Parade premiered on Broadway in December 1998. It won the Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Original Score. In 2023, it was revived and won Best Revival of a Musical. And now, in August of 2025, it opens at the CIBC Theatre in Chicago. 

In 1913, a 14-year-old girl is murdered in a pencil factory during the Memorial Day parade. There are only two suspects, the night watchman and the superintendent, who is Jewish. There isn’t any physical evidence, so all they have to go on is testimonies from witnesses. The prosecutor pressures the witnesses to say what he wants them to say. 

Alfred Uhry (book), Jason Robert Brown (music and lyrics), and Harold Prince (co-conceived) have written a thrilling true crime legal drama. The audience is at the edge of their seat waiting to see what will happen next. 

This production is full of great singing by the entire cast. Max Chernin is excellent as the superintendent. He expertly transforms in scenes where he is acting out how the witnesses portray him. Talia Suskauer is superb as his wife, who is his greatest advocate and support during this very difficult time. 

Cost of a ticket: $98 (Orchestra)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It

Rating Scale: Exceptional Value > Worth It > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Get tickets now for Parade through August 17th! 

Quinn Delaney