Theatre News Wire

Broadway In Chicago announced the Tony Award-winning musical, PARADE, will play the CIBC Theatre (18 w. Monroe St.) for a limited two-week engagement, August 5 -17, 2025. The producers of the acclaimed Broadway revival of PARADE, winner of the 2023 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, announced that Max Chernin and Talia Suskauer will play Leo Frank and Lucille Frank on the National Tour.

Parade at CIBC Theatre in Chicago

PARADE's Tony Award-winning director Michael Arden said, "Max and Talia are extraordinary artists who bring an incredible sense of identity and empathy to their work, rooted in their Jewish heritage. I can't wait for audiences across the country to witness the remarkable depth, passion, and grace they will bring to their portrayals of Leo and Lucille Frank."

Max Chernin is thrilled to reunite with his PARADE family after being a part of the show's award-winning runs on Broadway and at New York City Center. Hailing from Shaker Heights, Ohio, Max is recognized for playing "Samuel Strong" on Seasons 2 and 3 of the Apple TV+ comedy "Dickinson," and co-starred opposite Adam Sandler and Chris Rock in the Netflix/Happy Madison comedy feature film The Week Of, directed by Robert Smigel. On Broadway, he created the role of "Max" in Steve Martin & Edie Brickell's Bright Star, and starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford in the 2017 revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Sunday in the Park with George. Max has appeared on New York stages in Brooklynite at Vineyard Theatre, Bernstein's Mass at Lincoln Center, and The Golden Apple at New York City Center. Recent stage credits include the lead role of "Andrew" in the world premiere of Passing Through at Goodspeed Opera House, Motel in Fiddler on the Roof at The Muny, Buddy in Elf at PTC and NCT), and Jervis in Daddy Long Legs at Theatre Raleigh. On television, Max has guest starred on "The Blacklist," "The Family," and "Mozart in the Jungle." He holds a BFA from Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and won the American Traditions Competition's Silver Medal and the Lotte Lenya Foundation's Carolyn Weber Award.

Talia Suskauer has played Elphaba in both the Broadway and the National Tour productions of Wicked. Her other New York credits include Be More Chill, both on Broadway and at Signature Theater. Regionally, Talia has starred as Dot in Sunday in the Park with George at Axelrod Arts Performing Arts Center, Louise in Gypsy at Goodspeed Opera House, Jo in Little Women, and Lily in The Secret Garden. Her film and television credits include "FBI: Most Wanted" and 31 Candles to be released next year. Most recently, she is currently playing Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at Ogunquit Playhouse. Talia has performed at Carnegie Hall and performs solo shows around the country. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Penn State University.

As previously announced, the production will run technical rehearsals and have its first public performances at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady from January 11-17, 2025, followed by its official tour premiere at Hennepin Art's historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis from January 21-26, 2025.

PARADE is directed by Tony Award winner Michael Arden, with book by two-time Tony Award winner, Pulitzer Prize winner, and Academy Award winner Alfred Uhry, music and lyrics by three-time Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown, and co-conceived by 21-time Tony Award-winning legend Harold Prince.

The production has received overwhelming acclaim since its debut. The New York Times said, "this revival, filled with deft flourishes by director Michael Arden, recalls an era of big casts, big stories, and big talent - a time when musicals actually felt like events." Entertainment Weekly called Parade "the most gorgeous production on Broadway." Deadline proclaimed that Parade is "a work of art! As commanding as any musical revival to hit Broadway in years." Time Out New York stated that "Parade will echo for a long time to come. See it before the parade passes by."

Leo and Lucille Frank are a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in the old red hills of Georgia. When Leo is accused of an unspeakable crime, it propels them into an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice, and devotion. Riveting and gloriously hopeful, PARADE reminds us that to love, we must truly see one another.

PARADE played its final performance of its strictly limited Broadway engagement on Sunday, August 6, 2023. This production first premiered at New York City Center where it was instantly sold out, playing November 1-6, 2022.

To see a full list of all Broadway Shows in Chicago, visit our Broadway Shows in Chicago page.