The Prom

Book & Lyrics by CHAD BEGUELIN Book by BOB MARTIN Music by MATTHEW SKYLAR

JULY 17-28, 2024 Joan H. Gillings Center for Dramatic Art

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playmakersrep.org

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919.962.7529

JEFF AGUIAR

DIRECTOR OF ENGAGEMENT AND EDUCATION

Welcome!

We’re glad you made it to The Prom! Our planning committees have been hard at work creating Edgewater, Indiana, capturing the complexities of coming of age, families, and communities in a fun-filled show that might take you back to your own prom. It’s been a powerful reminder that intergenerational conversations are vital to building community through theatre.

The Summer Youth Conservatory’s annual production is always full of conversations: artistic vision, educational value, production logistics, auditions. But what we remember most are the moments that truly connect to our hearts and, as Emma reminds us, allow us to just breathe. Our rehearsal hall conversations reflect The Prom’s layered narrative: feeling different, seeking acceptance, and living in true community.

The world of The Prom—Emma’s emotions, Indiana, and Broadway— lets us explore challenges and remember that all means everyone.

Whether it’s who we love, what we believe, or how we vote, The Prom reminds us that acceptance is an intentional, sometimes uncomfortable act.

As art imitates life, the conversations in this show grow with each number. Whether in our Center for Dramatic Arts or on the way to the parking deck, this show sparks conversation, and we’re glad to start it with you tonight!

And now, it’s time to dance….

Jeff Aguiar Director of Engagement and Education

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Book & Lyrics by

Book by

CHAD BEGUELIN

BOB MARTIN

Music by

MATTHEW SKYLAR

Based on an original concept by JACK VIERTEL Director

CHAUNTEE’ SCHULER IRVING

Choreographer

COURTNEY LIU

Music Director

ALEX THOMPSON Scenic Designer

Costume Designer

Lighting Designer

ANITA TRIPATHI

MATTHEW MALLARD

BENJAMIN BOSCH

Sound Designer

Stage Manager

Assistant Stage Manager

DAVID BOST

ASPEN BLAKE JACKSON*

ZOË LORD

Victoria Morris, Assistant Director | Summer Severin, Assistant Choreographer Joel Ernst, Technical Director | Laura Pates, Assistant Technical Director Chelsea James, Lead Producer | Emma Gold Anderson, Properties Supervisor Benjamin Bosch, Head Electrician | Nick Rodgers and Corinne Lavergne, Production Swings Dianne Zimmerman, Scenic Charge | Jillian Gregory, Draper Amy Evans, Costume Shop Manager | Marissa Lupkas, Wardrobe Supervisor Daniel McCloud, Percussionist | Lormarev Jones, Intimacy Director | Jim Johnson, Dialect Coach

THE PROM is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York, NY 10036 www.theatricalrights.com Performance & rehearsal musical tracks provided by Right On Cue Services www.RightOnCueServices.

*Indicates members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers

The Professional Theatre of the Department of Dramatic Art Kathryn Hunter-Williams, Chair Vivienne Benesch, Producing Artistic Director Produced in association with The College of Arts and Sciences The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT I Changing Lives..............................................Dee Dee, Barry, Ensemble Changing Lives (Reprise)...........................Dee Dee, Barry, Angie, Trent Just Breathe...................................................................................Emma It’s Not About Me........ Dee Dee, Barry, Angie, Trent, Parents, Students Dance with You..................................................................Emma, Alyssa The Acceptance Song............. Trent, Dee Dee, Barry, Angie, Ensemble You Happened.............................. Emma, Alyssa, Kevin, Nick, Students We Look to You................................................................... Mr. Hawkins Tonight Belongs to You................... Barry, Emma, Mrs. Greene, Shelby, Kaylee, Students Tonight Belongs to You (Reprise)................................. Emma, Students

