Here locally in the city of Coral Springs at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts, NSB (Next Stop Broadway) has had a teen production of Prom, the musical!
Prom: the Musical Origin
Prom the musical is a comedic, heartwarming, and talks about real-life incidents with LGBTQ+ students. Four Broadway stars come together to support a high school girl in a small town in Indiana who faces backlash from the school’s PTA for wanting to attend prom with her girlfriend.
It talks openly about love and accepting others. It is also based on a true story that happened in 2010, to a student named Constance McMillen in Mississippi. She was denied the right to attend prom with her girlfriend and to wear a tuxedo instead of a dress.
Because of this, the school canceled their school’s prom entirely, and the parents organized a separate prom for students who weren’t LGBTQ. She and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit, which sparked social media coverage and public debate about LGBTQ+ discrimination in schools.
When 11th grader Tristan Chung was asked what message you want people to take away from this musical, is, “Obviously the big one is love and acceptance i mean i have two whole songs about it. but one thing i don’t want people to overlook is being brave enough to stand up for yourself and others.”
How it Started
This outrageous event inspired the creative team of Matthew Sklar, Bob Martin, Chas Beguelin, and Casey Nicholas to create a story of the Broadway actors helping a high school student and her girlfriend attend their prom.
The first showing of this musical was at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2016, and later premiered on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre in October 2018. 2 years later, it was turned into a movie. On December 11, 2020, it started with Meryl Streep, James Corden, and many more.
The Music
With 18 songs in the soundtrack, each song has a deeper meaning behind it. With the musical opening number named “Changing Lives,” This song reflects the energy and excitement of opening night and the Broadway actors ‘self-importance. It creates the idea and meaning that their performances have the power to effect change and inspire others, and it foreshadows the rest of the musical by having this meaning behind.
Another song that shares a big meaning to this musical is “It’s Not About Me” It is sung by one of the Broadway stars Dee Dee who is trying to help Emma, Dee Dee is trying to act selfless and concerned about Emma While she is secretly being motivated by her own desire for fame and attention to clear her name in the drama she’s in.
“Love Thy Neighbor” Is an ironic song, while being a gospel song, it’s still a big part of the story and its message. It highlights the importance of Universal love, compassion, and urging characters to embrace others and their differences. The song uses the biblical phrase “Love thy Neighbor” to showcase acceptance and understanding while still in a small town.
The Final song in the musical “It’s Time to Dance” symbolizes the journey of acceptance and self-discovery. The song represents their newfound freedom to be themselves and their first dance as a couple, defying the conservative town, as they embrace their relationship. It’s a moment where all the characters celebrate their new relationship and the potential for a more inclusive world.
When 12th grader Sofia Palhano was asked What is the significance of the songs that bring the show together, she said, “Some of them are meant to reveal the truth and sadness of what the characters go through, and how we as human beings failed to realize how our actions truly affected others. Some songs make you see how the wants and needs of others are much less than ours but a bigger deal to them because society has prevented them from enjoying the basic things in life. There are even songs debunking common beliefs on homosexuality due to religion by shedding light on what is actually said in the Bible.”
The Final Chord was a fitting end to an evening of acceptance and love, storytelling, and a captivating performance. Thankfully to NSB letting us dance with them!