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Emma enters from stage right. She's in the aqua blue, polka dot dress she and Barry gleefully picked out the night before. Her other newfound friends present her with a corsage and she takes Barry’s arm, ready to enter the high school gymnasium and finally go to prom. They enter through those gym doors and see…absolutely nothing. Half-made decorations litter the stage. There’s no lights, no music, and, even worse, no other people.
We all might have had our share of bad high school memories. But could anything ever be as devastating as your high school throwing a separate prom and not inviting you?
Luckily this moment is the saddest this show will be as we experience modern day high school in small town Edgewater, Indiana in The Prom.
Broadway in Chicago Brings More Broadway
We take our seats at the Cadillac Palace and upbeat music plays with a blend of rock and 80s pop sound. A glimmering purple curtain holds the place until it rises and we’re greeted by two beaming Broadway actors - Dee Dee and Barry (Courtney Balan and Patrick Wetzel). They’ve just finished the opening night performance of Eleanor! The Musical but have received devastating reviews. They’re too full of themselves to understand their characters.
Cue the other two Broadway actors Angie Dickinson and Trent Oliver (played by Emily Borromeo and Bud Weber) also trying to boost themselves up from their less than sparkly careers. Here’s our team going to help a lesbian teenager in rural Indiana. Deciding this is the cause that will save their careers, they take up Emma’s battle of fighting against a homophobic rule that prevents her from taking her girlfriend to prom.
These guys are so over-the-top so we don’t take them too seriously. Dee Dee flaunts her way to be the center of attention in any given moment. She even has a song It’s Not About Me even though it VERY MUCH is all about her. She sashays across the stage and the other actors become her backup singers and spin her around on a platform for her grand finale. Barry cracks jokes, also vying to be the center of attention when he can, sporting his neon pink tuxedo.
All of them are everything Emma (Kaden Kearney) is most decidedly not. There is nothing more that Emma wants to do other than to sink back into the background and never draw attention to herself ever again after prom was canceled. One by one though these over-the-top New York actors try to teach Emma in their own way. Through a Fossi-esque number, Angle teaches Emma how to draw from your inner feelings to find your zazz. Barry then recognizes something in Emma that he also felt as a young gay man.
Everyone Sucks in Indiana
We bounce back and forth between these lessons—often sweetly touching-- throughout the show as we see these narcissistic actors actually come to learn to care about this cause over which they’re fighting. Not only do these actors learn a thing or two, but the whole Edgewater community does as well—coming to terms with homophobia.
For some, these moments might bring back similar memories, and for all, it’s a stark reminder these people and hateful situations still exist today. However, we’re not without hope as even though the Broadway actors may have come to only do something for themselves--, no spoilers here-- they do end up saving the day.
The Party Goes On
Though there are these harsh moments of reality in the show, The Prom keeps it light hearted and fun. The music itself has a variety of styles from the aforementioned Fossi jazz number, a gospel number to rally the crowd, and a heartfelt love song with Emma’s Unruly Heart. There’s also tons more to laugh at in The Prom than our oblivious actors, and especially many tongue in cheek jokes about liberals that kept the crowd erupting into light chuckles to hearty guffaws.
By the end, we’re all ready to get dressed up and attend a prom meant for celebrating everyone no matter who you love. The Prom is a heartfelt musical with lots of fun and touching moments you won’t want to miss!
WHEN:
Through April 24, 2022
WHERE:
Cadillac Palace Theatre
151 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL
CAST:
Kaden Kearney – Emma
Kalyn West – Alyssa Green
Courtney Balan – Dee Dee Allen
Patrick Wetzel – Barry Glickman
Emily Borromeo – Angie Dickinson
Bud Weber – Trent Oliver
Sinclair Mitchell – Mr. Hawkins
Ashanti J’Aria – Mrs. Greene
ENSEMBLE:
Jordan Alexander
Gabrielle Beckford
Ashley Bruce
Olivia Rose Cece
Maurice Dawkins
Jordan De Leon
James Caleb Grice
Megan Grosso
Marie Gutierrez
Chloe Rae Kehm
Braden Allen King
Brandon J. Large
Christopher McCrewell
Adriana Negron
Lexie Plath
Brittany Nicole Williams
CREATIVE:
Casey Nicholaw – Director and Choreographer
Bob Martin – Book
Chad Beguelin – Book & Lyrics
Matthew Sklar – Music
Scott Pask – Scenic Design
Ann Roth – Costume Design
Matthew Pachtman – Costume Design
Natasha Katz – Lighting Design
Brian Ronan – Sound Design
Josh Marquette – Wig Design
Milagros Medina-Cerdeira – Make-up Design
Larry Hochman – Orchestrations
Mary Mitchell Campbell – Music Supervisor
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Note: Picture This Post reviews are excerpted by Theatre in Chicago.
Images courtesy of Deen van Meer.
About the Author: Alexis Bugajski
Alexis is a theater reviewer, travel bug, media specialist, and burger & beer enthusiast. During the day she works in the advertising business as a senior communications designer. When night falls, or when she can escape to New York, she’s hitting the theaters to see as many shows as she can. And whenever she’s not at her desk or in the audience, she’s out seeking the best burger and beer offerings in Chicago.
Editor's Note: Click here to read more Picture this Post articles by Alexis Bugajski
