trial April 28, 1913

Leo Frank is arrested on suspicion of Mary’s murder.

May 21, 1913

The jury gives a murder indictment against Leo Frank.

Mary Phagan is murdered after picking up her paycheck.

May 1, 1913

June 4,1913

June 28,1913

John M. Slaton becomes the new governor of Georgia.

August 25, 1913

Final arguments end.

Leo Frank is found guilty of murder.

April 26, 1913

October 31,1913

The new trial is denied, but the judge expresses doubt about the guilty verdict. Leo’s execution is rescheduled for April 17, 1914.

Lucille Frank accuses Hugh Dorsey of convincing witnesses to falsify evidence.

August 26,1913

June 21, 1915

July 18, 1915

August 17, 1915

Leo Frank is attacked in jail by another prisoner.

Two other prisoners (both doctors) save him by stitching the wound.

The men drive Leo back to Marietta, Georgia, where they hang him from an oak tree to die.

July 28,1913

Leo Frank’s trial begins.

Leo Frank is sentenced to hang. Execution is set for October 10, 1913.

Leo’s attorneys file for a new trial.

June 20, 1915

Governor Slaton changes Leo’s sentence from death to life in prison.

Jim Conley, factory janitor, is arrested as a possible suspect, though he is quickly released

February 24,1914

Jim Conley is sentenced to a year of hard labor for the part he testified to playing in the murder of Mary Phagan.

Leo is transferred to a new jail in Milledgeville, Georgia, in the middle of the night to avoid mob violence.

August 16,1915

A gang of men kidnap and seize Leo Frank from jail during the night.

August 20,1915

Leo Frank is buried in Brooklyn, NY.

March 4, 1982

January 4,1983 The Anti-Defamation League submits an application for a posthumous (after-death) pardon of Leo Frank, due to Mann’s testimony.

Alonzo Mann, who testified at Leo’s trial as a young boy, states on his death bed that Leo was innocent; he said that he had seen janitor Jim Conley carrying Mary’s body, but Conley threatened to kill him if he said anything.

March 11, 1986

The posthumous pardon is issued, but Leo Frank is never officially cleared of murder.

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Yellow Journalism Yellow journalism is a term coined in the late 1800s. It is used to describe the melodramatic, over-exaggerated news stories that were heightened to help sell more newspapers, which led to misleading and manufactured facts and stories.

The idea behind the phrase came about when a popular newspaper called New York World published a cartoon called “Hogan’s Alley”. It featured a character wearing a yellow dress named “the yellow kid”. A rival newspaper, New York Journal, responded with a similar cartoon, even hiring the original “Hogan’s Alley” artist to compete against New York World. From there, a competition between “yellow kids” sparked the term “yellow journalism”.

Once the term was coined, the sensationalist style of writing continued to grow to help with sales. This ultimately fueled many conflicts between rival newspapers. This type of journalism also exaggerated feuds between the US and Spain with developments in Cuba, which led to the Spanish-American War in late 1890s.

In the case of Leo Frank, newspapers began to spread rumors of Frank, claiming he was a sex pervert. As reported in Watson’s Magazine, Hugh Dorsey, the prosecutor of Frank’s case, claims that Mary Phagan “died” because “she wouldn’t yield her virtue to the demands of her superintendent”. Watson’s Magazine continued to spread lies about Frank’s “sexual deviancy”, playing to the anti-Semitism beliefs popular in the South at the time.

Not only was he subject to prejudice against Yankees and Jews, but he was also scorned for supporting child labor in his pencil factory. These prejudices made him subject to many inaccurate newspaper headlines.

Only after Frank was convicted and sentenced did any news spread that his trial might have been wrongly conducted. There was a significant amount of hearsay involved with the facts used against Frank. That, along with prejudice from the judge and jury, ultimately led to the unfair trial.

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About the Playwright, Composer and Orignal Director Alfred Uhry

Alfred Fox Uhry (Playwright) was born on December 3, 1936 in Atlanta, Georgia.

By today, at age 76, he has made a name for himself as an American playwright and screenwriter. Additionally, he is the only American playwright who has won an Academy Award, two Tony Awards, and the Pulitzer Prize for his writing.

He is known for a trilogy of plays, known as his “Atlanta Trilogy,” which all take place in Atlanta and are set during the first half of the 20th century. These shows include: Driving Miss Daisy (1987), The Last Night of Ballyhoo (1996), and Parade, (1998). Parade earned Uhry a Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical.

