BROADWAY X JENI’S: Parade
I had the honor of seeing the first preview of the revival of Parade. It deserved a special edition of my Films x Jeni’s series, so I introduce to you: Broadway x Jeni’s.
Since musical theater can be a little more niche than the film industry, I’ll provide you with a brief synopsis of the plot. Based on historical events, it’s set in early 1900’s Atlanta and recounts the conviction of Jewish-American Leo Frank after a 13 year-old girl who was employed at the factory he directed was found murdered in the basement. While the actual history is worth a good research, the musical is a drama that conveys the story in a digestible manner, focusing on the issues of anti-semitiscm, racism, and political corruption while highlighting the love between Frank and his wife. Though the show was originally on Broadway in 1998, its return seems particularly poignant since Frank’s case was reopened in 2019 and is still ongoing today.
Ben Platt was phenomenally cast as Leo Frank. Say what you will about Dear Evan Hansen and how much it deserves the hype (I’m here for it), but there’s a reason Ben Platt became a household name after that show. It’s no secret his voice is like butter with an aggressive vibrato; his sound is perfectly complemented by his acting which is so natural, genuine, and detail-oriented that he wholly embodies his character, and you can’t help but be completely drawn into the story. He was so excellently matched in his on-stage counterpart Micaela Diamond, who plays Lucille Frank. Previously seen as young Cher in The Cher Show, she brings grace and intentionality in every choice she makes. Lucille Frank has such subtlety in the way her character is written that she can easily come across as naive and a bit of a doormat in some interpretations, but the work Diamond put into making her character one of strength and fortitude is very evident when at the end of the show you can’t help but feel the story was almost as much about her as her husband.
The entire cast was solid, with an evident passion for the story they were representing. With 18 Broadway debuts being made that night, the energy was absolutely palpable. Being that it was the opening night of previews, there are still changes to be made, but nothing overwhelmingly stuck out in my eyes. It’s a show of details and purpose with something to notice in each moment (ex. the ensemble numbers featuring the entire cast singing about confederate patriotism but Leo Frank and the black characters standing silent). It was overall just a well done example of the powerful messages that can be found in theater; if you need any more evidence, look no further than the protesters standing outside the front door.
Would I pay the ticket price again? Absolutely.
Tear level (on a scale of Legally Blonde to Les Miserables): your neighbor is handing you tissues.
Music, acting, or dance show? Jason Robert Brown composed this show so obviously the music is phenomenal, but for me it would be nothing without the acting behind it - luckily this cast was amazing at both.
The feeling you get when leaving the theatre: regardless of who you are, this will make you think about racism as it applies both in history and today. It makes you evaluate who you are and what kind of relationships you have with people - what side of history you would’ve been put on. If you’re a theatre person who likes shows that mean something, this is why you do theatre.
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The Jeni’s Pairing
This is a trio in a bowl with a waffle crisp because there’s a lot to ponder in this one, and you need the kind of time a bowl allows you sit and process everything going on. For some reason the classic Honey Vanilla Bean is calling our name to be a part of this - probably because it gives old American classic much like the show. The second flavor is naturally Sweet Cream Biscuits and Peach Jam because the Georgia setting is a crucial component of the plot (though it doesn’t exactly scream Georgia pride). Lastly, we’re having Coffee with Cream and Sugar because it stuck out to me that they never let Leo Frank have his coffee; the bitter flavor of the drink represents the darkness of this side of history, but we’re singing about it so add the cream and sugar.
MORE ON THE FLAVORS:
We have never thought of vanilla as boring. Our version is rich and complex, with notes of amber, dried fruit, and butter cake. Meticulously grown and cured Fair Trade vanilla beans complement the incredible grass-grazed milk we’ve sourced for years from small Ohio dairies. A touch of golden honey—from our friends at Deer Creek Honey in Ohio—adds a featherweight note of nectar. Best enjoyed straight from a cone or alongside your favorite cake or pie.
Inspired by the perfect sweet cream biscuits and jam served throughout the South and just as memorable. Fresh cultured buttermilk adds brightness to the cream. Then we fold in crumbly bits of salty sweet cream biscuits and fresh jam made with the most perfect peaches from our friends at The Peach Truck out of Nashville. Sweet and salty, this ice cream is rich southern comfort by the spoonful.
Open a bag of fresh, roasted coffee beans and breathe in. That rich, earthy aroma is exactly how this flavor tastes. We capture that scent by steeping syrupy and sweet fresh espresso grounds—sourced from the Direct Trade coffee pioneers at Chicago-based Intelligentsia—right into cream. (Making this one of our most labor-intensive flavors to make!) It’s the reason why we say Coffee with Cream & Sugar tastes exactly the way coffee smells—robust and earthy with an undercurrent of caramel. There is no better coffee ice cream in the world.
