Parade, Broadway tour at Emerson Colonial Theatre, Boston, through March 23. Emersoncolonialtheatre.com.

The Leo Frank case may be the least known but also the timeliest barometer of hatred in general and antisemitism in particular. This Jewish defendant's conviction on circumstantial evidence for the murder of a young Christian girl in Marietta, Georgia inspired the founding of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), while his lynching by a mob two years later contributed to the reestablishment of the Ku Klux Klan. The powerful Broadway musical "Parade" — thanks to a strong Alfred Uhry book and a stunning Jason Robert Brown score (both well-deserved 1999 Tony Award winners) as well as a vital co-conception by the late legendary producer director Harold Prince — brought very needed attention to this landmark case at a time of growing antisemitism. The 2023 Tony Award revival — now in a riveting tour at the Emerson Colonial Theatre — resonates even more forcefully at a time of spiraling hatred.

Thanks to the brilliant projection design of Sven Ortel for the revival, the case takes on a you-are-there immediacy. Backdrop newspaper coverage helps to detail both the facts and the falsehoods surrounding Frank's arrest trial, conviction and lynching. At the same time, photos introducing the actual Franks — Leo and wife Lucille — as well as the other Georgians involved add to the authenticity and impact of the proceedings.

As with the Lincoln Center original production, Atlanta — bred Uhry's candid book begins with an initial understanding of the post — Civil War embrace by many Southerners of lingering fondness for the Confederacy and its flag. It proceeds to explain Leo Frank's sense of being an outsider both as a Jew and a Yankee. The scapegoating of National Pencil Company superintendent Frank for the murder of factory worker Mary Phagan follows as district attorney Hugh Dorsey—later governor and judge—puts together a prosecution based on questionable testimony and anti-Semitic publisher Tom Watson-later senator—fires up local citizenry in his newspaper.

Where the trial itself dominates the first act, the very moving second act focuses on Lucille's relentless efforts to prove her husband's innocence and the depth of their love. Here composer Brown gives the Franks stirring duets — "This Is Not Over Yet" and "All the Wasted Time." The forcefully disturbing revival includes an epilogue informing theatergoers that the actual case was reopened in 2019—with Frank still not exonerated.

Under Tony Award-winning Michael Arden's taut direction, a superb cast captures all of the emotional and political elements of the case and its impact. Max Chernin's portrayal of Leo Frank is as much of a standout as that of the late Brent Carver in the Broadway original. He captures Leo's early naiveté and overconfidence about proving his innocence and delivers his love duets with Talia Suskauer as Lucille with terrific intensity. Chernin's heartbreaking Shema (the traditional prayer a Jewish person utters in the face of imminent death) before Leo's lynching is a moment of singular power. Suskauer has all of Lucille's authority as she defends her husband in the touching solo. "You Don't Know This Man" and bravely appeals to Governor Slaton to commute Leo's death sentence to life imprisonment.

Andrew Samonsky catches Dorsey's slyness, while Griffin Binnicker captures Watson's viciousness. Ramone Nelson as janitor Jim Conley — now thought by many investigators to have actually murdered Phagan — sings the bluesy "Feel the Rain Fall" with great feeling. Music director Charlie Alterman sharply balances the louder and softer numbers in Brown's amazing score. Sam Laffrey's distinctive set includes a large podium-like center that smartly serves the Confederate Memorial celebrations (that frame the musical) as well as the Frank case.

"Parade" had an undeservedly short run at Lincoln Center. By contrast, the momentous revival at the Colonial continues its march from Broadway to touring cities with a clearly better understanding of the musical's messages about the peril of hate — especially antisemitism — and the power of love.