Uhry grew up in a Jewish family in Atlanta with the stories of Leo and Lucille Frank, as his great-uncle owned the factory in which Leo was supervisor, and his grandmother played bridge with Lucille.

Uhry is currently married, has four daughters, and lives in New York.

He began his career in New York City working as a pianist, conductor, and musical arranger, and playing at piano bars and nightclubs. Brown’s first success was Songs for a New World, a musical that he wrote and composed, which was first produced in 1995.

He won a Tony Award for Best Original Musical Score in 1999, for his work on Parade.

James Robert Brown

Jason Robert Brown (Music and Lyrics) was born on June 20, 1970 in Ossining, New York. Today, he is one of the most prominent musical theatre composers, lyricists, and playwrights in America. Brown credits Stephen Sondheim’s work as an influence for his choice to enter the theatre world, rather than the rock music scene.

Today, Brown is married to a fellow composer and has two daughters.

Harold Prince

Harold Smith Prince (Original Director, Co-Conceiver) was born on January 30, 1928, in New York City, and is an American director and producer of theatre, associated with multiple famous Broadway musical productions. To date, he has won 21 Tony Awards, which is more than any other theatre artist.

Prince began his career as an assistant stage manager for George Abbott, with whom he later co-produced The Pajama Game, which won a Tony Award for Best Musical in 1955. Prince had a huge success in 1966, with Cabaret. After this noted show, he began collaborations with Stephen Sondheim, including Company (1970), A Little Night Music (1973), Sweeney Todd (1979), and others.

Prince won a Special Tony Award in 2006, for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.

Today, he is married and has two children, Daisy Prince (a director) and Charles Prince (a conductor).

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Production History Southern extended families are prone to telling stories and so are Jewish ones. Mine was both, so I got a double dose. I grew up hearing about the quirks of distant relatives, in-laws, and a whole network of people I didn’t know. They all came with stories attached.

But nobody mentioned Leo Frank. Some of the family even walked out of the room if the name came up.

I found this confusing, because I knew that my Great Uncle Sig had been his employer, and Lucille Frank was my grandmother’s friend.

Orignal Broadway Cast Recording Album Cover

Due to this hush-hush policy, I developed a fascination for the case, which has lasted all these years and which led to the idea for Parade.

- Alfred Uhry (book of Parade)

Parade, a success story for all artists involved, won two Tony Awards (Best Book and Best Original Score) and six Drama Desk Awards. It was first produced on Broadway on December 17, 1998, at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, directed by Harold Prince. It closed just over two months after opening, after only 39 previews and 84 regular performances. The original cast included: Brent Carver: Leo Frank Carolee Carmello: Lucille Frank Christy Carlson Romano: Mary Phagan Since its first brief stint on Broadway, Parade has gone on to tour nationally in the United States, and has enjoyed many other professional productions across the world.

Of an early tour to Atlanta, Brown is quoted as saying “I sort of thought we’d be run out of town on a rail.

Instead, they recognized that we were treating all the characters with enormous compassion. They were so honored that it was their story, even though it was sad and terrible. They understood that these weren’t bad people. They understood how it could happen.”

Many theatre critics have praised the show, although some feel that racial slurs are used too liberally throughout the text. Still, Parade’s multiple awards and additional nominations help to ensure that it will continue to be produced across the nation.

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Director

Music Director

Ryan Touhey

Niki Cousineau

Scenic and Video Designer

Jorge Cousineau

Costume Designer

Rosemarie E. McKelvey

Lighting Designer

Sound Designer

Associate Music Director and Conductor

Assistant Director

Terrence J. Nolen

Arden

T H E A T R E C O.

Production Team

Daniel Perelstein Stage Manager

Alec E. Ferrell

Choreographer

Thom Weaver Elana Boulos

Amanda Morton

Assistant Stage Manager

Kate Nelson

Cast of Parade, Arden Theatre Company Photo by Mark Garvin

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Production Photos

with Renderings and Models Rendering A depiction or interpretaion of a costume.

Model A built to scale representation of a set.

