Wakefield's 'Prom School Edition' Delivers Heart, Energy, Joy: Cappies

By Alden Walcott of Langley High School
Cappies Review

ARLINGTON, VA — Calling all prom queens! Under a twirling disco ball, the walls are layered with rainbow flags, and is that a Broadway star in the sequined silver jacket and tiara on the dance floor? With gleeful energy, "It's Time to Dance" at Wakefield High School's production of "The Prom School Edition."

The new musical, with book by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin, lyrics by Chad Beguelin, and music by Matthew Sklar, is loosely based on real-life events in a small town in Mississippi in 2010. It opened at Atlanta's Alliance Theatre in 2016 before premiering on Broadway in October 2018 and being adapted into a star-studded feature film released in 2020. The high-energy show follows four Broadway actors, fresh off a newly closed flop, as they attempt to revive their relevance by rushing to conservative Edgewater, Indiana to help lesbian student Emma who has been banned from bringing her girlfriend to the prom. With laugh-out-loud, timely punchlines and joyful exuberance, The Prom is a feel-good musical comedy about gender identity, intolerance, and politics that strives to bring audiences together.

Wakefield's production certainly hit this mark, with the ensemble maintaining strong characterization during the energetic dance numbers, and each actor making unique choices, from Dee Dee's brassy confidence to Barry's sassy use of his arms to convey emotion, that stayed consistent throughout the show.

Bringing style and New York chutzpah was Barry Glickman, the one-time Drama Desk winner, played with panache and joy by Ethan Heinrich. Every hand flip, sarcastic quip ("If you don't hurry up, you'll be meeting my drag alter-ego!") and perfectly timed comedic pause brought peals of laughter and humanized what could have been an over-the-top persona into something relatable. Heinrich brought poignancy to the song "Barry is Going to Prom," making audiences wonder how many students may have felt as Barry did in their day while they laughed through his ironic joy.

Equally enjoyable were Dee Dee Allen (Penelope Wagner) and Trent Oliver (August Carr). Wagner owned her scenes with the strut of a two-time Tony Award winner, bringing out the delicious humor of a star who only just barely saw her own narcissism and let audiences in on the joke. Likewise, Carr's performance of a proud Juilliard graduate who was lucky to be cast in a non-equity tour was by turns hilariously self-important (he had played Jesus three times) and delightfully natural. And the Broadway stars' interactions with Emma (Mia Cummings) highlighted her innocence and the straight-to-the-point heartbreak of teenage love.

What is a prom without dancing? The choreography, by Enkhjin Sukhee, Leo Myers, Anneliese Odegard, and Lyla Price was as fun, hopeful, and uproarious as a prom queen could hope for. The finale in particular, "It's Time to Dance," showed the best of musical theater technique and its seamlessness belied the high level of dedication Wakefield put into the show, as the production's dances were entirely student choreographed. Featured Dancer Enkhjin Sukhee also stood out for her commitment and energy - every movement was true to her character and her energy was contagious. The lighting (by Sofia Argüelles, Ike Mandaville, Sean Glaze and Ella Sitz) was also a standout element of the show, elevating the deliberately minimal set with excellent spotlight work and a colored lighting design that showcased the characters' moods and tone as they went on a journey of redemption, acceptance, and growth.

Wakefield's "The Prom School Edition" brought audiences the heart, energy, and joy every prom should have. Certainly "the best thing to happen in Indiana since ... whatever happened in Indiana," this musical about tolerance and acceptance may be just what the world needs now.