Winner of the 2023 Tony Award® for Best Revival of a Musical, Parade is a powerful and poignant theatrical event that continues to resonate with audiences across generations. Set in early 20th-century Georgia, the musical tells the story of Leo Frank, a Jewish factory manager falsely accused of a horrific crime, and his wife Lucille, whose unwavering love and determination become a beacon of hope. With a soaring score by Jason Robert Brown and a book by Alfred Uhry, Parade is both a searing indictment of injustice and a tribute to the strength of the human spirit.
The national tour of this acclaimed Broadway revival—directed by Tony Award® winner Michael Arden—brings its raw emotional power and historical urgency to stages across the country. Chicago audiences have the opportunity to experience Parade for a limited two-week engagement at the CIBC Theatre from August 5–17. Featuring seven original cast members from the Broadway production and a stunning ensemble, this tour breathes fresh life into a story that remains tragically relevant. The New York Times called it “a revival filled with deft flourishes,” while Entertainment Weekly praised it as “the most gorgeous production on Broadway.”
Joining this landmark production is Griffin Binnicker, who takes on the role of Tom Watson—a central figure in the story’s real-life courtroom drama. In the following conversation, Griffin opens up about his journey with Parade, the challenges of portraying such a complex historical character, and why this revival continues to strike a chord with today’s audiences.
MI (Matt Inawat, GoPride): Tell us about the show, especially for anyone who's not familiar with the story.
GB (Griffin Binnicker, Parade): That’s always the easiest and hardest question to answer. In its essence, it’s a story about a man living in Atlanta in 1913 who is put on trial for the death of a young girl who dies in the pencil factory where he’s the superintendent. Through the trial, and through the anti-Semitic fervor that was happening in Atlanta at the time, it becomes about his quest to prove his innocence.
Normally when I describe that, people think, “Why would I ever want to see this show?” But it’s historical — these events actually happened, and these people were real.
Love is definitely at the center of our story, and that’s something we should always mention.
Also, if you're a fan of true crime documentaries, this is the musical to come see. I'm a huge fan and I love telling this story every night — it’s intense and impactful.
MI: And tell us about your character, Tom Watson. What drew you to that role?
Griffin Binnicker in the National Tour of PARADE; credit: Joan Marcus
GB: Tom Watson is a historical figure. He started a publication called the Jeffersonian newspaper. Upon further examination, it was less of a news outlet and more of an editorial platform for his own political aspirations. He had his own political career, but he was really good at identifying individuals who could create the biggest waves and elevating them into positions of power.
To me, he’s a conduit for the phrase “history repeats itself.” I see a lot of Tom Watsons out in the world right now, and that’s why it makes the role so compelling for me to play. I hope people recognize some of those real-world parallels in my portrayal of Tom.
MI: How did you prepare for playing a real historical figure like Tom Watson? And how do you approach playing someone with such a pivotal role in the story's injustice?
GB: As an actor, I really love when I'm playing a real person - it takes a lot of the guess work out for me. We often talk about a character’s motivations, what they want and gain from the actions that they're playing. And for most of the characters we play in the show, a lot of those answers can be answered in real time. So that is very helpful.
As I was researching Tom Watson and Leo, our pivotal charcter, and his wife Lucille; sometimes the smaller details are what I really enjoyed.
We were all reading a book called The Dead Shall Rise, which is the foremost publication on this event. There are facts about what people wore to Leo and Lucille's wedding. And stuff like that stands out to me in trying to inhabit the world that we're living in. I think that kind of information is so fabulous to have!
I said to a group of people who came to see the show in Des Moines a few days ago - my personal identity as a person is not being threatened or attacked in the show. We have so many people in our cast, so many generous actors, whose identities as people go through the ringer in this show and they have to really internalize those things and work those things out outside of the theater. And that can take such a huge emotional toll.
I think I'm in a position where I have to unfortunately hurl some insults and hold some very strong views against the identities of the characters on stage. And I think doing that consitently is very helpful. There's alot of moments for ad-libs; there's a huge trial scene that takes a new life every night. But I think, for me, consistency is really key to helping the well-being of the other actors on stage who are actually hearing these insults as though they were being hurled at themselves.
So as an actor, I try to keep a very consistent performance so it never feel like anything interpersonal is happening as our characters are moving about the space together.
MI: With that kind of intensity and urgency in Parade, How do you and the rest of the cast maintain that emotional depth and energy throughout a full week of shows?
National Touring Company of PARADE; credit: Joan Marcus
GB: I hope that's what we’re achieving. This cast is fantastic because we really all do choose to leave the show at the theater. Being on tour has been a blessing because there's so many distractions - there’s always something new to see in each city, and someone from the cast usually knows the area. They become our “camp counselor” for the week and it helps us decompress.
MI: This revival has sparked so many important conversations around justice, prejudice, and the media. What kind of impact do you hope Parade has on modern audiences?
GB: I hope it encourages people to keep asking questions and recognize their biases when it comes to their own perception of the news, especially in a world where social media is our main news outlet. More than anything, I hope the love that the story introduces at the heart of Parade is what sticks with people - and that it reminds them to approach others with empathy when taking in the news.
