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Regional Reviews: Phoenix The Prom
The Prom was inspired by the real-life 2010 event in which Constance McMillen's prom in Mississippi was cancelled when her principal said she couldn't bring her girlfriend as her date. For the musical, the location is now a small town in Indiana and the focus is on Emma, whose high school prom was cancelled by the school's PTA when it became aware that she was planning on bringing a female date. Meanwhile, in New York City, a group of struggling Broadway performers, led by Barry Glickman and Dee Dee Allen, are searching for a cause that can help rehabilitate their careers after being labeled narcissists by critics when their latest Broadway show flopped. Joined by their equally fame-hungry friends, Angie and Trent, Barry and Dee Dee descend on Emma's small town and embrace her fight to attend her high school prom with her girlfriend. Casting themselves as celebrity activists, the group sets out to pressure the school into hosting an inclusive prom, though their good intentions are often complicated by their desire to reclaim the spotlight. Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin's book does a wonderful job of fleshing out the assortment of characters and, while there are several important messages in the show, they manage to effectively balance the showbiz insanity the over-the-top Broadway actors constantly stir up with the serious social issues in the story, which are never too heavy handed. There is also an abundance of humor in the script, including some very fun jokes and one-liners, as well as some twists in the plot that keep it from being too predictable. The score, with music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Beguelin, is really good, with plenty of emotion-filled ballads that give depth to the characters and many upbeat ensemble numbers that move the plot forward. Ken Urso's direction keeps everything moving along swiftly, while also ensuring that all of the performances are warm, comical, and believable, even if the Broadway quartet are, appropriately, over the top at times. While those four characters get a lot of stage time, the character of Emma is the show's heart, and the reason Barry, Dee Dee, Trent, and Angie are in town, and Dani Cleveland is excellent in the role. Her singing is infused with passion and emotion with a gorgeous delivery that is clear and strong. Cleveland's performance makes the audience care deeply for Emma, which makes the ending that much more impactful. Cassandra Klaphake and Andy Meyers shine as Dee Dee and Barry, the two egotistical, self-centered actors looking for a social cause to get behind in order to improve their image. Klaphake is hilarious as the woman who is unaware of anything that happens outside of her world, and Meyers is wonderful as the gay man unashamed to be who he is. Seeing Klaphake's Dee Dee come to realize that there are people with problems bigger than hers while Meyers' Barry finds a connection with Emma in how their parents reacted to their coming out, adds emotional weight to their performances. Klaphake gets several songs that show off her impressively powerful and brassy belt while Meyers' singing voice and performance are simply lovely. Jamie Parnell and Lynzee Foreman provide great humorous assistance as Dee Dee and Barry's friends, Trent and Angie. Both have perfect comic timing that allows every joke to land. Parnell's smooth and clear singing voice hits some impressive notes while Foreman's crisp singing and fantastic dancing make her solo, "Zazz," a knock out. Foreman also provides the choreography, which features many wonderful group numbers that build into showstoppers. Miguel Jackson is charming as the school's principal, the only sane adult who stands up for Emma and also finds himself falling for Dee Dee. Giselle Sanchez Wilson is perfect as Alyssa, Emma's closeted girlfriend who finds herself conflicted in that she wants to come out but finds it difficult to do so when the homophobic head of the PTA happens to be her mother. In that role, Sedona Valdez has the difficult task of being the villain of the piece, yet she manages to create a nuanced character that lets us understand why she feels the way she does. Raymond Barcelo adds a few fun pops as Barry and Dee Dee's overworked and overly anxious agent. The ensemble is great, including many young adults who play the students at Emma and Alyssa's high school. The creative elements sparkle and shine, including Douglas Clarke's inventive set design that uses several large set elements, along with Chris Ignacio's fun media design, to whisk us from one location to the next. Morgan Andersen's costumes are bright, colorful, and character appropriate, while the lighting by Casey Price is impressive. Mark 4Man's music direction delivers lush harmonies and wonderful notes from the entire cast which sound clear and crisp through the sound design by Collin Stake. The Prom succeeds because it delivers plenty of big laughs and infectious musical numbers while never losing sight of its important social message: everyone deserves the freedom to be who they are and to love whomever they choose. It's funny, touching, and uplifting. Arizona Broadway Theatre's production features a talented cast that expertly mines both the humor and heart in the script, creating memorable, lovable characters while belting out the show's catchy songs with energy and emotion. It may sound a little corny, but The Prom is a joyous reminder that acceptance, love, and a little courage can bring people together and make the world a better place. The Prom runs through September 13, 2026, at Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 West Paradise Lane, Peoria AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.azbroadway.org or call 623-776-8400. Director: Ken Urso Cast: |
