Cast members trickled onto the stage, and an upbeat tune started to play. They began to sing, a rich strong melody filling the auditorium, and audience members gasped with delight and marveled at the vibrant lighting. Theatre Ink’s performance of The Prom, directed and choreographed by Kirsten McKinney, ran from March 20-23 in the Lasker Auditorium.
The Prom is a comedic musical, which follows four fading Broadway stars looking to prove their credibility after an article calls out their narcissism. When they hear about a small town canceling their prom due to a young girl named Emma Nolan advocating to bring her girlfriend Alyssa Greene, played by junior Eve Stern and senior Nell Ranalli respectively, they come to fight for the right for Emma to bring her girlfriend.
“It’s about this idea of being accepting, and being loving, and caring about people, and listening to each other. I think that’s the biggest message,” said Ranalli.
According to Stern, The Prom shines a light on acceptance and being true to oneself, unfolding the story of a resilient young girl finding her voice. “The show was really heartfelt, and I think just the story in general is really moving and empowering,” says junior Zadie Besev, a member of the audience.
According to Stern, along with the long nights and days that cast members spent preparing for the show, Stern would get ready by creating a playlist of songs that she thought her character would listen to. “I would listen to that before, so that I could get into her headspace,” said Stern.
One highlight of the show was the number “Unruly Heart.” Performed by Stern and the ensemble, the piece was about Emma finally sharing her story with the world, sharing the discrimination she faced, and stating that she is determined to live authentically and not be defined by others. The number evoked feelings of empowerment and resilience.
According to Stern, McKinney, a seasoned director and choreographer, made a return after ten years to work with The Prom after over a decade away.
“We had a new director and a whole new system, so it was a challenge getting used to that,” said senior Jonathon Santos, a cast member. “But I’m really glad, because it was so worth it in the end.”
According to Stern, there is a tradition for seniors before the closing night of each show called “Words of Wisdom.” This bittersweet routine involves the cast members sharing memories or advice. “Everyone goes in a circle, and if you want to share you can,” said Stern. “A bunch of the seniors were sharing, and it was really sad that they are leaving.”
Ranalli added that every performance turned out differently. “Every number is different. Every night is different, which is a really fun part of it. You don’t know what is going to happen, even though it’s a script.”
Similarly, Sunday, March 23, Stern’s microphone malfunctioned and couldn’t turn on for the beginning of the show. Despite this, the cast continued the production as rehearsed. “I had to really project,” said Stern.
Besev added that she could feel the cast’s connection and teamwork through the production. “It was really clear that they had taken their time to bond with each other, especially with Nell and Eve. I think their chemistry was really strong and it felt really genuine,” said Besev.
The cast’s hard work shined through in every song, performance, and dance, putting together an emotionally touching musical.
“My favorite part of performing is showing the audience all the hard work that we put into it, the four months of hard work everyday,” says Santos. “I think just putting it all onto the stage together is the best part. I was really excited because I got to put it all on the stage one more time and just be the best I could be.”