Sarah Gliko as Mrs. Phagan Photo by Mark Garvin

Costume Rendering Leo Frank

By Rosemarie E. McKelvey

Ben Dibble as Leo Frank Photo by Mark Garvin

Set Model Confederate Memorial Day Parade

By Jorge Cousineau

Costume Rendering Mrs. Phagan

By Rosemarie E. McKelvey

Robert Hager as Frankie and Company Photo by Mark Garvin

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Meet the Cast Actor Biographies

KATHRYN BRUNNER (Mary Phagan) is thrilled to be making her debut at the Arden! She is currently a sophomore at Temple University studying Musical Theater. Kathryn has grown up performing in Philly at The Walnut Street Theater and at various theaters in New York City with KidzTheater. Her favorite credits include: Spring Awakening (Wendla), The Sound of Music (Maria), Bye, Bye Birdie (Kim McAfee), Songs For A New World (Woman A), and A Chorus Line (Val). Kathryn would like to thank the entire cast and crew at the Arden for being such an inspiration to her everyday. Shout outs go to Mom, Matt, her family, and her friends for being so supportive!

RACHEL CAMP (Essie) is overjoyed to return to the Arden after playing Natalie in last season’s Next to Normal. Other companies she has performed with recently include the Walnut Street Theatre (Grease, The Buddy Holly Story), Flashpoint Theatre Co. (Slip/Shot), 11th Hour Theatre Co. (Trailer Park Musical, Winter Wonderettes), and People’s Light & Theatre Co. (Three Musketeers Panto). She won a Barrymore in 2011 for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her work at Theatre Horizon in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. This winter she is thrilled to perform in her first Arden Children’s Theatre show: Sideways Stories at Wayside School! Many thanks to Terry and Matt; much respect and love to Alec and this incredible team. www.rachelcamp.com. For Elena.

DERRICK COBEY (Newt Lee/Jim Conley) Broadway: Andy Wright in the Scottsboro Boys (Lyceum Theater). Off-Broadway: Scottsboro Boys (Vineyard Theater ); Ragtime in Concert (Lincoln Center); The Tin Pan Alley Rag (Roundabout); National tours: Rent, Forever Swing.

Regional credits: Scottsboro Boys (PTC) Ragtime (Lyric Theater of Oklahoma); Into the Woods, Little Shop of Horrors, and Macbeth (Great Lakes/ Idaho Shakespeare Festival); Abyssinia, Jesus Christ Superstar (North Shore Music Theatre ); Abyssinia (Goodspeed); Ragtime (Paper Mill Playhouse); Hair (Hangar Theater); Side Show (Cleveland Playhouse); The Buddy Holly Story (Westchester Broadway); Pacific Overtures (Arden Theatre); Oklahoma, Brigadoon, Damn Yankees, and Footloose (Sacramento Music Circus); Once on this Island (Connecticut Repertory); Smokey Joe’s Café (Actors Playhouse).

JEFFERY COON (Britt Craig/Foreman/Peavy) is very glad to back amongst such great company for his 18th production at the Arden. Last seen here in Tulipomania. First seen here over 20 years ago in Sweeney Todd. Proud to call the Arden one of his artistic homes. Favorite Arden roles include: Booth in Assassins, George in Sunday in the Park with George, and Frog in A Year With Frog And Toad. Thanks as ever to Terry and Amy for the chance to work with such gifted actors, designers, technicians, and staff. Love to P, J & J. BEN DIBBLE (Leo Frank) is over the moon to be playing this dream role with this incredible company. Career highlights include Balladeer/Oswald in Assassins, Freddy in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hauptmann in Baby Case, Leo Bloom in The Producers, and the title roles in Henry V, Candide, and Bat Boy: The Musical. Ben is an adjunct professor at West Chester University and a Senior Lecturer at The University of the Arts. Recipient of the 2006 F. Otto Haas Emerging Artist Award. Next up, Teddy in Arsenic and Old Lace at the Fulton And Walnut Street Theatres.

Exciting cabarets upcoming, check brownanddibble.com for details! Thanks to Terry for his opportunity. Love to Amy and our three Dibblets.

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Meet the Cast Continued

CAROLINE DOONER (Monteen) is thrilled to be back at the Arden. She was previously in Sunday in the Park with George as ‘a Celeste’, and A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum as Philia. In Philadelphia she has worked at Theatre Horizon (Voices of Christmas), 1812 Productions (Boston Marriage), and 11th Hour Theatre Company’s Next Step Concert Series (Into the Woods) as Cinderella. She grew up outside Philadelphia, got her BFA from NYU, and is currently dealing with a pretty intense social media addiction. Thanks so much to Terry and Matt!

