The 2023 revival cast recording of “Parade” was released on March 23 after a surprise announcement just three days prior.
The revival, which originally opened on Broadway in 1998, is directed by Michael Arden (Deaf West’s “Spring Awakening”) and stars Ben Platt (“Dear Evan Hansen”) and Micaela Diamond (“The Cher Show”) as Leo and Lucille Frank, respectfully. Following the sold-out production at New York City Center in November 2022, the revival began a limited run on Broadway in February 2023. The limited engagement is set to conclude on August 6, 2023.
Set in the early 1900s, “Parade” follows Leo and Lucille Frank as they navigate the trials and death of Leo, a Brooklyn-born Jewish man living in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1913, Leo was wrongfully convicted of the rape and murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan, who worked in the pencil factory he was superintendent of.
After seeing the show live at the New York City Center, I was anxious to receive a cast recording. In fact, I tweeted about it a month after seeing the show, saying “There is nothing I want more than a @NYCityCenter parade cast recording.” Needless to say, I was thrilled when the cast album was announced.
After listening to the recording for hours without break, I can confidently say that the recording lived up to the hype I built in my head. Although the music is always better in person, the cast recording was able to encapsulate the dramatic moments very well.
One standout performance that I’d like to note was that of Jake Pedersen. Pedersen took over the role of Frankie Epps, which was played by Gaten Matarazzo at New York City Center. Making his Broadway debut in the “Parade” revival, Pedersen does a very good job of capturing the youthful essence of the character of Frankie while tackling the tough topic of his friend’s death. I personally believe that Matarazzo’s shoes are tough ones to fill, but Pedersen did so beautifully, while still leaving his own mark on the character of Frankie Epps.
In terms of being compared to the Original Broadway Cast Recording of 1999, the 2023 revival recording certainly holds its own. The sound is a bit more modern, while still respecting the original recording. Just as in the original recording, the bone-crushing grief of Mrs. Phagan and Lucille Frank is felt deeply. The frustration that the black residents of Atlanta are feeling in “A Rumblin’ and a Rollin’” is also felt deeply. Again, the revival cast was able to accurately pay homage to the original cast, while still adding their own spin on each character.
If you find yourself with an hour and 20 minutes of free time and a desire to discover a new story, I recommend giving “Parade (2023 Broadway Cast Recording)” a listen.
