You may have seen its adaptation on Netflix, but “The Prom” was showcased in UW-Whitewater’s own Barnett Theatre Feb. 20.
“The Prom” is a comedic musical about four Broadway stars who travel to a conservative Indiana town to help a high school girl who is banned from bringing her girlfriend to prom. The result is a heartwarming story about love, acceptance and finding your own stage. The show premiered on Broadway in 2018 after a 2016 tryout, won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, and was later adapted into a popular Netflix film in 2020.
“I hope people walk out smiling, but also thinking, ‘it’s a really fun show, but it also has a message that sticks with you,” production stage manager Maya Springob said.
While the musical leans into humor and high-energy dance numbers, its story is rooted in real events. In 2010, Constance McMillen, a senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Mississippi, was banned from attending prom after she planned to bring her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo. When McMillen challenged the decision, the school board canceled prom entirely. After the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit, a federal court ruled the district had violated McMillen’s First Amendment rights, though the judge did not require the school to reinstate the event.
The district later allowed McMillen to attend a prom at a local country club, but only seven students showed up. Meanwhile, local parents secretly organized a separate prom for the rest of the class. The story gained national attention, and celebrities including Green Day, Cat Cora and Lance Bass helped sponsor a widely publicized “Second-Chance” prom where McMillen and her girlfriend could attend freely.
“I think it’s so important for student theatre to tackle stories like ‘The Prom,’” lighting designer Noah Verhasselt said. “We have a diverse cast and production team coming from many different backgrounds and identities, and it feels great to put on a show that highlights many of those different identities.”
The stage musical builds on this premise with a fictionalized, theatrical twist. The show opens on Broadway, where the musical “Eleanor!: The Eleanor Roosevelt Story” closes on opening night after poor reviews. In an effort to repair their public image, self-absorbed stars search for a cause to support and discover Emma, an Indiana teen whose prom is canceled for wanting to bring her girlfriend.
What follows is a fast-paced mix of satire and sincerity as the Broadway performers descend on the small town, often creating as many problems as they solve. Through big musical numbers, missteps and eventual growth, the story moves toward a more inclusive prom and a message centered on acceptance.
Behind the scenes at UW-Whitewater, the production is also a major technical undertaking. Verhasselt, a senior on campus, is serving as lighting designer for the production, his fourth design with the department. His other designs may ring a bell: “Eurydice,” “Lady Windermere’s Fan,” and “DanceScapes 2024.”
“My favorite number in the show is ‘Tonight Belongs to You,’” Verhasselt said. “During the dance break, there is a really cool build-up in the music, and it was a really fun challenge programming the lighting for this sequence.”
Verhasselt believes the musical’s wide appeal makes it a strong draw for campus and community audiences.
“Students and community members should come see ‘The Prom’ because it has something that is bound to appeal to everyone,” he said. “It has huge dance breaks, powerful musical numbers, comedy that will have you laughing the entire show, and an incredibly heartwarming plot.”
With its mix of humor, spectacle and timely themes, “The Prom” aims to deliver both big Broadway energy and a meaningful message.
