The Prom
In 2010, McMillen v. Itawamba County School District in Fulton, Mississippi, had a lawsuit filed by the ACLU against Agricultural High School; it gained national attention after school officials banned two lesbian girls from coming to their Prom as a couple. When the school received the ruling that they couldn't ban Constance from attending the Prom with her girlfriend, they canceled the Prom at the school, citing fear that they could not protect the girls. The lawsuit was settled out of court, and the school agreed to follow a non-discrimination policy.
Broadway In Chicago at the Cadillac Theatre brings to Chicago, THE PROM, which features direction and choreography by Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw (Mean Girls, The Book of Mormon), a book by Tony Award winner Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone) and Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (Aladdin), music by Tony Award nominee Matthew Sklar (Elf) and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin.
Loosely based on the story of Constance McMillen, the musical follows four Broadway actors whose lackluster careers were fading, who travel to the conservative town of Edgewater, Indiana, to help a lesbian student banned from bringing her girlfriend to the high school prom.
Dee Dee Allen and Barry Glickman are two self-absorbed celebrities that live in their own Hollywood world where everyone loves them. They perform in a theatrical play called Eleanor! - The Eleanor Roosevelt Musical" starring Broadway icon Dee Dee Allen. Her leading man, Barry Glickman, who co-stars as FDR, is also engrossed in his stardom, telling reporters that he will be so amazing that he can change people's lives and that by the end of this play, people who are dead inside will shout 'Bravo!' on cue." But to their misfortunate, the critics loathed them as narcissistic divas. With one saying, "If you are considering buying a ticket to this show, do yourself a favor; buy a few feet of good heavy rope instead and then go hang yourself."
Thinking that the reviews were more due to the play and not their performances, the press agent explains that the two stars aren't likable and that their egocentric behavior throughout their performances is self-evident. So Dee Dee and Barry looked for a cause that would help them earn favorable press as celebrity activists and shred this unfortunate persona, seeking to upgrade the people's perception. They meet up with Julliard failure actor Trent Oliver and Fosse-dancer pal Angie, a chorus girl who feels that no one ever sees her, and producers never let her go on to play the role of Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago. Angie finds a story surging on social media about a lesbian girl who is banned from attending her Prom because she wants to bring her girl companion. So they hatch a plan to tag along on a bus going through the town, making Emma's dilemma their cause to spruce up their persona.
We then get a chance to meet Emma. The lesbian girl who wants to dance with her partner is at the center of this controversy. Emma sings a very passionate song about dealing with the hatred of being a lesbian in "Just Breathe," who wants to go to Prom as a regular student; however, she's forced into a revolution of broadway actors trying to resurface their fleeting careers. (It's Not About Me.)
Emma and her teacher are at a PTA meeting with discussions about her attending the Prom is in process. However, before a decision could be made regarding Emma, the four celebrities turned activists barge in on a PTA meeting, singing and dancing in favor of Emma about attending the Prom. Still not fully understanding that their narcissistic ways can turn an audience against them (we came to open your tiny little minds), they alienate the people at the meeting, causing more issues for Emma.
Emma's girlfriend, Alyssa, hasn't come out yet, fearing her mother, Mrs. Greene, the head of the PTA, wouldn't understand. Alyssa is upset with Emma for all the publicity she brings into their relationship. However, Alyssa agreed to go to the Prom with Emma, but the parents secretly had another prom at a different location. Alyssa's mother brings her to the other Prom, leaving Emma only at the school.
The Prom starring cast features Falsettos's Courtney Balan (Dee Dee Allen), who played the role of Olivia Keating in the Broadway performance of The Prom, and Patrick Wetzel, who was in the television production of The Prom as the Indiana reporter; getting a chance to lead as Barry Glickman. Wetzel's version of Barry singing, "We're gonna help that little lesbian, whether she likes it or not," was hilarious.
In addition, Broadway's School of Rock and The Bounty Hunter, Emily Borromeo, and Bud Weber performed in Something Rotten, Allidian, and The Book of Mormon. The two actors playing Emma and Alyssa are Kaden Kearney and Kalyn West. Kearney, who has been on the TV series, The Prodigal Son and is scheduled to play Clay in the upcoming television series, Belated, and post-production series Bedlam as Cordeelwill, The Prom is her National Tour debut. West, having earned a double bachelor's degree in Musical Theatre & Anthropology, played Shelby in the original Broadway casting of The Prom, moves up to play Emma's beloved, Alyssa.
I love the message of The Prom, and the actors were fine, but no one stood out except for Patrick Wetzel. The 53-year-old actor, bumping up the age of Barry by about seven years, was exceptional.
The Prom's overall performance and flow felt a little flat and lacked that Fosse pizzazz. "Love Thy Neighbor" is biblically taken out of context, referencing the old testament laws. Christians live under the Dispensation of Grace after Christ's death. I've always said that wrong is wrong regardless of who does it, and treating Emma as an outcast is morally wrong.
The film adaptation of The Prom is set in Edgewater, Indiana, which was purposefully selected because Indiana is the home of Vice President Mike Pence, who has a well-documented record of anti-LGBTQ stances.
"We Look to You" is a powerful song reminding us of how we can escape life through the drama of theatrical. A good song that can also remind us that we need to learn acceptance regardless of our views and beliefs. The cruelty of humanity where we shun others for being different only makes us demonic, and we lose the ability to share why we are different and our beliefs. But, on the other hand, when we remove judgment and see the purity of love and humanity, we become moral leaders that others can follow.
The Prom is a sensational feel-good story we all need to experience. Based on the ethical storyline, Let's Play Theatrical Review Recommends The Prom.
Cadillac Palace
The PROM
Book by Bob Martin & Chad Beguelin
Directed and Choreographed by Casey Nicholaw
April 19 - 24, 2022
Runtime: 2 hours 25
