PARADEs National Tour Is a Procession of Boston Conservatory Talent

PARADEs National Tour Is a Procession of Boston Conservatory Talent Michael Tacconi BFA '12 and fifth-semester musical theater major Olivia Goosman talk about the Tony Award-winning musical, their time at Boston Conservatory, and advice they have for aspiring performers.

By

Tara Bellucci

March 21, 2025

Michael Tacconi BFA '12 and Olivia Goosman sit on the ornate staircase at the Emerson Colonial Theatre.

Image by Michelle Parkos

PARADE opens with-you guessed it-a parade. And theres no shortage of Boston Conservatory at Berklee talent marching across the Emerson Colonial Theatre stage while the national touring production is in Boston from March 11 to March 23, 2025.

The winner of the 2023 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, PARADE is based on the true story of Leo and Lucille Frank, a newlywed Jewish couple in Georgia who face unbelievable challenges when Leo is accused of a terrible crime. While the actual events took place over a century ago, there are some haunting parallels that can be drawn to the present day.

In the touring cast, Olivia Goosman, a fifth-semester musical theater major, plays the pivotal role of Mary Phagan; Michael Tacconi BFA '12 plays the opportunistic reporter Britt Craig.

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The national touring company of PARADE

image by Joan Marcus

Olivia Goosman, Jack Roden, and company in the national tour of PARADE

Image by Joan Marcus

Michael Tacconi (center) and the national touring company of PARADE

Image by Joan Marcus

Tacconi, whose Broadway credits include The Cher Show and West Side Story, was drawn to the physicality of the role. He shared how cool it was watching choreographers Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant just look at each other and change something so that it instantly worked better on stage. Working with director Michael Arden, they all made it feel like we had all the time in the world, despite only having a few weeks until opening night.

Goosman credits the guidance and flexibility shes received from Conservatory faculty and staff for her ability to jump on this opportunity. Im getting to take classes online during the day . . . everyone has been very supportive. And her professors were pivotal in navigating the Actors Equity (union for live theater performers) auditions. The process was exactly as they said it would be, which was helpful, she added.

Tacconis advice for folks who want to make it in theater actually applies to anyone, no matter the career path. Even successful actors and performers still audition and have hard times and disappointments, so its about finding that whole life, so that youre not only happy when youre in a show, but that every day there is some aspect of doing the thing that you love to do.

PARADE is at Emerson Colonial Theatre through March 23. Buy tickets.

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