JENNIE EISENHOWER (Lucille Frank) is honored to return to the Arden in such an exciting role. Recent Philadelphia credits: An Ideal Husband and A Grand Night for Singing (Barrymore Nomination) at the Walnut Street Theatre, Shelby in Steel Magnolias at Bristol Riverside Theatre, and Julie in Showboat (Barrymore Nomination) at the Media Theatre. Favorite roles: Forbidden Broadway (Barrymore: Best Actress in a Musical), The Wild Party (Barrymore: Best Supporting Actress), Suburb at the York Theatre Off Broadway, Rona Lisa Peretti in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Theatre Horizon (Barrymore Nomination), and Saint Joan (Joan) at the Olney Theatre. Film: Mona Lisa Smile, Arthur, The Suspect. www.jennie-eisenhower.com. Love to Tony. For the Eisenhower girls: Julie Melanie and her daughter Chloe, born 6/27/13.

SARAH GLIKO (Mrs. Phagan/Sally Slaton) was last seen at the Arden in Charlotte’s Web, and is happy to be back! Past credits include: My Dinner With Dito (The Bearded Ladies Cabaret), Around the World in 80 Days, Love Story, Buddy, The Ugly One (Walnut St. Theatre), The Liar (Lantern Theatre), Pumpgirl (Inis Nua), Terrorism (New City Stage), and John & Jen (Act II Playhouse). Upcoming: Don Juan Comes Back From Iraq (Wilma). Special thanks to Terry and Matt. For Bebe Gliko!

SCOTT GREER (Slaton/Starnes/Rosser) is thrilled to be back at the Arden for such an exciting project. Of his 27 (counting this one) shows at the Arden, here are some favorites: Death of a Salesman, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Red Herring, Baby case, Assassins and Wittenberg. Scott has lived in Philadelphia for the last 20 years and worked at the Walnut Street Theatre, 1812 Productions, Wilma, People’s Light & Theatre and many more. Regionally he has worked for Actors Theatre of Louisville, Round House, and the Pearl Theatre in New York. He has won four Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre including the prestigios F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Theatre Artist. Love always to Jen and Lily.

ROBERT HAGER (Frankie Epps) is very excited to be a part of the Arden for the second time with Parade. He was last seen as Gabe in the Arden’s production of Next to Normal. Broadway: Spring Awakening, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Bye Bye Birdie. National Tour: Spring Awakening, Scrooge. He has also been a part of many readings and workshops in the NYC area. Robi is currently writing a new musical called Captive Eyes, which was performed in concert last August in NYC. You can follow him on twitter (@robihager) or Facebook for more information. Much love to this beautiful cast!

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Meet the Cast Continued

DENNIS HOLLAND (Old Soldier/Guard/Judge Roan) is thrilled to join the Arden family.

Broadway: The Music Man; National Tour: The Music Man, Peter Pan; Off-Broadway: Magpie, Sessions, Evening at the Algonquin; Regional: Guys and Dolls (Guthrie), 1776 (Goodspeed), Winter’s Tale (Folger Shakespeare), Sound of Music (Paper Mill); Kiss Me Kate (Wolf Trap); Tv/Film: One Life To Live, Ragtime, Falling in Love; hundreds of audiobooks, documentaries and commercials. Special thanks to my family and Michael Howard; dedicated to Elyse.

ALEX KEIPER (Iola Stover) is honored to be a part of this beautiful ensemble and to be back for her fifth show at the Arden! Previous Arden credits; A Little Night Music (Petra), Cinderella (Constanze), Tulipomania (Young Woman) and The Flea and the Professor (The Cannibal Princess). Other recent credits; Proof (Walnut Street Theatre), Ordinary Days (11th Hour Theatre Company), Kimberly Akimbo (Theatre Horizon) and Assassins (Milwaukee Rep). Thanks to a nomination from the Arden, Alex received the Independence Foundation Fellowship, which took her to NYC to study at the Atlantic Acting School for their six week summer intensive. Love and thanks to Terry, Jorge, Matt, Amy, Elana, Ryan, Amanda, Alec and the entire creative team. Love always to Mom, Dad, Ryan and Matty. www.alexkeiper.com ANTHONY LAWTON (Dorsey) has acted in Philadelphia for twenty-one years. Favorite roles include Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet (Arden), George in Of Mice and Men (Walnut); Austin in True West and Feste in Twelfth Night (Lantern); “man” in Brief Interviews with Hideous Men (1812). In 2005, Lawton received grants from the Independence Foundation and Philadelphia Theatre Initiative to write and develop The Foocy, which garnered five Barrymore nominations (including Best New Play). Film: Silver Linings Playbook, Unbreakable, Invincible; TV: Hack, Cold Case. The Philadelphia City Paper named him the city’s “Best One-Man Theatre” for his solo productions of The Devil and Billy Markham, The Great Divorce and The Screwtape Letters. For more information on these shows, go to: www.anthonylawtonactor.com.

