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The Prom: School Edition

Four eccentric Broadway stars are in desperate need of a new stage. So when they hear that trouble is brewing around a small-town prom, they know that it's time to put a spotlight on the issue... and themselves. The town's parents want to keep the high school dance on the straight and narrow -- but when one student just wants to bring her girlfriend to prom, the entire town has a date with destiny.

Winner of the Drama Desk Award for Best Musical, The Prom: School Edition expertly captures all the humor and heart of a classic musical comedy with a message that resonates with audiences now more than ever. As with all TRW School Editions, The Prom: School Edition has been carefully edited, with additional director's notes throughout, to make the show more producible and ideally suited for high school groups. It's your school's turn to build a prom!

* * PERFORMANCE RIGHTS ONLY AVAILABLE TO GROUPS AND SCHOOLS IN NEW ZEALAND * *

More information

Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Comedy
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: Contemporary, New Millennium/21st Century
  • Target Audience: Teen (Age 14 - 18), Adult
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Cautions: Mild Adult Themes
  • Orchestra Size: Large

  • Performance Group:
  • High School/Secondary

  • Accolades:
  • Winner! Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical (2019)
    Nominee! Tony Award for Best Musical (2019)
    Nominee! Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Musical (2019)
Act I:
The musical opens on Broadway where Eleanor!: The Eleanor Roosevelt Story is celebrating its opening night with its lead cast members Dee Dee Allen and Barry Glickman (“Changing Lives”). The musical is bashed by The New York Times because Dee Dee and Barry do not understand their characters since they are too self involved, resulting in the show closing on opening night. To improve their image, the actors decide to take up “a cause” to appear selfless. They team up with two other actor friends, Trent Oliver, who is an actor and Juilliard School graduate down on his luck but who has just been cast in the non-Equity tour of Godspell, and Angie Dickinson, a life long chorus girl who just quit her job of 20 years in the musical Chicago after the producers never let her go on for the role of Roxie Hart. After searching on Twitter for a cause, they find the story of Emma, a teenager from Indiana who got her school’s prom cancelled because she wanted to bring her girlfriend. Seeing the opportunity, and some personal connection, the actors decide to go to Indiana to help (“Changing Lives (Reprise)”).

Back in Indiana, Emma faces severe bullying, but she reminds herself to breathe and that not everyone is this cruel (“Just Breathe”). Mr. Hawkins, the school principal and Emma’s ally, informs her that he has spoken to the States Attorney and that he believes they have a good shot. The school holds a meeting with the PTA to discuss having the prom. As Emma and Mr. Hawkins begin to make progress, Dee Dee, Barry, Angie, and Trent barge in with protest signs to support Emma. Dee Dee reminds everyone what a good person she is for doing this while claiming that this isn’t about her humiliating Emma (“It’s Not About Me”). After the meeting, it is revealed that the girl Emma wants to take to prom is Alyssa, a popular but closeted student and the daughter of the head of the PTA. The two argue as Alyssa blames Emma for all the publicity around the prom but Emma reassures her that she didn’t want this either and that she just wants to be with her (“Dance with You”). The actors attempt to hold a rally to inspire action for Emma but can only book the halftime show at a monster truck rally. They perform alongside the non-Equity cast of Godspell that Trent is on tour with (“The Acceptance Song”). The performance is unsuccessful.

It is later learned that the state’s attorney ruled that the school must hold a prom. Emma thanks the actors, and Mr. Hawkins and Dee Dee go to Applebee’s to celebrate. With the prom back on, students begin to “prompose” to each other. Emma officially asks Alyssa to this new prom and she agrees promising to come out to be with her (“You Happened”). At Applebee’s, Mr. Hawkins, a huge fan of Dee Dee’s, tells her how much she inspires him (“We Look to You”). Barry helps Emma get ready for prom and reveals he didn’t have the opportunity to go to prom either. Meanwhile across the town other teens prepare for the prom as well (“Tonight Belongs to You”). As Emma waits outside the gym, she asks Barry to walk her in because she is nervous. As they enter, they realize that the gym is empty. Mr. Hawkins, who is inside desperately trying to resolve the issue, reveals that the PTA put on another prom across town and this one just for Emma as required by law. Dee Dee panics that this fake prom will be bad press for her, which angers Mr. Hawkins as he learns about Dee Dee’s true intentions. Emma calls Alyssa who tells her she knew nothing about the other prom. Emma asks her to come and be with her but she refuses to come out. Devastated, Emma runs out of the gymnasium, asking all the actors to just go home (“Tonight Belongs to You (Reprise)”).

Act II:
Following the fake prom, the media frenzy around the whole event increases. The actors encourage Emma to step up and become the face of the story, but she is too scared. Angie encourages her by teaching her about zazz, a technique from a story about Bob Fosse and the original production of Chicago (“Zazz”). Dee Dee returns to talk to Mr. Hawkins, who berates her for being so self centered. She performs his favorite song by her to make it up to him and vows to begin thinking of others (“The Lady’s Improving”). Trent decides that he may be able to change the minds of the youth of the town due to his small-town upbringing. He confronts a number of the students about how they and their families break the word of the Bible every day and how hypocritical they are being. He encourages them to follow “love thy neighbor” above all (“Love Thy Neighbor”).

