The Prom Is a Visual Feast, with
Toe-Tapping Musical Numbers

First, let's explore a couple of concepts:

1. The high school prom -- a cherished American tradition. The kids have fun. Couples fall in love; couples that are already in love fall more deeply. But what about the marginalized? The ostracized? The outcasts? Don't they have the same rights as the "popular kids" here in "the land of the free" (where "all [people] are created equal")? And won't their peers stand up for them here in "the home of the brave?"
2. What happens to award-winning Broadway actors when their careers take a sudden stutter step? And what strategy would actors who are major-league narcissists use to rebound and save face?

And those are just the starting ingredients for The Prom, the Cary Players' current top-of-the-line musical. With book and lyrics by Chad Beguelin, book by Bob Martin's, and music by Matthew Sklar, The Prom is based on an original concept by Jack Viertel, and it rocks!

Directed by Mike McGee, choreographed by Molly Hamelin, and with musical direction by Christian L. Stahr, along with the efforts of technical director/master carpenter Kevin McIntire, this production is nothing short of spectacular.

The Play:

Ironically, the story in this phenomenal play starts with a bad review of a Broadway play (within this play)! It stars Dee Dee (Kelley Keats) as Eleanor Roosevelt and Barry (Tedd Szeto) as FDR, two actors who are convinced that they are God's gift to the theater. However, opening night earned devastating condemnation from the press; and the show is cancelled.

As Barry and Dee Dee brainstorm over possible ways to rebound from this hit, they are joined by Shelley (Alexis Madanick) -- their publicist -- and fellow actors Angie (Sarah Lynn Winter) and Trent (Carson Weddle), who have also found themselves at low points in their careers. They convince themselves that celebrities, just like the president, have the power to change the world; and they are sure that the publicity they will earn by helping the downtrodden is their ticket back to the top.

This is when they find out about the plight of Emma (Nicole Barone), a high school senior in Edgewater, Indiana. She's a lesbian; and her intention to bring her girlfriend, Alyssa (Lindsey Walsh) with her to James Madison High School's prom has stirred up homophobic reactions from the PTA and their classmates.

Side Note: Emma is "out," but Alyssa (whose narrow-minded mother is president of the PTA) is still "in the closet."

Dee Dee, Barry, Angie, Trent, and Shelly to the rescue!

Hilarity ensues as five "fish," who are definitely "out of water" go head-to-head against this 21st century version of the forces confronted in Tom T. Hall's 1968 song "Harper Valley PTA." Indeed, their "mighty opposite" is Mrs. Greene (Staci Sabarsky), the president of this PTA. Mr. Hawkins (Benaiah Adesoji), the principal, steps up as an ally in their pro-Emma crusade.

Will our heroes succeed? Or will they need a "Plan B"? (And/or "C," "D," or "E"?)

Every bit as poignant in this laugh-fest is the tenderness of the relationships, not only between Emma and Alyssa, but also between Emma and each of her champions. Indeed, many of the Emma scenes (and songs) could easily provoke the welling up of tears

Bonus: We are treated to the possibility of something developing between Dee Dee and Mr. Hawkins. Will this fizzle? Or will we get another helping of tenderness?

The Acting:

All of these actors gets their chance to shine, and they all do so with brilliance. The supporting cast covers a variety of "town's persons" very effectively. Under McGee's direction, everything flows smoothly.

Thanks to Hamelin's choreography and Stahr's musical direction, the dance numbers are brisk and tight; and the music and singing are simply superb!

The Tech:

Costume designer Lauren Polak has supplied a huge wardrobe of stunningly appropriate clothing. Scenic designer/master carpenter Kevin McIntire has produced a high school gym that easily morphs into bunches of other locations. Lighting designer Bronwyn White supplies the necessary highlights, moods, and transitions; and sound engineer Jack Kaufmann melds the sound effects into the mix.

The Songs:

Every one of the 18 songs are impressive; but although "Just Breath," "Dance with You," "We Look to You," "The Lady's Improvising," "Love Thy Neighbor," and "Barry's Going to the Prom" were especially endearing, it was "Unruly Heart," featuring Barone on guitar and solo vocals (along with support from the ensemble and the band) that affected me the most.

