Theater Review: 'The Prom' at Square Foot Theatre and Tavern

By Nancy Sasso Janis

The hit Broadway musical “The Prom” is making its premiere in Connecticut at The Square Foot Theatre and Tavern in Wallingford. The production is sponsored by the always generous Jamie Hulley Arts Foundation and continues through March 25.

“The Prom” is based on an original concept by Jack Viertel and features a book by Bob Martin, book and lyrics by Chad Beguelin and music by Matthew Skylar. The original Broadway production was directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw.

As the musical opens, four self-absorbed narcissistic actors lament their days of fame. In an effort to improve their image, the four head to the conservative town of Edgewater, Indiana, to help a lesbian student banned from bringing her girlfriend to their high school prom. Sadly, the plot is based on a similar incident that happened in Mississippi.

The Square Foot production was directed and choreographed by Patrick Laffin, with musical direction by Alan Dougherty. The choreography is joyful and tight and the cast sings well to the recorded musical tracks. Laffin also served as art director with Jeffrey Thibeault as technical director and Melissa Thibeault as the costume and prop assistant. There were some projections to flesh out some of the settings that worked well and the colorful costumes looked amazing in the final scene.

This is a contemporary piece that addresses timely themes with humor as it makes its point “Love Thy Neighbor” is one of the musical numbers

All of the young performers involved in this production are “all in,” always singing and dancing together well and supporting each other. The student ensemble includes Ethan Bazinet, Emma Blanchette, Elizabeth Boucher, Sam Centrurelli, Gabriella Cozzi, Emma Gulick, Hannah Kingsley and Logan Morehead.

The adult ensemble contains Rachel Popolizio, Deanell Fraser and Andrew Thibeault.

Charlie Hartel is a joy to watch in the leading role of Emma, the lesbian student at the center of the controversy. Juliette St. George takes on the challenging role of “Alyssa Greene” and is completely convincing as a popular but closeted student and the daughter of the head of the PTA.

Heather Bazinet plays the two-time Tony winner Dee Dee Allen to the hilt and has the costumes to pull it off. Jamie Dumaine-Russell is the lovely Angie Dickinson, a life-long chorus girl who just quit her job of 20 years in the musical “Chicago” because the producers never let her go on for the role of Roxie.

Joey Abate gives an impressive performance as Trent Oliver, a Juilliard School graduate (as he keeps reminding everyone) down on his luck but who has just been cast in the non-Equity tour of “Godspell” about to head out on a bus.

William McKinney plays Mr. Hawkins, the high school principal and Emma's ally, Theresa Moscato plays Mrs. Greene, and Mike Trzciensky appears as Sheldon Saperstein.

Among the student roles are Dominique Libera as Shelby, JaiLynne Woods as Kaylee, Xavier McNemar as Nick, Jack Vann as Kevin and Kaity Marzik as Olivia Keating.

Jared Andrew Brown is perfectly cast in the role of Broadway star Barry Glickman. This is the first time I have seen Brown onstage in a theatrical role and I was blown away with his talent in acting, singing and dancing. This is a big role and Brown is a delight every minute that he is onstage.

Square Foot Theatre’s mission is to develop the talent of children and adults in a nurturing environment while bringing quality theater to the community. This production is another fine example of their mission, a high-quality collaboration between teens and adults presented to appreciative audiences.

The Square Foot Theatre is an intimate theatre experience. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own food and a full bar is available on site. (Outside beverages are prohibited). Doors to the theatre open a half hour before the performance, but the Tavern opens two hours before the production.

Auditions for an all-ages “Oliver” are scheduled for April 8, with performance dates in early June.

Nancy Sasso Janis, writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, posts well over 100 reviews each year. In 2016, her membership in the Connecticut Critics Circle began and her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted not only in the Naugatuck Patch but also on the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the NEW CCC Facebook page.