PROM

Music by Matthew Sklar

Book by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin

Lyrics by Chad Beguelin

Director: Lee Armitage

Musical Director: Maria Colvin

Choreographer/Assistant Director: Tanya Gould

Waikato Diocesan School for Girls

5-8 April 2025

Prom is based on the true story of a Mississippi student who was banned from attending her 2010 prom after word got out that she was planning on bringing her girlfriend to the event. The school board cancelled the prom, and the student sued her school district. The Federal Court found the school guilty of violating the student’s first amendment rights. Eventually the school allowed the student to attend a prom, but only seven students showed up. Some parents arranged a secret prom at another location for the majority of the student body.  Many celebrities rallied around the student, and this story forms the basis for the musical comedy. In the musical version, four middle-aged Broadway stars travel to Indiana to throw their support behind Emma, and in doing so teach the small-town community about love, diversity and acceptance while they also face a few of their own issues.

Waikato Diocesan School for Girls is the first school in New Zealand to perform Prom, and theirs is the second production of it in the country after Upper Hutt Musical Theatre’s 2024 season.

The cast comprised of fourteen named roles, a Godspell ensemble of eight, a dance troupe of twelve, and a performance ensemble also of twelve. Six talented Hamilton Boys High School students brought charm and wit to the performance.

Scaffolding had been installed to create a static set in front of the stage where the band was housed. Large suspended signboards were variously lit to denote the location of the scene (School, Diner, Home, Office, etc). The entire background was decorated with posters of musicals and plays including Dio’s last eleven productions. Once again, there were nods to those previous shows, and a list in the programme had been created for the audience to spot specific props. Not only were there Easter eggs onstage, they appeared in the dialogue and music too.

Choreographer Tanya Gould was assisted by student and guest choreographers. “Zazz” and “Its Time to Dance” were highlights. The cast filled the stage completing the entertaining routines enthusiastically.

Maria Colvin’s band of seventeen players may have been out of sight, but ACLX’s sound operator Eric Cowan ensured the levels befitted the large Broadway style musical numbers, and the more pared back solos. Throughout the score, each player had a chance to showcase their musical talents. Colvin kept the music moving at pace and delivered a well-rounded performance across the genres.

Prom was directed by Lee Armitage and again she enabled the cast to understand the nuances and essence of the story. There was always something to look at, without focus being pulled from those delivering dialogue or vocals. Armitage highlighted the talent on display, and her casting was excellent. The result was a marvelous opening night performance of Prom in front of a receptive and vocal audience.

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