ACT II Entr’acte.................................................................................. Orchestra Zazz.................................................................................... Angie, Emma The Lady’s Improving................................................................ Dee Dee Love Thy Neighbor........................................Trent, Students, Ensemble Alyssa Greene................................................................................Alyssa Barry is Going to Prom................................................................... Barry Unruly Heart................................................................. Emma, Students Changing Lives (Reprise #2).....................Barry, Dee Dee, Trent, Angie, Sheldon, Mr. Hawkins It’s Time to Dance............................................ Emma, Alyssa, Company Original Broadway Production directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw Originally Produced on Broadway by Bill Damaschke, Dori Berinstein, Jack Lane James & Catherine Berges, Nelda Sue Yaw, Natasha Davison, Joe Grandy, Kimberlee Garris, Lisa Morris, Terry Schnuck, Jane Dubin, Rosalind Productions, Inc., FAHS Productions, Seth A. Goldstein, Mike Kriak, Don & Nancy Ross, Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, Cliff Hopkins, Masie Productions, Vivek Shah, Three Belles & A Bob, Anment-Tackel, Armstrong-Manocherian, Fakler-Silver, Fox Theatricals-Mosbacher-Lonow, Palitz-Stem-Smedes, Nancy & Ken Kranzberg/David Lyons, Larry & Elizabeth Lenke/Elizabeth L. Green, Iris Smith/InStone Productions, Kuhlman-Ketner/ Wallace-ATxRandomProductions, The John Gore Organization and The Shubert Organization (Philip J. Smith: Chairman; Robert E. Wankel: President); Produced in association with Independent Presenters Network, Margot Astrachan, Darren P. DeVema & Jeremiah J. Harris and Reagan Silber

THE CAST in alphabetical order Mrs. Greene / Dee Dee, u.s..........................................Jordan Andreasen Dee Dee Allen.................................................................Audrey Brammer Ensemble / Emma, u.s............................................................Amari Bullett Emma Nolan........................................................................... Cat Copland Ensemble / Alyssa, u.s........................................Siena Maxwell Crumbliss Trent Oliver..................................................................... Conor Hernandez Mr. Hawkins................................................................... Christian Holloway Angie Dickinson........................................................................Meg Laskey Shelby........................................................................ Bella Loflin-Van Dorn Sheldon............................................................................. Asher Margulies Kaylee / Angie, u.s................................................................Livvy McIntyre Alyssa Greene........................................................... Helena Pithan Nunes Kevin...................................................................................... Sawyer Parker Nick......................................................................................... Oliver Powell Ensemble / Mr. Hawkins, u.s..................................................... Finn Purvis Olivia Keating / Ensemble / Sheldon, u.s..................Eden Santo-Kilgore Barry Glickman................................................................... Max Templeton Ensemble / Mrs. Greene, u.s........................................................ Eva Zinn

THEATRE TECH Costumes...................... June Childs, Gillian Herskowitz, Leah Serritella, Oz Santo-Kilgore Scenic......................Ephraim Baksh, Isaac Baksh, Trevor Blanton-Parke, El Brown, Carter Crisp-Sears, Caitlyn Doughty, Tyler Hill, Eileen Jiang, Scarlet Kavanaugh, B Lee, Evan Pantzartzis, Sam Riggsbee, Max Thacker, Gavin Trump Stage Management.......... Sarah Keller, Tianlu Qiao, Toni Pithan Nunes

BIOS Chauntee’ Schuler Irving Director

PlayMakers: Debut. Assistant Professor of the Practice of Theater Studies at Duke University, and will be taking a new position as the Assistant Professor in Performance to Fordham at The Lincoln Center this fall. Broadway: The Lion King (Nala). Off-Broadway: Murder Ballad, Everyday Rapture. National Tours: The Lion King, Xanadu, The Producers.

