Interview: Olivia Goosman of PARADE at the Orpheum Theatre
The highly anticipated first national tour of Parade comes to Minneapolis at the Orpheum Theatre from January 21 through 26. This powerful historical musical, based on the 1913 trial of Leo Frank, first captivated audiences in 1998 and returned to the spotlight with a critically acclaimed revival in 2023. I even highlighted this tour in my "Can't-Miss Shows of Early 2025" post, and now the excitement is real because it’s the first show I’ll see in 2025. I’m thrilled to have the chance to chat with Olivia Goosman, who plays Mary Phagan in this touring production.
PARADE is such a powerful and historically significant musical. How do you approach the responsibility of telling this story night after night?
In the room, we discussed how these words hold a significant weight so we don't have to. Our responsibility as the actors is to say the words on the page as truthfully as possible for us that day. I go about it similarly, but more from the character's perspective to keep some separation. I try to leave Mary at the theatre so I can go home and relax after the shows. We as a cast have talked in depth about how we can help each other throughout the show when there are difficult moments. You as the audience do not see it, but we are constantly assuring each other that we are safe and as comfortable as possible.
What do you hope the audience takes away from this performance?
I simply hope the audience leaves the theatre and thinks! I hope they look inward at their own prejudices and reflect on how fast a story can be turned around when you want something to be the truth and when you want an answer. Every time you tell a story it changes a little bit, and every time you tell a lie you believe it a little more. This show shows the horrible game of telephone that these people played to make their actions justified.
What have you learned about yourself as a performer through playing Mary Phagan in this production?
I have learned so much! This is my first tour, and it is a wild ride so far! I have never had to rehearse 10-6 everyday or perform eight shows a week before and as a performer, I have learned so much about taking care of myself both emotionally and physically. I also have learned so much about Mary Phagan and Leo Frank, I had heard of this case before but knew none of the details. I now know how to tackle playing a real person and telling someone's real lifestory. Mary is an interesting character to play as she was used as a pawn in the case and a lot of what is said about her doesn't reflect anything that she actually said. I try to not put anything on her in the moments of truthfulness other than what what written about her, which is that she had a sweet and joyful disposition. I think it is extremely important to bring truth and facts to this story as sadly it is still so relevant today.
On a more fun and lighter note, what are the most surprising items in your tour luggage?
This is a tough one, but I think the most surprising is my mini air fryer. Eating out every day for nine months would be expensive! So as a tour gift, my parents bought me a teal mini air fryer so I could get some food and keep it in my hotel fridge and be able to make myself dinner, it has already come in handy. I also brought my computer, which may not sound suprising at first but its main purpose on this trip can be a little surprising. I am still in college and so I am taking a few online classes to stay on track to graduate next year!
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