OGDEN — The Prom, a musical with music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and a book by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin debuted on Broadway in 2018 and has made its way to the Ziegfeld Theater stage. In a production directed by Caleb Parry, the show follows Emma (Ellie Swapp) who wants to take her girlfriend to the Prom but faces backlash from her conservative town. Some washed-up Broadway stars looking for a cause to save their dying careers become involved in this conflict to give them clout. The plot is inspired by the events of a high school prom in 2010 where the school and community showed prejudice and discriminated against LGBTQ+ students. These characters and the conflict set the the backdrop for an endearing story of the teenage experience and a community learning acceptance.
The first thing I noticed when walking into The Ziegfeld is the absolutely warm and inviting atmosphere. Recently, the Ziegfeld Theater acquired the restaurant and shop space next door named Z’s Sweets. Following the performances on Fridays and Saturdays the Ziegfeld will host a free “all-inclusive” prom at the shop in promotion of the production and it’s themes. Anyone can stay after the production to dance, and take pictures with cast and others. Director Parry includes in the director’s note how just as Emma did not get to have the freedom to live her truth, some performers within the cast have the same lived experience, and perhaps more in the audience too. I love that this theatre is working to build an inclusive space. In my day job, I am often talking to people who feel like they do not have a safe space to be who they want to be, and knowing there is a real life added element to the production gives me the option of telling them that there is an option for both entertainment and community engagement.
As for the production itself, the adult characters were quite over the top in the best way, which made for an impeccable balance with the character of Emma. I was really impressed by the casting choices in this show. For example Erica Choffel plays the very full of herself Dee Dee Allen. Dee Dee was delightfully sinister and would almost be too hard to believe if I had not lived in NYC and witnessed people who were absolutely obtuse to the workings of anything outside of the city. I adored the contrast of Choffel as Dee Dee to the character of Mrs. Greene, played by Morgan Parry. M. Parry did a superb job playing the sheltering mother who wants nothing more than to stick her head in the sand and pretend she does not see what is going on with her daughter, Alyssa (played equally as well by Mylee Heiser). Because of M. Parry’s dual role as artistic director at the Ziegfeld, it is even more stunning to see her acting skills when understanding how her intolerant character Mrs. Green is so different from M. Parry’s true nature.
Heiser’s Alyssa had several strong points, one of the best was Heiser’s performance of the song titled “Alyssa Greene”. The number is Alyssa’s lament about how difficult it is to live up to her mother’s expectations, and why she feels like she needs to live in hiding about her sexuality. Heiser’s voice is strong, and her acting is great, especially when paired with Emma played by Ellie Swapp. When this pair sings the song “I Just Want To Dance With You” it is more than just a musically strong duet, it is truly a plea for a normal teenage experience, one that is withheld from so many who are deemed different.
Swapp’s Emma is truly the shining star of the production. Swapp shows pristine prowess in acting, showing the ability to deliver a character struggling as a young lady afraid to make waves, yet still wanting to stand up for what is right. I was quite touched with Emma’s relationship with the character of Barry, played in such an endearing way by Tim Behunin. One of the best moments of the show was delivered by Behunin when Barry speaks to Mrs. Greene about the trauma of so many and reminding Mrs. Greene that how she acts in this moment could make her lose her daughter forever. That wisdom shared was acting at its finest, and one of the reasons we tell stories like this.
The ensemble seemed to be having a great time, and the choreography by Mejai Perry was fantastic. Because it is a show about a prom, the dancing needs to be fun in the large group numbers. Other smaller numbers, such as “Zazz” also had a great deal of energy and joy. The costumes by Maria Menlove ranged from flashy to down-to-earth, and they all made sense and added to the production value. I really loved the final costumes for Emma and Alyssa, especially the coordinating butterflies.
Overall, I left the theatre feeling happier than when I had arrived. In his director’s note, Parry sums it up by saying that the world gets better when we make room for each other. I am glad The Prom and the Ziegfeld are doing that for so many.
MORE INFO: The Prom plays Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, with Saturday matinees at 2pm, and some Mondays at 7:30pm through April 4th at the Ziegfeld Theatre, 3934 S Washington Blvd Ogden Utah. Tickets are $26.95 (Tickets for Children, Students, and Seniors 65+ are $24.95). The theater offers a movie equivalent content rating of PG-13 for the production. For more information, visit zigarts.com.