KENITA R MILLER (Minnie/Angela) is thrilled to be a part of this brilliant show and beyond excited to be performing at the Arden Theatre Company! B’way/ Off B’way: Working (Drama Desk Award), Xanadu (Erato/Kira Cover), The Color Purple (Celie), Avenue Q, Dessa Rose (Dessa), Langston In Harlem as Zora Neale Hurston (Drama Desk Nom./ Audelco Award). National Tours/ Regional: Once on This Island (Mama Euralie/Timoune), The Color Purple, The Civil War, Woody Guthrie American Songbook, Ragtime (Sarah). Film/TV: Hostages, Liberty City Is Like Paris To Me (Sundance), Sesame Street. LOVE. MICHAEL PHILIP O’BRIEN (Young Soldier/Ivey/Watson) is thrilled to be back at the Arden!

Regional credits: Casino Paradise (Jazz at Lincoln Center), Miss Saigon (TUTS) and Bomb-itty Of Errors (Milwaukee Rep). Favorite Philly Credit: Sweeney Todd (Arden); Les Miserable, Godspell, Plaid Tidings, Grand Night For Singing (Walnut Street); Casino Paradise, Annie Get Your Gun (The Prince); Title Of Show (Maukingbird); Rent, Ordinary Days, Last Five Years, Rooms (11th Hour). Michael is also a 3-time Barrymore award nominee, winning the award in 2009 for his role in 11th Hour’s Avenue X. He is also the co-founder and artistic director of 11th Hour Theatre Company here in Philly. Thanks to this amazing team, Terry, Amy, Matt and everyone involved with this great production. Love to Colleen!

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Glossary Locations

The Old Red Hills of Home

the Red Hills Region is an area of hills in the southeastern U.S., which spans parts of Georgia and Florida. The name comes from the soil, which is red clay deposited during the last ice age from the

Marietta, Georgia

One of Atlanta’s largest metropolitan suburbs. Marietta may be named after Mary Cobb, wife of U.S. senator and superior court Judge Thomas Willis Cobb. It became a legally recognized community in 1834.

Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia

The main street of Atlanta. The name may have actually been a misinterpretation of “Pitch Tree,” as pine trees (aka pitch trees) are very common in the area.

Red Hills Region - Southern Georgia

Chatahoochie (River)

The river that makes the southern half of the Atlanta and Georgia border, as well as part of the Florida border. The name is thought to mean “rocks marked” or “rocks painted” from chato (“rock”) and huchi (“marked”), as there is much granite along part of the river.

Cobb County

A suburban county in Georgia, named for U.S. senator and superior court Judge Thomas Willis Cobb.

Piedmont Park

A 189-acre park in Atlanta.

Fulton County

The most populated county in Georgia.

Decatur Street

One of the 7 original streets in Atlanta, known for being an entertainment area from the 1850s-early 20th century.

Valdosta

The 14th largest city in Georgia. It is known as Azalea City, for the vast numbers of azaleas that grow there.

Decatur St. Atlanta Georgia 1864

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Glossary Vocabulary

Confederate Memorial Day a holiday to observe those who died fighting for the Confederate States (southern slave states that seceded from the U.S. during the Civil War in 1861) during the Civil War. “Dixie”: by today, “Dixie,” or “I Wish I Was In Dixie,” or “Dixie’s Land,” has become an American folk song. This song tells the story of a freed African American slave missing the plantation where he was born. During the Civil War, it became an anthem of the Confederate States.

Meshuggeneh a Yiddish word, meaning person who is crazy or senseless.

Shalom a Yiddish word that can mean both “hello” and “goodbye.” It also represents peace, prosperity, and completeness.

“I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live…” a reference from the Bible in John 11:25.

Cat house a brothel; a house of prostitution.

Indicted formally accused of committing a crime.

Circumstantial evidence evidence in a trial that does not directly support an assertion; instead, it must be used by inferring other facts. For example, finding a fingerprint at a crime scene would be circumstantial evidence to accuse a potential murderer, because it does not 100% guarantee guilt but does prove that the person was at the scene and therefore could have been the murderer.