Another Word: In addition to the visual feast and the toe-tapping musical numbers, this play shines in other aspects:

• Its dialogue is crisp, witty, and expertly delivered.
• It manages to entertain by making meta-statements that lampoon elements of the entertainment industry.
• It makes statements about social responsibility, without getting heavy-handed.
• It "holds the mirror up" to tender human emotions.

Nice Touches:

• Background acting behind the scrim in key scenes.
• A HUGE sign that reads "DEE DEE."
• The shifting of focus as two scenes unfold simultaneously.
• A slide show projected on the closed curtain during a lengthy set-change.
• Cheerleader uniforms and matching team jackets.
• Uses of a desk and a bed as "platforms" during key dance numbers.

From the Department of Picky-Picky:

The slide show on the curtain is a nice touch, but I found myself wishing that they had dropped a screen down in front of the curtain in order to improve the clarity of the images.

The upstage double-doors are well-designed and look like authentic high school doors, but I was distracted by two "nits":

1. Nobody pushes the bar (that functions as a handle) when they open the door.
2. The doors open both ways, swinging in and out (like saloon doors).

The Bottom Line:

It's often difficult to produce "serious" and "silly" simultaneously. With the Cary Players' production of The Prom, director Mike McGee has very triumphantly proven that it can be done, with aplomb!

All the Cool People heartily recommend this show. We expected "Good," hoped for "Great," and were blown away by a performance that was "Out F****** Standing"! Catch it if you can!

The Cary Players will present The Prom on Sept. 25-Oct. 4 at the Cary Arts Center (photo by Charles Ruffin Photography)

Matthew Sklar, Chad Beguelin, and Bob Martin's THE PROM (In Person at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25-27 and Oct. 2-4, plus 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30th), directed by Mike McGee and choreographed by Molly Hamelin, with musical direction by Christian L. Stahr; and starring Nicole Barone as Emma Nolan, Lindsey Walsh as Alyssa Greene, Benaiah Adesoji as Mr. Hawkins, Staci Sabarsky as Mrs. Greene, Hannah Hedrick as Shelby, Syd Flowers as Kaylee, Bryce Nasir Preston as Nick, Zachary Schultz as Kevin, Tedd Szeto as Barry Glickman, Kelley Keats as Dee Dee Allen, Carson Weddle as Trent Oliver, Sarah Lynn Winter as Angie Dickinson, and Alexis Madanick as Shelley Saperstein, plus an Ensemble that includes Ashlynn Charles, Phillip Stubbs, Ben Gibson, Danielle Santos, Hannah Ackman, Havana Blum, Jose Corona Vicente, Lillian Park, Madilyn Johnson, Sarah Altman, and Stephon Sample (Cary Players at the Cary Arts Center in Cary). CARY PLAYERS' VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/@CaryPlayers. PRESENTER: https://caryplayers.org/, https://www.facebook.com/CaryPlayers, https://www.instagram.com/CARYPLAYERS/, https://x.com/CaryPlayers, and https://www.youtube.com/@CaryPlayers. 2026-27 SEASON: VENUE: https://www.townofcary.org/recreation-enjoyment/facilities/cary-arts-center, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cary-Arts-Center/235735853122351, and https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/15097356/cary-arts-center/. DIRECTIONS: https://caryplayers.org/cary-arts-center/. PARKING: https://www.townofcary.org/home/showpublisheddocument/7187/637648017090330000. THE PROM (2016 Atlanta and 2018 Broadway Musical): https://theprommusical.com/, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/the-prom-518106, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10161886/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prom_(musical). MATTHEW SKLAR (Westfield, NJ-born composer): https://www.matthewsklar.com/, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/matthew-sklar-82828, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0804455/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Sklar. CHAD BEGUELIN (Centralia, IL-born playwright, lyricist, and screenwriter): https://www.chadbeguelin.com/, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/chad-beguelin-402892, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0066818/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad_Beguelin. BOB MARTIN (London, England-born playwright and screenwriter): https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/bob-martin-412778, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0551991/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Martin_(comedian). TICKETS:$17-$42, plus taxes and fees. Call 800-514-3849, 919-469-4069, or click here to buy tickets. INFORMATION: 919-462-2051 or info@caryplayers.org. PLEASE DONATE TO: Cary Players.