Alyssa meets with Emma to apologize, telling her about all the pressure her mother puts on her to be perfect and that she blames her for her father leaving. Emma is unable to accept her apology and they break up (“Alyssa Greene”). The actors book Emma a TV appearance, but she refuses, telling them that she has her own plan to control the narrative and change minds. Convinced her plan will work and that they will be able to have a prom for everyone, Emma asks Barry to be her date so that he is finally able to fulfill his dream. Barry, overjoyed, agrees as he recounts his own experience missing prom the first time (“Barry Is Going to Prom”). Emma uploads a video of her singing with her guitar about her struggles and longing for acceptance but how despite that she is proud of who she is and won’t hide anymore. She inspires other members of the LGBTQ+ community in the area and across the country to comment on their support for her and how it has helped them (“Unruly Heart”). The video goes viral, forcing the school to reconsider. The actors want Emma to finally have a prom but the school doesn’t have the money for it.

The actors all donate, including Dee Dee, who turns over her American Express Black card. The PTA is furious over the possibility of a new prom but the students voice their support for an inclusive prom, having had their minds changed by Trent. The school, seeing how good Trent is with the kids, offers him a position as a drama teacher. Alyssa comes out to her mother in front of the school, confessing her love for Emma. Mrs. Greene is reluctant to accept Alyssa as she is, but Barry steps in, saying if she doesn’t accept Alyssa she is going to lose her. She is devastated but begins to become more open and agrees to listen to her daughter. The PTA backs down, and quickly makes plans for a new prom, while Dee Dee and Barry question what “success” is. The school puts on this more inclusive prom and LGBT couples from the area attend along with the straight couples of James Madison High School. Emma and Alyssa finally get their dance and share a kiss (“It’s Time to Dance”).
REVIEWS:

"A smart, big hearted musical!"

 New York Magazine

"With a tuneful score, a playful book, and performances that remind you what Broadway heart and chutzpah are all about, this cause celebre of a show turns out to be a joyous, funny, and sweet production that should appeal to several generations of musical fans."

 Variety

"Hairspray meets Dear Evan Hansen!"

 Billboard

"Comic gold!"

 The Hollywood Reporter

"Such a joyful hoot. With its kinetic dancing, broad mugging and belty anthems, it makes you believe in musical comedy again."

 The New York Times

Premiere Production: The Prom opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on November 15, 2018.

Characters

  • Casting: 5M, 8F, 2M or F
  • Casting Attributes: Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle), Room for Extras, Roles for Multicultural Casting, Expandable casting
  • Chorus Size: Medium/Large

  • EMMA NOLAN - Teenager in Indiana. A reluctant poster child for LGBT youth. Very smart. A bit of a tomboy quality.
    ALYSSA GREENE - A cheerleader and top student. Secretly Emma's girlfriend. Faces constant pressure from her mother and friends.
    TOM HAWKINS - The straitlaced school principal. An ally to Emma and a long-time fan of Dee Dee.
    MRS. GREENE - Alyssa's intimidating, conservative, but ultimately loving mother. The head of the PTA.
    SHELBY, KAYLEE, NICK, KEVIN - Other students at school who bully (but who eventually learn to accept) Emma.

  • BARRY GLICKMAN - Flamboyant Broadway star. Completely politically incorrect and doesn't know it. Longs to give Emma the prom he was unable to have as a teen.
    DEE DEE ALLEN - Broadway diva. A huge ego to match her huge talent. Hilariously self-involved, but yearns to do something good for someone other than herself.
    TRENT OLIVER - Pretentious Juilliard graduate recently cast in the non-Equity tour of Godspell. Loves to hear himself speak.
    ANGIE DICKINSON - An ensemble member in the Broadway production of Chicago. Jaded Fosse girl with a heart of gold.
    SHELDON SAPERSTEIN - A charismatic press agent. (Not gender specific)

  • ENSEMBLE - Olivia Keating, Opening Night Party Attendees, Reporters, High School Students, PTA Members, Motel Clerk, Cast of the Non-Equity Tour of Godspell, Monster Truck Rally Audience, Mrs. Greene's Friend, LGBT Students

    • Available Material

    Name Price
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    1 x Cast Script/Vocal Book
    1 x Director's Script
    1 x Piano-Conductor's Score

    		$75.00
    Rehearsal Material Shipped a minimum of 3 months before the last performance. This must be hired as a condition of the License to produce this show.

    20 x Cast Script/Vocal Books
    3 x Director's Scripts
    2 x Piano-Conductor's Scores

    		$550.00 +$135.00/pm
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    Piano-Conductor Score
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    Trumpet 1 & 2
    Trombone
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    Violin 1 & 2
    Violin 3 & Viola
    Cello
    Drums
    Percussion

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    Full Conductor's Score for Act 1 & Act 2 of the show.

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    With Show|Ready, you can virtually send your Musical Director home with each and every member of your cast! Show|Ready allows you to play a customizable rehearsal track of your show, complete with individual vocal parts and all dance breaks on a Mac, PC, and soon on your iOS device. Your Musical Director simply uploads any edits made at that day's rehearsal and your cast can access and download the newest version with all of the new changes! This enables your entire cast to rehearse correctly from the beginning, saving you valuable time and effort.

    With an intuitive interface, Show|Ready gives you complete control over which parts you hear, and lets you modify the key or tempo and cut, vamp, or repeat measures as you place. All shows include the piano, bass, drum, and all vocal parts, as well as a sheet music viewer that automatically displays the piano/conductor score and changes the pages as you listen and navigate throughout the show.

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    Stage|Tracks provides quality performance tracks, edited to integrate your individual changes from Show|Ready. With the best sounding tracks at an affordable price, Stage|Tracks will greatly enhance your production if you do not have live musicians to accompany the show. However, you should be advised that while Stage|Tracks provides quality performance tracks of the full orchestration, it is not recommended to be used alongside live musicians.

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