by Macey Levin
Connecticut’s Sharon Playhouse once more “Zazzes” up the 2024 summer season with a musical that makes the audience laugh, cheer and tear up. The Prom, with a book by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin, music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Beguelin, is a hilarious romp about arrogance, inclusion and love. It also happens to be about a teenage lesbian romance and launches some very pointed jabs at very human foibles with its witty and satiric dialogue.
Two narcissistic Broadway actors Dee Dee Allen (Kate Baldwin) and Barry Glickman (John Scherer) are blasted in a New York Times review. In order to re-establish their credibility as sensitive and caring human beings, they decide to fight for a cause. Along with their publicist Sheldon Saperstein (Ryan J. Palmer) and two other performers, Angie (Savannah Stevenson) and Trent Oliver (Danny Drewes,) they focus on a small town Indiana high school that has cancelled its prom because a lesbian wants to attend. This is a true story, by the way, for anyone who has been sleeping through this century.
At the school, a meeting of the student council, the administration led by Principal Mr. Hawkins (Erick Pinnick,) and the PTA president Mrs. Greene (Tracy Liz Miller) is interrupted by the traveling theatre folk who burst in carrying signs promoting gay life. There is great dissension and turmoil and ultimately it spreads throughout the town. The teenager in question, Emma Nolan (Hannah Jane Moore), is bullied by various classmates having already been disowned by her own parents. Her best friend, Alyssa Greene (Sophie Nassiri Morvillo) has yet to come out of the closet; her mother is the PTA president, a controlling perfectionist, is smugly unaware of her daughter’s anguish.
Having failed to evoke a smidgeon of tolerance in the community, the New Yorkers attempt to develop other methods to convince the powers-that-be to find compassion. The five out-of-towners become involved with other factions of the community, especially Dee Dee and Mr. Hawkins. Then diverse plots evolve creating drama, comedy and romance.
The stellar performers, including a Teen Ensemble using local talent, are absolutely delightful as a joyous energy radiates from the stage in the guise of an old fashioned Broadway extravaganza. Who says musical comedy is dead?? The number of young people on the stage, and, more importantly, in the audience, indicates that contemporary issues can continue to attract a younger and diverse audience.
Baldwin, as a fading star, calls for our sympathy while she searches for something that has eluded her… love. As she vamps “The Lady’s Improving” she reveals the onset of self-awareness. Scherer has many of the funniest moments in the show as the caricatured campy Glickman. To his surprise, he transforms into a father-figure for Emma, something he has not expected and a softer and wiser man finally achieves a hidden hope of his own in an ecstatic, “Barry Is Going to Prom”.
Angie (Stevenson) has performed in a road company of Chicago for years. Her frustration and cynicism about her life turns her into a mentor for Emma. Stevenson’s talent shines with a Fosse send-up in “Zazz”. Drewes’ Oliver Trent, has not had a very successful career, but he has the strength to keep on going while looking for his place in life. His narcissistic mugging is a constant delight and explodes into a Bible-thumping “Love Thy Neighbor”.
Kate Baldwin as “Dee Dee Allen and John Scherer as “Barry Glickman” and the cast in the Sharon Playhouse production of “The Prom,” directed by Carl Andress. Aly Morrissey Photography 
Hannah Jane Moore as “Emma Nolan ” in the Sharon Playhouse production of “The Prom,” directed by Carl Andress. Aly Morrissey Photography 
Danny Drewes as “Trent”, Erick Pinnick as “Tom”, Kate Baldwin as “Dee Dee” and John Scherer as “Barry” in the Sharon Playhouse production of “The Prom,” directed by Carl Andress. Aly Morrissey Photography 
Erick Pinnick as “Tom Hawkins” and Hannah Jane Moore as “Emma Nolan” in the Sharon Playhouse production of “The Prom,” directed by Carl Andress. Aly Morrissey Photography 
Sophie Nassiri Morvillo as “Alyssa” and Hannah Jane Moore as “Emma” in the Sharon Playhouse production of “The Prom,” directed by Carl Andress. Aly Morrissey Photography 
Danny Drewes as “Trent Oliver” and the Cast of the Sharon Playhouse production of “The Prom,” directed by Carl Andress. Aly Morrissey Photography 
Ms. Moore, the embattled Emma, asks the core thematic question, “Why does everybody fear us?” She is sympathetic in face of the problems she must face and decisions she must make until she finds the strength to defend herself. Her character’s evolution is politic and nuanced.