Chain gang a group of prisoners literally chained together while performing tedious and/or physical work, like digging ditches.

Pongee a thin, soft, woven cloth.

Gallows a structure used for hanging and/or torture before execution.

Accessory someone who assists in a crime, without committing it directly.

Commute (Leo’s sentence) to change a prison sentence to a less severe one (ex. from a death penalty to lifetime imprisonment).

Approbation official recognition.

Sh’ma Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, / Adonai ehchad, / Baruch sheym k’vod malchuso l’olam va-ed a prayer of Judaism, meaning “Hear, O Israel, Adonai is our God, Adonai is One! Blessed is God’s glorious majesty forever and ever.” It is traditionally said as a bedtime prayer or in deathbed confessionals Yontiff a Jewish holiday; Gut Yontiff means, literally, Good holiday in Yiddish. In Parade the reference is to Passover, which was being celebrated when Mary was murdered.

Capitol City Club a social club organized in Atlanta in 1883. It would have been restricted, meaning No Jews, African Americans, or women.

Capitol City Club Clubhouse at 114 Peachtree St.

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Curriculum Connections

Common Themes: To Kill a Mockingbird In Parade, there are many themes that reoccur throughout the story. Ideas of racism, anti-Semitism, and prejudice are obvious. These themes are common, and can be found in other stories. To Kill a Mockingbird, written by Harper Lee and published 1960, is a book written about racism and prejudice set during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

A quick synopsis of the book will present these common themes and ideas behind both Lee’s book, and Uhry’s musical.

Synopsis: Scout and Jem are siblings living during the Great Depression with a widowed father, Atticus. They live in Alabama, in a community made up of mostly white people. Atticus, a lawyer, is one of the only few who believe in racial equality, which is why he agrees to defend Tom Robinson, a black man convicted of raping a white woman.

Scout and Jem are exposed to Atticus’ kind ways, and throughout the story, learn to love and accept everyone the way Atticus does.

Find some common themes in both Parade and To Kill a Mockingbird. How are these two stories similar? How are they different? Do you think that they both evoke the same emotions from the reader/audience member?

Identify the conflict of both stories. What is the message behind each conflict? How are they resolved?

Do you think Tom Robinson, the accused character from To Kill a Mockingbird was treated worse, better or the same as Leo Frank? Support your opinion.

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Curriculum Connections Discussions and Debates

Many historians believe that the trial of Leo Frank ended in an unjust verdict, stating that Frank was not guilty of any crime. With the Civil War still within living memory, some claim that Frank’s guilty verdict was a direct result of simmering Southern mistrust of a Northerner after a long, bloody war. They also believe that discrimination against minorities such as Jews and African-Americans factored into the trial and led it down an unjust path; this is also addressed in Parade, such as when Hugh Dorsey says, “Hangin’ another nigra ain’t enough this time” (28).

With your knowledge of Parade and the Civil War, what do you think about these ideas? What, in fact, do you think about the legal outcome of Frank’s trial: was it fair and right, or was an innocent man unjustly prosecuted? Support your answer with specific examples from the script and/or historical facts.

Leo Frank Trial

Ideas for the Classroom

1. Conduct research using the following resources: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/frank/frankmain. html; http://www.americanheritage.com/content/fate-leo-frank; http://archive.org/details/steveOneyTheLynchingOfLeoFrankEsquireMagazineSeptember1985 (click the Read Online option on the left). Be advised that the third link contains graphic images. Create a list, stating on one side why the trial could have been fair vs. on the other why it could have been unjust. Share with class and engage in a group discussion.

2. Stage a mock trial of the Leo Frank case. Assign characters as parts, create a script, and perform the trial.

3. Debate the following topics: A. The investigation of Mary Phagan’s murder B. The role of the media during the Leo Frank trial C. The outcome of the Leo Frank trial.

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Curriculum Connections Politics and Art

Political Cartoon is a illustration or cartoon that depicts a social or political issue with an obvious stance on the topic. It usually reflects current events or personalities.

Using the above cartoon as an example, draw a political cartoon that expresses on opinion on a situation that you consider unjust, either from the news or your own life.

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Exercise

Discussion Questions 1.

