‘Leopoldstadt’ and ‘Parade’ Take Tony Awards, Making Antisemitism a Theme of the Night

Anti-Semitism was the central theme of the evening, with two films depicting anti-Semitic horrors, Leopoldstadt and Parade, winning major awards on Sunday.

Directed by Tom Stoppard, Leopoldstadt centers on the devastating toll of anti-Semitism on a Jewish family in Vienna, inspired by Stoppard’s belated reflection on his Jewish roots. Received award for best work. Earlier that night, the play’s director, Patrick Marber, won Best Director and Brandon Ulanowitz, one of the core actors in the ensemble cast, won Best Actor.

“Thank you for writing a play about Jewish identity and anti-Semitism, and the false promise of assimilation with its befitting nuances, complexities and contradictions,” Ulanowitz said in his acceptance speech. “Many of my ancestors who never left Poland are also grateful to you.”

The musical Parade, which depicts the tragedy of Leo Frank, a Jewish pencil factory owner who was murdered by a mob in 1915, won the Best Musical Revival award. Director Michael Arden challenged audiences to fight anti-Semitism, white supremacy, and other forms of hatred, and won Best Direction of a Musical.

“We must come together and fight this, or we are doomed to repeat the horrors of history,” Arden said.