MI: Let’s talk about you. How did you first fall in love with acting and musical theater?
GB: I grew up in South Carolina, which also connects me to the show since I grew up in the south. I had the chance to see a lot of local theater in downtown Greenville. Once I auditioned for my first show and got involved in the community theater there, I never imagined doing anything else. I studied musical theater at the University of Michigan - an incredible program - and honestly, I haven’t figured out anything else that I’m good at!
MI: Were there any specific artists or actors who inspired your journey?
National Tour of PARADE; credit: Joan Marcus
GB: Absolutely - though it’s hard to name just one.To be quite honest, I’ve always been inspired most by the people I've been training alongside. Those have always been the people who inspired me the most - people I was in class with, people who I got to see not only do amazing performances but also fall on their ass a little just like I was.
And I don't think we often get to see that with our "heroes." So I think my classmates in Michigan, the people I went to school with in high school; those are the people who made the biggest impact on me as an artist - to get to see the whole process.
MI: That’s an amazing perspective! So is there a dream role - past, present, or future - that you’d love to take on?
GB: I have this craving right now to do something new - and to be able to develop a character from the ground up. But if I had to choose from existing roles, honestly, every single character in Company intrigues me and I'd love to tackle. Still, my dream would be to help build something new.
MI: While you’re here in Chicago, what are your top three things to do in town? I heard your boyfriend Spencer made a list!
GB: He did! It was like my going away “tour bible” before I left. He’s spent a lot of time in Chicago, so I need to review through that folder. We also have two Chicago natives in the cast — Jake Zimmon and Jody Snyder — who are our “camp counselors” for this week. Everyone’s been talking about the architectural boat tour, so I have to do that. I also want to visit the Art Institute, there's some musical theater history there that I'd like to see.
And the food here is unreal. I heard from a local radio host that I can skip deep dish and go straight to tavern-style pizza. Is that true?
MI: I think you've got to try both! They're both so different in good ways. For tavern-style, check out Michael’s in the Lakeview area. For deep dish, I recommend Gino’s East. Most of the other deep dish places have become big chains. And you should also try Chicago Oven Grinders in Lincoln Park for their upside-down pizza.
GB: Amazing — we may have to squeeze that in between shows!
MI: You’re also here during Northalsted Market Days, the largest LGBTQ festival in the Midwest! It’s happening this weekend with vendors, entertainment, and celebrities. You're in town at the perfect time.
GB: That’s amazing. We’re so excited to be here and finally made it!
Exploring new cities with the cast is a big one. We have a lot of foodies on tour, and decompressing over great meals helps a lot. We don’t avoid talking about the show entirely, but we try to keep it minimal when we’re out. It’s such a heavy story, and I think the work benefits from coming in with a clean slate. We've done a lot - from trying barbecue across the country (Kansas City is in the lead!) to playing mini-golf. And I sleep. A lot. We start work at 8 PM, so I need rest to give my all.
MI: Love that! And here's two more foodie recommendations: the one everyone's going to talk about for tavern style is Pequod’s - it's not my personal favorite, but it is a fan favorite; and Smoque's BBQ for a good local take on barbecue.
GB: Thank you! That’s perfect.
MI: Ok, the last questioin is goes back to Parade - have you had any memorable audience reactions, especially in cities with complex histories?
GB: The most impactful moment of this tour for me thus far was doing a show in Atlanta. People will very quickly find out when they come to see the show is that it's based in Atlanta. And those Marietta roots that this show has runs very very deep.
We had family members of people who are characters in the show come to see us. We were able to visit many of the historic sites of the content of the show and it was unbelievable just to stand in those places.
And the reactions of the people in the show.... I had a friend before I left for this tour tell me that the way they used to teach this case was very cut and dry. And I think as you'll see with the show, the case is anything but cut and dry; and very complicated and riddled with alot of corruption.
And so for people to start realizing and start asking those questions was really beautiful to see in a place, and I think I'm allowed to say this because I'm from there, that takes a long time and is very hard for people to let go of their past and recognize any wrongdoing from their past; it was really heartening to see that start to take shape in this community that the show happens in.
I just loved being in Atlanta and I think it was a very cool experience to take this show there.
Tickets On Sale Now for Broadway Revival of Parade in Chicago
Individual tickets for the Tony Award®-winning musical Parade are now available to the public, with prices ranging from $35 to $125, plus applicable online fees. A limited number of premium seats are also offered. Fans can take advantage of two special ticket programs: a digital lottery for $30 tickets (inclusive of all fees) and $49 day-of-show Rush tickets available in person at the theater.
Group sales for parties of 10 or more are available by calling (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For complete ticketing details, visit BroadwayInChicago.com.
Broadway In Chicago, a Nederlander Presentation, is one of the largest commercial touring presenters in the U.S., welcoming up to 1.7 million guests annually across its five iconic theaters in Chicago’s Loop and Magnificent Mile, including the Cadillac Palace Theatre and the CIBC Theatre where Parade is currently playing.