Melisa Klausner, Morgan Reilly, Mark Weissman to Star in Civic Theatre’s Parade Benefit

Civic Theatre of Allentown will present two benefit concert performances of Jason Robert Brown’s musical Parade on July 17 and 18, at 8pm. William Sanders will direct, with musical direction by Frank Anonia.

The musical, featuring a book by Alfred Uhry, is the true and tragic story behind the 1913 trial of Leo Frank, a Jewish factory manager wrongly accused of raping and murdering a 13-year-old employee. Parade won the 1999 Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Book of a Musical, in addition to being nominated for Best Musical.

The cast will be headed by Mark Weissman as Leo Frank, Melisa Klausner as Lucille Frank, and Morgan Reilly as Mary Phagan. The cast will also include Frank Anonia (Tom Watson), Joel Dommel (Britt Crai), Claude Foreman (Old Confederate Soldier), Molly Gallagher (Essie), Alex Hulett (Frankie Epps), Coleen Kelleher (Mrs. Phagan), Deena Linn (Sally Slaton), Jeramie Mayes (Jim Conley), Ariel Messeca (Detective JN Starnes), Matthew Moisey (Young Confederate Soldier/Fiddlin’ John), Tom Onushco (Governor Slaton), Gregory Paradis (Officer Ivey), Shawn Salevsky (Hugh Dorsey), Arielle Siner (Monteen), Marie Ann Sutera (Older Lila), Robert Torres (Judge Roan), Dave VanAken (Luther Rosser), Alicia Varcoe (Iola Stover), and Shannon Wittenberger (Young Lila).

The ensemble will feature Kaitlin Boland, Wendy Borst, Syd Chan, Thomas Charlton, Abigail Creighton, Luke Csordas, Reese Diaz, Justin Doncsecz, Zack Esposito, Annie Fox, Brian Fox, Steve Levine, Bethany McCall, Ryan McCarty, Matt Mizuhara, Kayla Mormak, Jennifer Oaks, Sarah Ochocki, Josh Rice, Katelyn Roof, Jason Sizemore, Ariane Torres, and Konnor Yurchak. Chris Wilson will design the set, with lighting by Will Morris.

For more information, visit www.civictheatre.com.