The Tony Award winning musical PARADE by Jason Robert Brown receives its UK premiere at the South Side, Edinburgh on 9 August. PARADE runs until 28 August 2005, with previews from 5 August. Directed by Pia Furtado with musical direction by Tom Deering, design by Morgan Large and choreography by Nick Winston, PARADE has a cast of 22 who represent the next generation of talent in Musical Theatre. Our principles include finalists of the International BBC 2 Musical Theatre Voice of the Future competition, graduates from the prestigious Royal Academy of Music Post Graduate Diploma in Musical Theatre and credits including Les Miserables, Bat Boy and Jesus Christ Superstar in the West End.

Jason Robert Brown is a composer and lyricist and won a Tony in 1999 for Best Original Score (PARADE). Jason's first musical, SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD, debuted Off-Broadway in October 1995, and was subsequently recorded by RCA Victor. For his work on that show and others in progress, Jason was given the 1996 Gilman and Gonzalez-Falla Musical Theatre Award. His extensive work arranging includes William Finn's A NEW BRAIN (Lincoln Center Theater),and as orchestrator: Andrew Lippa's JOHN AND JEN (Lamb's Theatre)and SONDHEIM: A CELEBRATION at Carnegie Hall.

PARADE is based on the true story of the 1913 ‘trial of the century’. Set in the Deep South of America, Atlanta, Georgia we are witness to a small town’s celebration of the Confederate Day Parade. When a young girl is senselessly murdered in the local pencil factory, the press frenzy that follows unleashes the hatred and prejudices which have remained repressed since the war, and incites the local community to take a terrible revenge. We follow the fate of Leo Frank, a Jewish Yankee as he is put on trial accused of the murder, and the crusade of his wife, Lucille, to save her loved ones life.

PARADE’s life began as a commission by the Lincoln Centre, New York in 1998. It had an incredibly successful run between December 1998 and February 1999 at this venue, winning two Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Book, whilst being nominated for four more. Its provocative source material and thrilling music have meant that PARADE has become one of the most often produced pieces of Musical Theatre in America. Surprisingly however, it has never been staged here in the UK before, and Giudecca is honoured in having been given the opportunity to produce the British Premiere.

For further information on the production, cast or team or for review tickets please contact Anne Marie Cullum from Giudecca Productions on 07812 076757 05 email anniec30@hotmail.com