In 1913, Atlanta manager Leo Frank was tried and convicted of murdering Mary Phagan, a 13-year old who worked in his pencil factory where she was found raped and strangled. Although there were several other suspects, a desire for a quick verdict and prevailing biases soon targeted Frank, a Jewish American.
Eventually, the governor of the state, John M. Slaton who wasn’t sure all the evidence justified the conviction, commuted Frank’s sentence to life in prison. But in 1915 after Frank was transferred to another prison in Georgia, he was kidnapped, taken to Mary Phagen’s hometown and lynched.
Parade, winner of Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Original Score in 1998 and winning two more Tonys for its 2023 revival staging, is based on the real life story of Frank, his wife, and the town and state in which he was living.
Christopher Shyer plays Georgia Governor Jack Slaton who he says evolves as the musical goes on. “He’ becomes a good guy. Initially when he first hears of the crime he feels he doesn’t want anything to do with it. He feels as though he doesn’t want to tarnish his reputation. He hopes to run for president at some point.
“Initially when we meet him he sets Hugh Dorsey to prosecute the crime. He knows there are two possible perps, Newt Lee and Leo Frank and’ just get it done.’
“In the second Act which is two years later historically there are hundreds and hundreds of letters coming in from all over the country saying you need to relook at this crime. There’s a lack of physical evidence. It doesn’t sit well with a lot of people.”
A fired up public doesn’t always result in justice.
Photo by Joan Marcus
In Parade, Lucille comes to see the governor at his mansion during a party. “She activates me to take action,” Shyer says. “He looks at thousands and thousands of files on the case. He doesn’t take it back to the courts but he reopens it and he makes the decision to commute his sentence. In doing that, his political career is done. He had to call in the National Guard at that time to prevent his own lynching.”
“He basically is put to task to decide what to do two years later after this trial, after Leo Frank was accused, tried and sentenced for this horrific crime. It becomes a sobering story of one man’s enlightenment, putting the truth above himself.”
Tom Watson who basically owned The Jeffersonian [an extreme right-wing newspaper] he was quoted as saying ‘Georgians, you need to take it into your own hands.’ Which is what some of them ultimately did.
Because Frank had been appealing his case since 1913, Slaton believed by commuting his sentence he would at least be alive and could eventually see his appeals succeed.
This is the first time in 10 years that Shyer, who has several film and TV credits (Hallmark movies and The Night Agent), has acted on stage since Book of Mormon.
“The music, Jason Robert Brown’s score is his magnum opus. The soaring duets. It’s just absolutely stunning And the book which was done by Alfred Yuri who grew up as a Jewish man in Atlanta. It’s such a beautifully written script.
It’s been 10 years since Shyer has been on tour with live theater, he says. The last was Book of Mormon 10 years ago. In between he’s filled his time with film and TV roles — Hallmark movies, V and The Night Agent. He says he still gets stopped in New York City by passersby wanting to know “Hey, weren’t you that guy on V?'”
Asked why people should come see Parade, Shyer says:
“I think it’s relevant. I say that with a little bit of sadness because I wished it wasn’t. The show for me is a moral lesson about the importance of standing up for justice and the need to remember the dangers of prejudice and ignorance.
“You hope this would be more of a historical piece. Oh, look what used to happen. But the othering that is going on currently is what’s happening in this show. And not following the rule of law. I just also love the theme of the enduring power of love and hope that’s what we need to hold onto.
“The heart of the piece for me is Lucille his wife, the love and resilience amidst this overwhelming injustice. Her love and belief in her husband’s innocence and standing by him all this time.”
Performances are scheduled for July 15-20 at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday.at the Hobby Center, 800 Bagby. For more information, call 713-316-7625 or visit thehobbycenter.org or broadwayatthehobbycenter.com. $53.25-$128.