A Prom at the Wood: A Broadway Upstate Musical Production

After a week in New Jersey with family and telling my own story on stage at the Fort Salem Theater, I headed to the Charles R. Wood Theater to attend Broadway Upstate’s musical production of The Prom. While Michael and I had saw the high school version last April, the talent that Director Rachel Seebode has cultivated is breathtaking. Along with talented performers, Mrs. Seebode persuaded her husband, Keith, and daughter, Gabriella, to create and design the set pieces, transporting the audience to Edgewater, Indiana and New York City.

The musical begins after a fictional theatre show goes poorly, with its starring actress Dee Dee, played by Lauren Kerr, and actor Barry, played by Francesco Archina, as well as Angie, played by Lia Cardone, and Trent, played by Tyler Vaughn, are ridiculed in reviews for being “self-absorbed narcissists”. To regain their self-image, they decide to take up a cause in order to appear selfless without much effort. Scrolling social media, they stumble upon a controversy brewing at a high school in Indiana involving a young girl who wants to take her girlfriend to prom.

This story is based on a true story in Fulton, Mississippi. A student, Constance McMillen, was a senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School who wanted to bring her girlfriend to prom. After being banned from the prom initially and subsequently challenging the order, the prom was entirely cancelled. However, the ACLU sued the school district to force the school to reinstate prom.

In the play, we meet Emma Nolan, portrayed by Mattea Rice, dealing with unrelenting bullying with a resilient inner courage. Ms. Rice leapt into the starring role after performing in the high school version last year. Her vocal abilities, along with the rest of the cast, shine bright on stage along with the mesmerizing choreography, directed by Susi Thomas. Emma’s girlfriend, Violet Brown portrayed by Alyssa Green, did not share that inner courage of acceptance initially but eventually harnesses it by the end.

The show dives into a debate between the Parent-Teacher Association and the principal, Tom Hawkins, played by Jacob Crowd. As the debate progresses, the theatre ensemble from New York City burst into the room, brandishing protest signs in support of Emma. It perfectly reflects the peril of celebrity activism by unintentionally furthering the divide. After the debate fizzled, Trent, played by Tyler Vaughn, organizes a musical performance during halftime at a Monster Truck Rally to help foster support for an inclusive prom. Though the crowd at the fictional rally jeered with disgust, it was a colorful display of acceptance and pride.

While that performance did not help the cause, Emma helped persuade students by recording a viral video accompanied with a guitar, beginning it by saying, “we all have a story to tell, here’s mine.” It was a brilliant song that encompassed my own feelings in high school with anxious thoughts of being perceived as different. Over time, I learned to manifest my “unruly heart of mine,” as does Emma, to cultivate inner courage and acceptance. The song led to an outpouring of support with everyone telling their own story in the community, just like Constance McMillen from Fulton, Mississippi in 2010.

Through a delightful hour of musical numbers, humorous scenes, and heartfelt dialogue, the cast of characters learn how to have true conversations about acceptance, rebuild from trauma, and learn to be selfless without reward. After Dee Dee, Barry, and the other ensemble actors from New York help put together an inclusive prom with everyone in attendance, all of the kids dance together, culminating in a euphoric, prideful performance on stage.

After the show, I spoke with director Rachel Seebode, chirographer Susi Thomas, and some of the performers. Rachel beamed with joy as she described her work in the theater community over the years. I learned that Francesco Archina, who played Barry, was the director of Glens Falls Community Theatre’s Into the Woods last year, and I exuded praise for the production, noting to him that it was my first experience with that story. I did not realize that Lauren Kerr, who played Dee Dee, was not in the high school production last year, so she enjoyed the delightful compliment while describing her own deep resume of performances over the years.

From talented performers, amazing stagecraft, and superb choreography, the messages gleamed from this musical will, hopefully, resonate with all of us. Don’t be afraid to tell your story and be kind to all in order to build a more inclusive future. There are still more chances to see this production with tickets available for purchase from the Wood Theater.