YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Millennial Theatre Company will present the Mahoning Valley premiere of “The Prom” beginning Friday.
Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Jan. 3-4 and 10-11; and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 5 and 12, at The Youngstown Playhouse.
“The Prom” follows four fading Broadway stars who are in desperate need of a new stage. In hopes that controversy will give their careers a spark, they make their way to a small town in Indiana where a high school senior and her girlfriend have been banned from attending their school’s prom.
Director Joe Asente said the production is a timely one. “It shows us that perhaps we have more in common than what makes us different,” he said, “and perhaps, if we learn to truly love our neighbor, our world could be a happier and more inclusive space for all of us.”
The show is a perfect musical in many ways, he continued.
“It not only has catchy tunes, high energy choreography and an important message, but it delivers it through witty and hilarious dialog,” he said. “It is one of the funniest shows I have ever had the pleasure to direct, and it has been on our short list for years. We hope that Youngstown audiences will give a chance to an unfamiliar show.”
Asante and his team have assembled a cast with many veteran actors and some new faces. The cast includes Brooke May, Brandy Johanntges, Ty Hanes, Brianna Rae Quinn, Jackie Collins, Nate Beagle, Colleen Chance, Ben Doss, Sam Early, Edward Bazzell, Ashley Smith, Aubrey Vernon and John Cox.
The ensemble is Ashley Graczyk, Michelle Jalbert, Sammie Gurd, Marissa Scott, John Weber, Alexandra Pappalardo, Paula Stephenson, Emma James, Megan Delaney, Danny Stephenson, Romerio Dawkins, Alyssa Moore, Darcie Lukiart and Andy Scott.
Danielle Mentzer is the choreographer, and Ryan Lamb is musical director.
Tickets start at $23 and are available in advance at MillennialTheatre.org and YoungstownPlayhouse.org.
Pictured at top: The cast of Millennial Theatre’s production of “The Prom” includes Jackie Collins, Nate Beagle, Brianna Rae Quinn, Brooke May, Brandy Johanntges and Ty Hanes.