The Prom

Time to dance again: Footlite presents ‘The Prom’

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By John Lyle Belden

It’s not spring; still, any time is good for recognizing we need to let those around us be their authentic selves. In this spirit comes the latest production of “The Prom” at Footlite Musicals.

This Broadway hit – book by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin, music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Beguelin, concept by Jack Viertel, inspired by actual 2010 events in Mississippi – is, as I’ve mentioned before, sort of a “Footloose” for our era, with hints of “Cinderella.”

Broadway stars, or at least they used to be, Dee Dee Allen (Karen Frye) and Barry Glickman (Sam Godsey) have their latest show flop so bad, it closes after opening night. Commiserating with their assistant, Sheldon (Isaac Becker-Chamberlin); Angie Dickenson (Abigail Okerson), who has been stuck in the chorus of “Chicago” for years; and unemployed former sitcom star Trent Oliver (Dustin Branum), who constantly mentions attending Julliard; they look for something to improve their public profile.  

In the (fictional) town of Edgewater, Indiana, the High School PTA cancels its Prom after learning student Emma Nolan (Marachey Fowler) plans to bring another girl as her date. While finding herself more bullied than usual, Emma has an ally in the principal, Mr. Hawkins (Shawn Hunt). Together they petition the PTA, led by staunch conservative Mrs. Greene (Katie-Rose Connors), to reconsider. But as they make their case, guess who comes barging in to “save” the day?

The cast also includes Claire Donnelly as Alyssa, Mrs. Greene’s daughter and Emma’s secret girlfriend; Zaylee Jaliwala and Nayima Hall as cheerleaders Kaylee and Shelby; Zaire Gladden-Williams and Conner Becker-Chamberlin as students Nick and Kevin; as well as Kevin Bell, Nate Copleland, Jerry Davis, Nathan DeMyers, Sophie Eastman, Kathleen Fox, Cari Gallagher, Emma Gedig, Josh Hoover, Kerrigan McSweeney, Michael Morrow, Gwendolyn Pickett Kenan, Tinnin, Katie Van Den Heuvel, Jennifer Zotz, and Thomas Zotz.

As events unfold for a teen who just wanted to dance, all characters confront uncomfortable truths, from the New Yorkers’ narcissism to schoolmates’ unquestioned beliefs. The musical was written as taking place in Indiana as a jab at then-Vice President Pence, but having Hoosiers play Hoosiers lends an authentic feel and softens the genuinely funny digs against our state (though the play does make Applebee’s look good).

Frye gloriously goes full diva, reminiscent of Patti LuPone at her most catty, as Dee Dee. Godsey’s Barry is like the sweet hyper child of James Corden and Harvey Fierstein. Donnelly’s dancer, “antelope legs” and all, follows her chorus instincts to help a fellow girl in trouble. Branum makes the most of a unique character with an interesting arc, whose unconventional thinking ends up helping.  Hunt plays Mr. Hawkins steadfast as the fulcrum on which the whole plot turns (I know I said this in a prior review, it still works). Isaac Becker-Chamberlin is charming as the one responsible for wrangling the various celebrity egos.

Connors is daunting as a woman whose mothering instincts have overtaken her compassion. Jerry Beasley, who directed with Claire Slaven, helped guide her actions at the show’s end, which suggest the possibility of healing.

As for the star of the show, Marachey Fowler is amazing! From her first song, she exhibits natural power, control, and stage presence. You can’t help but feel not just for her, but with her, in every scene. We are amazed this is only her second musical, and look forward to seeing whatever she does next.

Donnelly is also excellent, and nails Alyssa’s signature song. Her fellow students also sing well, and wow us with their dancing, choreographed by Thomas Mason.

The orchestra is led by Jeremy Kaylor.

Make a date for “The Prom,” with two more weekends, through Oct 5, at 1847 N. Alabama St., Indianapolis. Get info and tickets at footlite.org.

‘Time to Dance’ with Summer Stock Stage ‘Prom’

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By John Lyle Belden

Indianapolis young artist program Summer Stock Stage opens its 2025 season with “The Prom,” a 2018 Broadway musical loosely based on actual events and still-persistent attitudes. This is an Eclipse production (no relation to the Bloomington company) in which young actors gain professional experience alongside experienced and Equity performers.

New York theatre narcissistic has-beens Barry Glickman (Adam B. Shapiro) and Dee Dee Allen (Lanene Charters) discover their latest musical is such a flop, it will immediately close. Commiserating with friend Angie Dickinson (Alexandria Van Paris), a 20-year veteran who can’t escape the chorus, and unemployed former sitcom star Trent Oliver (Logan Mortier) – who can’t stop talking about attending Juilliard – they decide they need to take on an activist cause to enhance their public profiles. Finding an online story about a prom cancelled because a lesbian student wants to take a girl as her date, inspiration strikes.

Meanwhile, at fictional James Madison High School in Edgewater, Indiana, Emma (Mai Caslowitz) finds herself bullied even more than usual as the other students blame her for the prom’s cancellation. Fortunately, Principal Hawkins (Ryan Artzberger) is an ally and working on both a legal remedy and persuading the PTA, led by homophobic president Mrs. Greene (Megan Raymont). That meeting appears to be about to bring about the dance’s reinstatement, when suddenly, our Broadway gang shows up to “help.”

With incurable hams in the land of the tenderloin, we get a lot of laughs and maybe a bit of schadenfreude at watching the New Yorkers fail spectacularly. On the other hand, it’s cruel to Emma, who has enough stress from the fact that her secret girlfriend Alyssa (Jocylon Evans) is Mrs. Greene’s daughter.

