Four eccentric Broadway stars are in desperate need of a new stage. So, when they hear that trouble is brewing around a small-town prom in Indiana, they know that it’s time to put a spotlight on the issue…and themselves! The town’s parents want to keep the high school dance on the straight and narrow — but when one student just wants to bring her girlfriend to prom, the entire town has a date with destiny. On a mission to transform lives, Broadway’s brassiest join forces with a courageous girl and the town’s citizens and the result is love that brings them all together. Winner of the 2019 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, The Prom expertly captures all the humor and heart of a classic musical comedy with a message that resonates with audiences now more than ever.
The Prom was inspired by a real-life incident that took place in Fulton, Mississippi in 2010. A high school senior named Constance McMillen fought back when her local school board told her that she and her girlfriend, Ceara Sturgis, could not attend their senior prom together as a couple. The two young women soon found themselves at the center of controversy. A court battle ensued, and the townspeople organized in secrecy to create a fake prom to keep the women away from the “real” prom. However, a nationwide social-media campaign resulted in a “Second Chance” prom – where the two young women could dance together without fear of any hateful backlash.
Shaped from these headlines, The Prom’s creative team fashioned a show that proclaimed a bold message of love and acceptance while also poking fun at the overinflated egos of Broadway actors.
The Prom had its first production at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, where it premiered in August of 2016. The Broadway production opened Nov. 15, 2018, at the Longacre Theatre, where it played for 309 performances before closing on Aug. 11, 2019. The show received six Tony Award nominations and won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical. The show was the first musical of the 2018–2019 Broadway season to be named a New York Times Critics Pick, with Jesse Green calling it "such a joyful hoot. With its kinetic dancing, broad mugging and belty anthems, it makes you believe in musical comedy again."
A film adaptation of The Prom followed the Broadway closing. With a cast featuring Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, the movie had a very limited theatrical release prior to streaming on Netflix in December 2020.
The Broadway producers of The Prom announced a national tour of the show would open in February 2021 in Providence, Rhode Island, but this was eventually delayed to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The national tour finally opened on Nov. 2, 2021, in Cleveland at Playhouse Square’s Connor Palace Theatre. This national tour of The Prom went on to play 21 more cities before closing in Buffalo, New York, on Oct. 2, 2022.
Emma Nolan | …… | Alicia Diaz-Valls (They/Them) |
Alyssa Greene | …… | McKenna Hassel |
Mr. Hawkins | …… | Dan Reichert |
Mrs. Greene | …… | Laura Niehaus (She/Her) |
Shelby | …… | Maggie Vollman |
Kaylee (Alyssa US) | …… | Jamie Mayfield |
Nick (Trent US) | …… | Stanley Niekamp |
Kevin | …… | Samuel Punchak |
Barry Glickman | …… | Brian O. Jackson (He/Him) |
Dee Dee Allen | …… | Chanda K. Porter (She/Her) |
Trent Oliver | …… | Ryan Ciriaco |
Angie Dickinson | …… | Lisa Henderson |
Sheldon | …… | Jared Sparks-Lee |
Olivia Keating/Mrs. Greene’s Friend (Dee Dee US) | …… | Marie Smith (She/Her) |
Motel Clerk/Ensemble (Hawkins US) | …… | Dane Burkhardt-Kettwich |
(Kaylee US/Angie US)/Dance Captain | …… | Ella Embry |
(Kevin US) | …… | Ben Gonzalez (He/Him) |
(Olivia Keating US) | …… | Elena Klingler (She/Her) |
(Nick US) | …… | Antwone Lollis, Jr. |
(Shelby US) | …… | Mace Muetzel |
(Emma US) | …… | Annabelle Otto |
ENSEMBLE | …… | Samantha Balaj-Teolis Alexa Bird Grayson Griffith Emily Kirkpatrick (She/Her) Khylee Kridler Erik Peyton Simeon Schmitt Geonah Trazell Devan Woods (They/Them) Van Wornkey (He/Him) Michael Younkin |
Special Thanks to Brandon Davies from Western Reserve Academy
Act One
"Changing Lives"
Dee Dee, Barry, Ensemble
"Changing Lives" (Reprise)
Dee Dee, Barry, Angie, Trent
"Just Breathe"
Emma
"It's Not About Me"
Dee Dee, Barry, Angie, Trent, Ensemble
"Dance with You"
Emma, Alyssa
"The Acceptance Song"
Trent, Dee Dee, Barry, Angie, Ensemble
"You Happened"
Emma, Alyssa, Ensemble
"We Look to You"
Mr. Hawkins
"Tonight Belongs to You"
Barry, Emma, Mrs. Greene, Ensemble
Act Two
"Zazz"
Angie, Emma
"The Lady's Improving"
Dee Dee
"Love Thy Neighbor"
Trent, Ensemble
"Alyssa Greene"
Alyssa
"Barry Is Going to Prom"
Barry
"Unruly Heart"
Emma, Ensemble
“Changing Lives” (reprise)
Barry, Angie, Dee Dee, Trent, Sheldon, Mr. Hawkins
"It's Time to Dance"
Emma, Alyssa, Company
There will be one 20-minute intermission between the acts.
Keyboards/Conductor | …… | John Ebner |
Trumpet | …… | Al Flowers |
Guitar/Banjo | …… | George Dean |
Bass | …… | John Chambers |
Drums | …… | Mick Shaull |
Set Construction Crew
James Boyd, Jr.
Chris Capron
Dale Gilbert
Kathy Kohl
Dave Moledor
Richard Morris, Jr.
Kodee Williams
Lighting Crew
Emma Boring
James Boyd
Izzy Eastman
Anna Foltz
Jack-Anthony Ina
Richard Morris, Jr.
Wittman Sullivan
Costume Construction Crew
Beth Desberg
Ellen Hunton
Millie Keyser
Lindy Lincicome
Jasen Smith
Wardrobe
Gerald Beard
Jerald Beard
Jasen Smith
Emily Sullivan
Costume Inventory Crew
Jenny Banker
Backstage
Patti Alderson
Ozzie Casino
Jeannie Clarkson
Kenneth Hardman
Jeremy Kastner
Natalie Kastner
Kyle Means
Irene Storm
Robin Ungerleider
Sean Vollman
Front-of-House
Adam Alderson
Mary Lu Barbour
Ksan Cooper
Sophia Costanzo
Douglas Fidler
Ellen Garrett
Pam Groom
Tonya Gulley
Bunny Lacey
Kate Lombardo
Marci Paolucci
Katherine Peck
Bessie Raines
Mega Rankin
Katie Rito
Brad Rito
Nancy Shorts
Shay Somerville
Eric Steckel
Verna Vander Kooi
Dawn Wornkey
Backstage
Makenna Bird
Kelly Bray
Tiffany Crabtree
Kenneth Hardman
Erin Heisey
Kyle Means
Tim O'Connor
Irene Storm
Robin Ungerleider
Sean Vollman
Sara Vollman