(BASKING RIDGE, NJ) -- The American Theater Group (ATG), a professional regional theater company celebrating its 11th season, is presenting Parade at the Sieminski Theater in Basking Ridge, NJ from March 2-5 and the Maurice Levin Theater at JCC MetroWest in West Orange, NJ from March 9-11. The cast is led by Broadway’s Megan McGinnis (Les Miserables) and David R. Gordon (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Broadway National Tour).
The musical by acclaimed playwright Alfred Uhry (Driving Miss Daisy) and score by Jason Robert Brown (Bridges of Madison County), received the 1999 Tony Awards for “Best Score” and “Best Book of a Musical,” and tells the heart-wrenching, true story of Leo Frank, a Brooklyn-raised Jewish man living in Atlanta who was wrongfully convicted of the murder of a 13-year-old employee. Amid religious intolerance, political injustice and racial tension, the stirring musical explores the endurance of love and hope against all odds.
West Orange resident Megan McGinnis will portray Lucille Frank. Her other Broadway credits include Side Show, Little Women, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Beauty and the Beast. She also appeared in the original Broadway production of Parade. David R. Gordon has been cast as Leo Frank, and his Broadway National Tour credits also include Flashdance. Fort Lee resident Joseph Dellger will portray Gov. Slaton and Judge Roan. His Broadway credits include Scandalous, Lestat and Ragtime.
“We are fortunate to have assembled a Broadway caliber cast to bring this important, timely story to life,” noted ATG Producing Artistic Director James Vagias. “Under Hunter Foster’s skillful direction and Keith Levenson’s expert musical supervision, this cast will ensure that the power of the exquisite book and captivating score are fully realized. It will be an incredibly moving theatrical experience.”
The following cast members are also NJ residents: Jack Dossett (Frankie/Young Soldier), Kaleb Jenkins (Craig), Doug McLaughlin (cover) Samantha Soybel (Mary Phagan), and Amaya White (Minnie/Angela). Non-NJ residents are: Kirsten Bleu Kaiser (Factory Girl), Liam Boone Searcy (Watson), RJ Cristian (Jim Conley), Peter Green (Dorsey), Abby Middleton (Mrs. Phagan/Sally Slaton), C. Mingo Long (Newt), James Schultz (Ivey/Rosser/Peavy), Reilly Wilmit (Factory Girl) and covers Alex Carr and Rachel Sabo-Hedges. Casting by Michael Cassara, CSA.
Broadway veteran Hunter Foster directs the production, with musical direction by Keith Levenson. Foster, an actor, writer and director, has directed Off-Broadway and at regional theaters across the US. His Broadway acting credits include Little Shop of Horrors (Tony Nomination), Urinetown, The Producers, The Bridges of Madison County, Hands on a Hardbody, Million Dollar Quartet, Footloose and Les Miserables. Levenson has conducted and created arrangements for major rock groups and Broadway musicals and conducted ATG’s enormously successful 2019 production of The Bridges of Madison County.
The Sieminski Theater is located at 8000 Fellowship Road in Basking Ridge, and the Maurice Levin Theater at JCC MetroWest is located at 760 Northfield Ave in West Orange, NJ. Tickets are available at www.americantheatergroup.org.
Parade is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
American Theater Group (ATG), founded in 2012, produces new and classic works primarily by American playwrights with an emphasis on the development of new works and the rediscovery of undeservedly neglected older ones. It also provides quality arts-in-education initiatives, including its annual DramaFest for students and its PlayLab program for BIPOC and queer playwrights. ATG programming is made possible in part by an American Rescue Plan Act grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support general operating expenses in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Made possible by the Somerset County Cultural & Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
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