Zoe Brennan

Westfield High School

Prom should be a time to free yourself from the constraints of everyday life–a time to spend with your closest friends, a time to truly be yourself. But when the supposed coming-of-age milestone, presented in Wakefield High School’s The Prom School Edition, becomes a battleground for bigotry and political posturing, nothing is set in stone. 

The Prom opened in 2016 at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, where it ran for two years before making its way to Broadway. Its book was written by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin, with music by Matthew Sklar. The story of The Prom is loosely based on a real incident that occurred in 2010 in Fulton, Mississippi.

Lights up on the opening night of “Eleanor! The Eleanor Roosevelt Story–” a performance that may just be a career-ruining nightmare for two of Broadway’s most preeminent stars. Distraught by negative reviews and accusations of narcissism, Dee Dee Allen and Barry Glickman decide that they need to do something selfless–in the interest of saving their careers, of course. Motivated, they set their sights on the small town of Edgewater, Indiana, where a young lesbian has just been banned from attending her high-school prom.

Dee Dee Allen, a Broadway legend with one too many failures under her belt, was brought to life by Penelope Wagner, who presented the audience with a perfectly balanced blend of maturity and energy, traversing Dee Dee’s journey to becoming a better person with a polished skill and a shrug of many sequined jackets. Ethan Heinrich played the vibrantly fabulous Barry Glickman, with a standout performance of the night being Heinrich’s powerful vocals in “Barry is Going to Prom.” Heinrich was also a master of knowing when to step back and support his fellow actors with strong, stable harmonies.

Mia Cummings, who played Emma Nolan, brought a measured, realistic stoicism to the part, delivering a grounded performance that suited Emma’s more reserved personality well. Cummings’ vocals were also consistently well-supported and vibrant. Trent Oliver was played by August Carr, who led their songs with a jovial fervor. “Love Thy Neighbor” was infused with a sense of glee and genuine good-naturedness, aided by the jaunty, playful approach Carr brought to Trent’s physicality.

Wakefield’s impressive showing onstage was well-supported by the efforts of its backstage teams. The choreography, created by Angie Sukhee, Leo Myers, Anneliese Odegard, and Lyla Price, was not only fun and energetic but suited each character perfectly–with old-school Broadway steps for the adult cast and more modern moves for the students. A sizable portion of the show was student-directed by the talented Leo Myers, whose strategic stage pictures were grandiose, each piece perfectly sculpted to show off each actor. The lighting, orchestrated by Sofia Argüelles, Ike Mandaville, Sean Glaze, and Ella Sitz, was dazzling, featuring a rainbow display in the background of the final scene and consistent spotlight work in nearly every musical number.

Wakefield High School’s production of The Prom School Edition mixed humor and campiness with a profound sense of heart and character, reminding the audience that with the power and support of a community, real change can be made.

Dylan Truncellito

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Get ready to don your supportive t-shirts and rhyme lesbian with thespian as Wakefield High School presents The Prom School Edition!

The Prom was first performed at the Alliance Theatre in 2016 and brought to Broadway in 2018, with a film adaptation released in 2020. The energetic, off-beat musical follows Emma, a girl from a homophobic small town in Indiana who wants to take her girlfriend Alyssa to prom. The uptight Mrs. Greene, head of the PTA, cancels prom in retaliation, and the civil rights issue reaches a lively group of washed-up Broadway stars hoping for some positive PR.

Comedic, flashy, and self-absorbed, the quartet of growing-old Broadway stars Dee Dee Allen (Penelope Wagner), Barry Glickman (Ethan Heinrich), Trent Oliver (August Carr), and Angie Dickinson (Elizabeth Kisor) were a positively flamboyant ensemble. From Trent’s odd enthusiasm to Barry’s radiating comedic energy, they turned a small town in Indiana into a stage for glitzy musical numbers, bringing ‘zazz’ everywhere they traveled. Their voices were powerful, hitting high notes with ease and singing beautifully full harmonies.

Emma Nolan, portrayed by Mia Cummings, sang stunningly, her mature voice consistently and clearly articulating each note. Her conflicted desperation to be accepted and attempts to steel herself were clear with carefully timed pauses and tense posture.

From iconic old-Broadway flair to elements of modern dance trends, Angie Sukhee, Leo Myers, Anneliese Odegard, and Lyla Price expertly managed the task of choreographing dances for two contrasting demographics. The quartet of Broadway stars performed dances embellished with jazz hands, exuberantly energetic. Meanwhile, the students of James Madison High School danced precisely with nods to popular TikTok trends.

Skillful pizzicatos, exciting drum rolls, and blaring trumpet themes could be heard from the Wakefield Pit Orchestra, energy clear on their faces as they swayed to the music and enjoyed every minute of their performance. They played with emotion, supporting the actors during vocal solos and taking over during lively dance breaks.

From extravagant dances to rainbow decorations, Wakefield High School’s performance of The Prom School Edition had all the cheesy glamour of a classic high school dance.