Still, there is a lot of heart, hope and energy in this fun musical by Bob Martin, Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar, based on a concept by Jack Viertel. This production is directed by SSS Artistic Director Emily Ristine Holloway, expertly managing the comical interventions and put-downs of Hoosier culture while maintaining the humanity of all the characters.

Considering the real-life 2010 incident that inspired the musical happened in Mississippi (complete with prom fake-out and celebrity aid), the show was apparently set in Indiana as a thumb in the eye of then-Vice President Mike Pence. It is good to see local companies take charge of the way Hoosiers are portrayed, even with an honest look at anti-LGBTQ attitudes. Frankly, though I understand the rules regarding scripts, I think it would be best if there were a local (fictional) setting for any conservative state where the musical is staged, lest folks think this is just poking fun at the ignorant people “over there.”

Any concerns about the story are rendered moot by the excellent performances. Charters and Shapiro are delights as well-meaning divas working to get over themselves. Van Paris, “antelope legs” and all, brings the “zazz” throughout. Mortier nimbly plays a goober who seems self-absorbed but wants to just feel appreciated, which comes about in – for him – a surprising way. Local treasure Ben Asaykwee brings his understated charm to the role of Glickman and Allen’s assistant Sheldon. Artzberger is solid as always, and a natural aid in helping the younger stars shine.

As for the youthful roles, Caslowitz gives an award-worthy, relatable, endearing performance, winning our hearts in the songs “Dance With You” and “Unruly Heart.” Evans does a lot with her principal supporting role, especially Alyssa’s signature song.

Excellent work as well by ensemble players Isabella Agresta, Lauren Blackwood, Keilyn Bryant, Izzy Casciani, Noah Greer, Tess Holloway, Seth Jacobsen, Day Johnson, Jilayne Kistner, Reagan Cole Minnette, Maddux Morrison, Martini Olaletan, Jacob Richardon, and Sofia Warren Fitzgerald.

The dancing is also fantastic, choreographed by Sean Aaron Carmon with choreography supervisor Phillip Crawshaw.

One week remains of this spectacle – a sort of “Footloose” for our times – as Summer Stock Stage takes on its new residence at Schrott Center for the Arts at Butler University. Performances are Wednesday through Sunday, with two shows on Saturday, June 4-8. Get tickets at summerstockstage.com or butlerartscenter.org.

Teen rite of passage becomes test for all in Civic musical

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By Wendy Carson and John Belden

As you might know, the musical “The Prom” is loosely based on a true incident.* Despite historical  authenticity relative to Disney’s “Pocahontas,” this show – book by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin, music by Matthew Sklar, from a concept by Jack Viertel – presented by Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre, directed by Michael J. Lasley, entertainingly captures the essence of the story, reflecting the attitudes found in more than just one American town.

From their perspective, at least, this is the story of two aging Broadway stars, Dee Dee Allen (Marni Lemons) and Barry Glickman (Chad Leitschuh) with vanity bigger than their talent. After scorching reviews of their latest flop, they desperately need more positive publicity. With the help of their agent, Sheldon Sapperstein (David Maxwell) and a couple of other actors in need a career boost – Angie  Dickinson (Mikayla Koharchik), who can’t seem to get out of the chorus after 20 years, and Trent Oliver (Evan Wallace), a former TV star who never loses a chance to remind you he went to Juliard – they seek to find a worthy cause that won’t strain them too much. 

Emma Nolan (Kelsey McDaniel) is a high school senior in Edgewater, Indiana, who just wants to take her girlfriend to the Prom. However, the conservative small town district’s PTA, led by Mrs. Greene (Marlana Haig), refuses to allow it, going so far as to cancel the event. Just as it seems that Emma’s ally, school principal Mr. Hawkins (Rex Wolfley), found a way to work the whole situation out, our group of “Broadway Heroes” show up and not only alienate everyone involved, but embarrass Emma.  

Luckily, Hawkins, being a devoted fan of Allen, does not run the whole gang out of town. He even takes the diva to the city’s finest restaurant, Applebee’s.  

After some legal cajoling, the PTA agrees to resume the Prom. Emma plans to take Alyssa (Kaylee Johnson-Bradley), who will finally come out to her family and everyone there. But Emma and her Broadway friends are in for a devastating surprise. 

With the support of our well-meaning heroes, Emma must find a way to take her stand, her way, so that if nothing else, she – and everyone – can dance.

Having only heard a few of the songs beforehand and knowing how the story was handled, we had some reservations as to how this would work out. Would setting the story in Indiana, reportedly as a rebuke to the former Vice President, be a mockery of Hoosiers in general? Fortunately, it’s just gentle jibes we can live with (and have that hint of truth). Rather, the musical’s creators and Lasley’s direction have woven a magical story that is the “Footloose” (with a hint of Cinderella) of our era.  

The whole cast is joyously giving their all in bringing this beautiful event to life. While I am without  enough adjectives to even begin to describe each actor’s fantastic performance, I will say that NYU graduate McDaniel’s powerful voice could land her back in the Big Apple. Broadway’s loss is our gain.

Lemons, Leitschuh, Koharchik and Wallace revel in their license to overact. Haig perfectly portrays the insidious evil of indifference and self-righteousness. Wolfley handles well being the character that is the fulcrum on which the whole plot turns.

Performances of “The Prom” run through Oct. 21 at the Tarkington theater in the Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Carmel. Feel free to bring a date, corsage optional, and arrive early as there is ongoing street construction in the area. Get info and tickets at civictheatre.org or thecenterpresents.org.

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*The true story happened in Mississippi in 2010. (Click here for details) Thanks to Civic for sharing the link.