Theater Review: 'The Prom' at Sharon Playhouse

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

The Sharon Playhouse production of “The Prom” continues performances through Aug. 11 and it is completely worth the lovely drive to the quiet northwest corner to experience the show before it closes. I did not think that the Playhouse could top their wonderful production of “Rock of Ages,” but they have succeeded with this high-energy and encouraging production of a show with a message.

“The Prom” is a musical with music by Matthew Sklar, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and a book by Bob Martin and Beguelin, and it is based on an original concept by Jack Viertel. The show tells the story of four fading Broadway actors who travel to the conservative town of Edgewater, Indiana, determined to appear selfless, as they take up “a cause” by helping a lesbian student who is banned from bringing her girlfriend to their high school prom.

Some of the homophobic actions are cringe-worthy, but there are also a few funny lines that stick with you, like Dee Dee’s surprise that straight people can like Broadway. The musical number “Love thy Neighbor” is clearly the show’s message.

The cast of Equity members and up and coming actors is directed by Carl Andress who understood the assignment in his Playhouse directorial debut. There is also a group of eight very lucky teens that comprise the “teen ensemble,” and have the opportunity to work onstage with the pros in the cast and crew. When these young performers become part of the dance numbers, joyfully choreographed by Krystyna Resavy, they help make the Sharon stage look like a proper high school hallway or gymnasium dance.

The lovely Kate Baldwin, a two-time Tony Award nominee, shines in the role of Broadway diva Dee Dee Allen. She brings the self absorbed narcissist to life with a knowing twinkle in her eye and we soak up every second of her performance. Baldwin starred as Irene Molloy in the revival of “Hello, Dolly!” and originated the role of Sandra Bloom in “Big Fish” on Broadway.

Long Island native Danny Drewes is a delight in the role of Trent Oliver, the youngish graduate of Julliard who is famous for his role on a television sitcom. Drewes is a graduate of AMDA NY and has performed professionally worldwide, most recently with the first national tour of “Pretty Woman.”

Tracy Liz Miller, a Washington, CT-based performer, becomes the overbearing mother of Alyssa Green, played by Sophie Nassiri Morvillo in her professional debut. Equity member Erick Pinnick plays the caring school principal (and Broadway fan,) Mr. Hawkins and John Scherer steals our hearts as the aging Broadway veteran Barry Glickman (“Barry is Going to Prom.”) Scherer played Man in the Chair in “The Drowsy Chaperone” at Goodspeed and will return there for “A Christmas Story” this fall.

Hannah Jane Moore, a recent graduate of The Hartt School, nails the character arc of Emma Nolan, the high school student with an “Unruly Heart” at the center of the prom controversy who simply wants to dance with her girlfriend. Nolan’s strong singing voice is a joy to hear in her Sharon Playhouse debut.

Ryan J. Palmer (Shylock in “Something Rotten”) returns to the Playhouse to portray Sheldon Spearstein and Savannah Stevenson plays the leggy, life long chorus girl Angie who teaches Emma about “Zazz,” and she also understudies the role of Dee Dee.

Music direction by Eric Thomas Johnson ensures that everyone sounds their best and conducts the live orchestra made up of 10 local musicians while playing keyboard 1, with Naugatuck native Dan Koch on keyboard 2.

Costumes designed by Kathleen Deangelis help to define the generations in the cast with plenty of sparkles. I loved the short prom dresses for the girls and the suits for the guys, with sneakers for all to make dance moves safer. The character of Dee Dee is dressed in stellar ensembles throughout the performance, so much so that my companion and I could not wait to see what she would be wearing at her next entrance.

Wig design by Connecticut Critics Circle Award winner Kurt Alger had a bunch of hits, but a few misses for the younger characters. Scenic design by Christopher and Justin Swader worked well on the Sharon stage, and scenic artist Karla Woodworth helped make it perfect, as did the lighting design by Jamie Roderick. Sound design by Graham Stone was impressive as well, beginning with pre show house announcements in the style of a high school all call announcements.

This high-energy musical production of “The Prom” is presented with one intermission and runs about two hours. Special thanks to the Sharon Playhouse for allowing my guest and me to attend for a “better late than never” review; we loved every minute. There is only one weekend left to see it, so grab your tickets at www.sharonplayhouse.org/theprom.

All photos by Aly Morrissey

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the newspaper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.