In Act I, Scene 11 at the Fulton County Jail, Hugh Dorsey interrogates Newt Lee. The interrogation ends with Dorsey’s lines: “… Ah, let him go. Hangin’ another nigra ain’t enough this time. We gotta do better” (28). What do you think of this line? Do you think Dorsey was conducting his investigation properly and fairly? Was he purposely looking to convict someone other than Lee, even if Lee was the guilty man? Why or why not?

2.

In Act I, Scene 13, Craig says to Lucille, “You’re sayin’ he’s decent, you’re sayin’ he’s honest, but Ma’am you’re not sayin’ he’s innocent,” and Lucille responds, “I have nothing more to say to you” (36). Do you think that Lucille believes in her husband’s innocence at this time? Does she think he is guilty of murdering Mary Phagan? Why or why not? If she thinks he is guilty at this point, does she later change her mind?

3.

In Act II, Scene 1, Riley sings, “I can tell you this, as a matter of fact,/ That the local hotels wouldn’t be so packed/ If a little black girl had gotten attacked” (58). How much do you think race factored into Leo Frank’s trial? Refer to your answer about Act I, Scene 11 as well when considering this. Did the trial become magnified in the media because the victim was charged with attacking a Caucasian girl? Would the outcome and media coverage have changed if the races had been different?

4.

Imagine you were one of the attorneys hired by Leo Frank. What would you have done differently? Describe tactics you would have used and how you would have introduced evidence.

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Exercise

Discussion Questions Continued 5.

In Act II, Scene 10, a gang of men decides to carry out their own justice on Leo Frank, believing him to be the murderer of Mary Phagan. What do you think of their actions, which go against the legal decision of the judge and law?

Is it ever okay to “take justice into your own hands”? Why or why not?

6.

Immediately after these men take Leo from his cell, they appear to discuss whether hanging him themselves is the best option [“Mark/Citizen: I sure wish we didn’t have to do this. / Ivey: Maybe if he confesses we could -- you know -- just take him on back to prison. / Frankie: No!” (95)]. Do you think they are all in agreement that they should hang Leo? If not, why would they be there? Support your answer with examples from the script.

7.

In the end of the musical, Lucille remains in Georgia after her husband’s death [“I’m a Georgia girl. I always will be.” (98)]. Do you think this shows bravery on her part? Do you think that most people would react this way, or move far away to forget everything? How do you think you would behave if you were in her place?

8.

If the trial of Leo Frank were held today in 2013, what differences, if any, do you think would occur in either the murder investigation or the trial itself?

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Bibliography Because of the sensitive nature of the Leo Frank case and the death of Mary Phagan, not all websites regarding the trial are reliable sources of information. Arden Theatre Company stands by the information contained in this packet and does not endorse the opinions presented in websites such as www.leofrank.org and others.

“Based on a True Story” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Frank http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/file/6641 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_M._Dorsey http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/government-politics/hugh-m-dorsey-1871-1948 “Timeline of Trial” http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/frank/frankchronology.html “Yellow Journalism” http://www.pbs.org/crucible/frames/_journalism.html http://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/Yellow_journalism http://www.law.uga.edu/dwilkes_more/his30_politics.html http://history.msu.edu/files/2010/04/Nancy-MacLean.pdf “About the Author/Composer/Director” http://americantheatrewing.org/biography/detail/alfred_uhry http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/arts-culture/alfred-uhry-b-1936 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Robert_Brown http://jasonrobertbrown.com/about/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Prince http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/pri0bio-1 “Production History” http://oldredhills.tripod.com/paradehistory.html http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120115/LIFE/301150008/Arts-Culture-Great-music-heavy-themes-bring-depth-play-Parade?nclick_check=1 Glossary http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/shema.html http://www.merriam-webster.com, http://dictionary.reference.com Photographs All Arden Theatre Co. Original Production Photos taken by Mark Garvin http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Mary_Phagan.jpg http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/frank/conleyj.jpg http://www.kimmelcenter.org/news/images/359.jpg http://www.achievement.org/achievers/pri0/photos/pri0-001a.gif http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51GEmX9i2rL.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/05/Red_Hills_Region2.png http://rlv.zcache.com/masonic_hall_on_decatur_street_in_atlanta_ga_1864_poster-r5a55bccb57a148b089e38edfbc75e8b3_ a6atc_8byvr_512.jpg http://www.capitalcityclub.org/images/dynamic/getImage.gif?ID=2255819 http://www.duhaime.org/Portals/duhaime/images/Frank-trial.jpg

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