Her ballad “Unruly Heart” is a teen’s angst-ridden examination of her place in the world. Morvillo’s Alyssa counterpoints with “I Am Who I Am,” an important and relevant declaration in the context of the show.
The entire cast has perfect comic timing, not only with lines, but also gestures and facial reactions. Many of the laughs are uproarious.
As funny as the show and cast are, what drives the production are the dances and the staging. Krystna Resavy’s kinetic choreography is charged with an electrifying buoyancy that drains and exhilarates at the same time. The dances are exciting to see, especially with the eighteen members of the Ensemble and Teen Ensemble complementing the principals.
Sharon’s Artistic Director Carl Andress has directed his first show for the company. It’s a magnificent debut! Each scene moves smoothly; the stage pictures are clean and definitive. Character relationships are clear and each line has value. He has not neglected the emotional tone of the more serious scenes while maintaining the broad overacting in the many comic scenes. There are no slow moments.
Eric Thomas Johnson is the music director and the conductor of the ten-member orchestra stationed offstage. There is a ton of music in the show and the sound is galvanizing. The sets are simple while defining myriad locales. Designed by Christopher and Justin Swader, set changes by cast and crew members are rapid so that the momentum of the show continues its build.
The costumes by Kathleen DeAngelis are very teenage-y for the younger characters while stylishly defining the adults. For some of the scenes and especially the dance numbers, the clothes are outlandishly colorful.
The lighting by Jamie Roderick and sound by Graham Stone both add to the vibrancy and texture of the show.
This is a remarkably entertaining show with controversial underpinnings that is performed beautifully and with marvelous theatricality. Sharon Playhouse continues to prove its value to the areas’ cultural needs. Call for tickets.
The Prom; Book by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin, Music by Matthew Sklar, Lyrics by Chad Beguelin; Director: Carl Andress; Choreographer: Krystna Resavy; Music Direction: Eric Thomas Johnson; Cast: Melissa (Olivia Keating/Ensemble) Kate Baldwin (Dee Dee Allen) Henrique Sobrinho (Second Reporter/Ensemble) Ryan J. Palmer (Sheldon Saperstein) John Scherer (Barry Glickman) Savannah Stevenson (Angie) Danny Drewes (Trent Oliver) Hannah Jane Moore (Emma Nolan) Tracy Liz Miller (Mrs. Greene) Erick Pinnick (Mr. Hawkins) Zoe Benjamin (Kaylee/Ensemble) Anissa Marie Griego (Shelby/Ensemble) Sophie Nassiri Morillo (Alyssa Greene) Nick Traficante (Nick/Ensemble) Noah Silverman (Kevin/Ensemble) Erik Daughterman (Motel Clerk/Ensemble) Teen Ensemble: Richie Gill Crane, Carlo Desy, Jacob Kerr-Lucero, Tyler Neil Rosenblum, Josephina Grace Brinkerhoff, Mollie Leonard, Jessica Sydney Sonner, Mia Tonon; Production Stage Manager: Kristine Schlachter; Assistant Stage Manager: Kelly Ann Hatfield; Scenic Designer: Christoher & Justin Swader; Costume Designer: Kathleen DeAngelis; Lighting Designer: Jamie Roderick; Sound Designer: Graham Stone; Wig and Makeup Designer: Kurt Alger; Running time: 2 hours, 20 Minutes, one intermission; July 26-August 11, 2024; for information go to their websie at www.sharonplayhouse.org; or call 860-648-7469