2007 ~ Parade

 

a true story ~ a love story ~ a musical

Members of Thurles Musical Society staged the European and Irish premier of Parade the musical. Rehearsals began early in January under the watchful eye of Musical Director and Conductor MaryRose McNally. Chairperson Mary Butler had the distinction and honour of being the first Director of this show on an amateur stage while Rosalie Butler is Choreographer - it was an entirely local production team, a fact that Thurles Musical Society is very proud of.

The musical concerns the 1913 trial of a Jewish factory manager Leo Frank who was accused of raping and murdering a 13 year old employee, Mary Phagan. The trial, sensationalized by the media, aroused anti-Semitic tensions in Atlanta and the state of Georgia. When Frank's sentence was commuted due to possible problems with the trial and he was transferred to a prision in Milledgeville, Georgia, a lynching party broke him out of the prision. Frank was taken to Phagan's hometown of Marietta, Georgia and he was hanged.

 

Characters:
Young Confederate Soldier ...............Michael Molumby
Fiddlin' John .....................................John McNally
Old Confederate Solider.....................Martin McGrath
Judge Roan.........................................Neil Butler
Assistant to Aide................................Joan Byrne
Lucille Frank......................................Linda Ryan
Leo Frank............................................Francis Butler
Hugh Dorsey.......................................John Scott
Gov John Slaton .................................David McElgunn
Sally Slaton .......................................Trisha McElgunn
Frankie Epps ......................................Damian Sweeney
Mary Phagan......................................Rachel Willoughby
Iola Stover..........................................Joan Farrell
Jim Conley..........................................John Hayes
Det Starnes ........................................Mick O'Brien
Officer Ivey.........................................Mark Penfold
Newt Lee.............................................Gerard O'Hagan
Prison Guard......................................Tim McLoughlin
Mrs Phagan .......................................Maria McElgunn
Lizzie Phagan....................................Josephine Doyle
Britt Craig.........................................Barry Derby
Tom Watson......................................Noel Dundon
Angela...............................................Breda Byrne
Riley..................................................Jonathon Gleeson
Luther Rosser ...................................Jack Hickey
Nurse.................................................Marcella Kerwick
Monteen ............................................Fiona McCullagh
Essie...................................................Caitriona O'Dwyer
Mr Peavy............................................Martin McGrath

Chorus Members:

Josephine Byrne, Mary Callanan, Ruth Delahunty, Josephine Doyle, Ann Heffernan, Sylvia Moloney, AnnMarie Moore, Phil Munroe, Kerry McCarthy, Fiona McCullagh, Mary O'Flynn, Annette O'Gorman, Carol Ryan, Niamh Ryan, Michelle Sweeney, Nora Tuohy, Siobhan White, Alison Brolan, Kathleen Burke, Megan Butler, Breda Byrne, Ann Conroy, Veronica Dunne, Joan Farrell, Marcella Kerwick, Ciara Lanigan, Deirdre Lanigan, Maria McElgun, Trisha McElgunn, Roisin McGann, Sinead McGinley, Caitriona O'Dwyer, Carol Ronayne, Ber Ryan, Laura Ryan, Linda Ryan, Marie Ryan, Laura Stakelum, Rachel Willoughby.

Neil Butler, Noel Dundon, Jack Hickey, David McElgunn, Martin McGrath, Tim McLoughlin, Gerard OHagan, Mick OBrien, Mick OMahony, John Scott, Finbarr Shelley, Donal Taylor, Francis Butler, Barry Derby, John Egan, Philip Egan, Eugene Everard, Jonathan Gleeson, John Hayes, P.J. Maher, Michael Molumby, John McNally, Mark Penfold, Liam Ryan, Damian Sweeney