For many, no high school journey is complete without a prom. It’s the final celebration of the many achievements made throughout the past four years. Friends get together, dress up, and have the night of their lives. It’s a rite of passage going back decades to the point some take it for granted. In the Tony-nominated musical The Prom, the show addresses a host of contemporary issues through this lens by showing the complexities of modern American politics. While at times a bit too direct, the results create a joyful reenactment that suggests everyone should be welcomed. Maybe it’s a bit too high on wish fulfillment, but in a country more divided now than when the show first premiered, it’s a story worth telling.
One of the great novelties of seeing The Prom being put on at Cypress College by the Theater Arts program is that most of the cast don’t have to think too hard about their proms. In a lot of cases, they were possibly less than a year ago. Still, that isn’t to discredit the talent on display for a crew that delivers with so much likability. For the entire running time, they deliver a great mix of zippy comedy and fantastic ensemble dancing that culminates in an overwhelming finale that leaves the audience’s heart fluttering.
A large reason for it may be the contrast of the story between its serious subject matter and its satire of theater culture. At the center is Emma Nolan, whose Midwest life is turned upside down when she is told that the prom is cancelled because of her. It wasn’t because of any act of vandalism or protest. It’s simply because she’s a lesbian in a conservative county, where the parents suggest that she’s being vulgar for being alive. As she declares in “Just Breathe”: don’t be gay in Indiana. Bethany Folks brings a weary charisma to Emma as she navigates the world that doesn’t want her and the one that may just be using her as a virtue signal.
Those people are called Broadway actors. On the surface, it’s conflicting to wonder why The Prom opens with them as the audience’s focal point. After all, their careers have mostly faded as a recent musical about Eleanor Roosevelt bombed. They’re desperate for relevance, and use Emma as their chance to be seen as heroes. What starts as a contemporary odd couple story slowly turns into something more inventive. The Prom is ultimately one of the most ingenious satires of musical culture in the modern metatextual world. When they court Emma, she has no choice but to look in bafflement. It’s the feeling of watching someone who dislikes musicals react to one breaking out in front of them. It’s awkward and weird, but thanks to everyone, the comedy never feels forced.
Even the fact that Emma doesn’t dance until Act II shows the ways that this satire informs self-expression. In the memorable number “Zazz,” she takes a lesson about Bob Fosse and slowly comes out of her shell. Folks really sells the moment as simple handshakes and steps across the stage become these rejuvenating moments of discovery. On some level, it’s a moment as corny as any prom montage, but the earnestness of the cast allows it to feel empowering. Even amid jokes that are meant more for theater fans, watching Emma learn to accept her Broadway co-stars reflects the universality of the medium. By the end, everyone is humbled and must learn to be more open-minded.
Credit to Cypress College’s cast and crew for making the entire performance shine. With quick set changes, they manage to keep the show moving quickly from moment to moment. There’s even a provocative fake-out that comes near the Act I break that creates an artful reveal of the progress that still needs to be made. The cast dances in dazzling suits and dresses, even breaking out in dance breaks that allow the limber cast members to really show off their skill. Everyone’s giving their all, and the results work to convey the exuberance of the high school experience.
Credit should also be given to the "Broadway" performers. As the outliers to this world, they manage to embody a confidence that never wavers. Whereas Emma feels beaten down by criticism, noticing a Tony-winning actor not get a luxurious sweet only leads to certain truths. They overreact to every small thing, creating a level of campy comedy that balances out the seriousness of the subject matter. At no point is any character actively demonized. While there may be disagreements, there’s an effort in The Prom to find a middle-ground and accept that everyone deserves to be respected. Again, it’s corny in the way that a prom is, but as an evening of theater, these actors really know how to welcome the audience in and enjoy a laugh or two.
The Prom is one of the great new additions to the local theater circuit and one that is likely to become more omnipresent as time goes on. As time continues, it’ll be fun to see this show’s greater legacy. For now, Cypress College has done an excellent job of bringing it to life and making everything sizzle. With a great mix of catchy songs and an upbeat story, it appeals to an audience eager to get up and express themselves. Like most of the members in this production, it feels like they have officially found their demographic. Most people will go to The Prom sometime in their life. These stories can be universal. So long as there’s a need to be yourself in a judgmental society, The Prom will be a necessary text.
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