She is currently guest starring as Maria Cross in the upcoming Amazon Prime TV series “Cross.” Recent teaching appointments include the American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) in San Francisco and the American Music and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Los Angeles. Her pedagogy centers embodied performative practices which bring equitable and inclusive approaches to the forefront of actor training. Education/Training: The Actors’ Studio Drama School, The Barrow Group Theater Company, and The Ailey School prior to receiving her MFA in Theatre Pedagogy from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA. www.chauntee.com

Courtney Liu Choreographer

PlayMakers: Debut. Choreographer and Assistant Professor of Music Theatre at Elon University. In addition to choreographing and directing productions at Elon, Courtney’s choreography has been commissioned by Duke University, Forestburgh Theatre, the Ciompi Quartet, Thistle Dance, and the American Dance Festival in collaboration with the Nasher Museum. Courtney’s pedagogical research is published in the Journal of Dance Education and has been presented nationally and internationally. Broadway: Phantom of the Opera (Assistant Dance Captain and Cast) Career Highlights: Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Queen of the Night, AEA & Disney Developmental labs, the Broadway Dance Lab, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Busch Gardens Theme Parks, various performances sponsored by the American Dance Festival, and guest performances with the Cincinnati Ballet and the Peridance Contemporary Dance Company. www.courtneykristenliu.com @courtneyrkristenliu

Aspen Blake Jackson Production Stage Manager

Aspen is headed into her third mainstage season with PlayMakers Repertory Company as Production Stage Manager, and she is excited to be returning to SYC for another summer!

Aspen graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in Vocal Performance and Dramatic Arts. Throughout the last two seasons she has had the pleasure of working on The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Drowsy Chaperone, Native Gardens, They Do Not Know Harlem, Clyde’s, Much Ado About Nothing, and Murder on the Orient Express. Aspen most looks forward to teaching, collaborating, and creating theater

FOR ALL OTHER BIOS, PLEASE VISIT THE SHOW PAGE

MANY THANKS TO OUR SYC DONORS Mary Altpeter Elizabeth Amend Keith and Iris Archuleta Patricia Beyle Ellen Clevenger-Firley Willis and Virginia Cockrell Elizabeth Gray Richard Hirschfield David Howell Leah Johnson

Kathryn Kosma Dave and Doris Krepp David Michaud Frederick and Anne Morris Susan and Vikram Rao Margaret Rook Majei and Ehsan Samei Robert and Tobi Schwartzman Harriet and Stuart Solomon Riley and Wendy Waugh

We are proud to offer generous scholarship opportunities and are thankful to our Summer Youth Conservatory Fund donors who ensure no student experiences financial hardship by joining us and learning with us. We invite you to contribute to the fund and help the next generation continue to grow and create the great theatre you enjoy. playmakersrep.org/give

ABOUT OUR SUMMER YOUTH CONSERVATORY The Prom is a culmination of PlayMakers’ Summer Youth Conservatory, a six-week practicum for high school students—both on stage and behind the scenes—combining top-notch teaching with unparalleled practical experience. Students work with professional directors, choreographers, musical directors, and theatre technicians to mount a professional quality production for all to enjoy.

In addition to our flagship summer productions over the past decade, we host a wide variety of theatre summer camps for area middle school and high school students.

SUMMER YOUTH CONSERVATORY 2025

To be notified about next year’s programs, including auditions, camps, interviews and more, please email SYC@unc.edu

PLAYMAKERS STAFF Producing Artistic Director...................................................................Vivienne Benesch Director of Operations...............................................................................Maura Murphy Production Manager................................................................................ Michael Rolleri Director of Engagement and Education...........................................................Jeff Aguiar Associate Artistic Director....................................................................... Jeffrey Meanza Lead Producer.........................................................................................Chelsea James

Subscriptions & Single Tickets

On Sale Now! September 11–29, 2024

January 29-February 16, 2025

October 16-November 3, 2024

March 5-23, 2025

November 26-December 15, 2024

April 9-27, 2025

All titles and dates subject to change.