Parade – Recommended Reading List
By Sally Ollove, site Literary Manager
Parade is based on the true story of the trial of Leo Frank for the murder of Mary Phagan. There are a number of great resources if you want to learn more, but be warned: these resources all contain spoilers! Don’t worry, this list will still be here after you see the production.
Websites:
- A good overview of the case from the American Jewish Historical Society
- A very in-depth website from the University of Missouri in Kansas City which features newspaper articles from the time as well as the trial transcript.
Please be aware that some anti-Semitic individuals have also written about the case. Some have published their own conspiracy-theory centered information online, often dressing up misinformation with facts to seem legitimate. One such site to avoid is leofrank.org, which is, unfortunately, a top search engine hit for Leo Frank.
Books:
- The production used The Dead Shall Rise by Steve Oney extensively. The book contains a complete and in-depth account of the case and its aftermath as well as the societal shockwaves the trial sent through the country.
- The Leo Frank Case, by Leonard Dinnerstein, first published in 1968 has been updated in several editions, most recently in 2008. Dinnerstein provides a very readable overview of the case in a fair and balanced appraisal of the facts. If you want a shorter read, Dinnerstein wrote an article for American Heritage, “The Fate of Leo Frank”
Documentaries:
- PBS Documentary: “The People v. Leo Frank” which premiered in 2009
In Person:
- In addition to exploring the Jewish-American experience, the National Museum of American Jewish History at 5th and Market has an exhibit dedicated to Leo Frank.
If you have a ticket to see our production of Parade, save your stub and you’ll receive $3 off admission to the museum from September 26-November 15.
Parade runs September 26 – November 3 at Arden Theatre Company