South St. Paul Community Theatre presents ‘The Prom’ July 25-28

Jake Spitzack
Staff Writer

Don’t worry, there’s still time to get tickets to one of Broadway’s more recent hit musicals, “The Prom,” which debuted in 2018 and received seven Tony Award nominations. The show will be presented July 25-28 by South St. Paul Community Theatre. The 56-member cast includes teens, college students and adults, and shows are held 7 p.m., July 25-27, and 2 p.m., July 28, at South St. Paul Secondary theater, 700 2nd St. N. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. Cost is $8 for students, $10 for adults and free for seniors ages 60 and older.

The musical is based on a true story and follows four washed-up Broadway stars who try to rekindle their fame by advocating for equality at a small school in a conservative Indiana town that canceled its prom because a student wanted to bring her girlfriend as her date. The real-life case landed in a federal court, which found that the school district had violated her First Amendment rights, but the story didn’t end there.

“It’s a fantastic show,” said theatre director Eric Holsen. “There was a lot of interest among my students…. It’s got a powerful message and some really fun songs, and you’re going to want to stay for the last number because it’s huge.”

The cast has been pumping out rehearsals since mid-June to prepare for showtime, including every day for the past two weeks. Holsen has directed the community theater for 14 years and said he’s happy to welcome newcomers for next year’s play regardless of their experience or age. However, there is a fee to audition. This year it was $85, but all who audition are guaranteed a role. Past community musicals include the “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Matilda.” The theatre also puts on a junior play each summer for kids in fourth through ninth grade. They presented “Under the Big Top” in mid-July.

“We’re really fortunate to have a great space for performing,” said Holsen. “There are a lot of schools that would like to have a theater as nice as ours. It’s not a terribly new theater – it’s been here since around 1920 – but it’s been remodeled several times since then. It’s just a really solid classic proscenium performance space.”

Main roles include Sara Martin as DeeDee, Nicholas Yungbluth as Principal Hawkins, Ronald Coats as Barry, Max Contreras as Angie A, Connor Luna as Angie B, Annie Voss as Emma A, Sasha McCauley as Emma B, Malia Meyer as Alyssa A, and Alyse Boudreau as Alyssa B. Choreographer is Michaela Kendall and vocal director is Molly Saman. The roles of Angie, Emma and Alyssa are double casted.

For more information, call 651-457-9430.

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