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Jimmy Awards: Honoring High School Musical Theatre Talent

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Jimmy Awards: Honoring High School Musical Theatre Talent

When I was a high school student I discovered my love for musical theater.   Several years later and a whole lot of training, I gained the confidence to audition for the musicals. While in college, I worked my way to portraying lead roles in college. However, there was no such thing as the Jimmy Awards.  I would have jumped at the chance to audition for this amazing award!  Today, my blog post is, Jimmy Awards: Celebrating High School Musical Theatre Talent.

If you’re a fan of musical theatre, you might already know about the Tony Awards. However, like me you may have never heard of the Jimmy Awards. It is officially known as the National High School Musical Theatre Awards (NHSMTA).  The Jimmy Awards shine a spotlight on the best and brightest high school musical theatre talent in the United States.

Named in honor of Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, this annual event is a testament to the dedication, passion, and talent of young performers across the country. Check out this blog post if you are interested in the history of musical theater: Showtime Chronicles: History of Musical Theater Unveiled.

Jimmy Awards: Honoring High School Musical Theatre Talent

Honoring High School Musical Theatre Talent

Although I’d heard of Mr. Nederlander, I didn’t actually know why he was important., often referred to as Jimmy Nederlander, was a prominent American theatre owner and producer. Born on March 31, 1922, and passing away on July 25, 2016, Nederlander was a key figure in the Broadway community. Serving as the head of the Nederlander Organization, he was one of the most influential theatre operators and producers in the world. He is credited with overseeing a vast network of theatres, including nine Broadway venues. Wow!

Under his leadership, the Nederlander Organization produced numerous successful Broadway shows, including hits like Rent, Wicked, and The Lion King. His contributions to the theatre industry were immense, and he played a significant role in shaping modern Broadway.

Jimmy Awards: Honoring High School Musical Theatre Talent

The History of the Jimmy Awards

The Jimmy Awards were established in 2009 to recognize and celebrate outstanding achievement in high school musical theatre. Students from regional theatre awards programs participate in a week-long intensive in New York City, where they receive training from industry professionals and compete for scholarships and awards. The experience culminates in a dazzling showcase at a Broadway theatre, where the top performers are selected as finalists and given the chance to perform solos and group numbers. Two main awards are given each year, Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor.

Jimmy Awards: Honoring High School Musical Theatre Talent

The Journey to the Jimmy Awards

To make it to the Jimmy Awards, students must first excel in their local or regional theatre competitions. These regional awards programs, known as “Theatre Awards,” exist in various cities and states across the country. Winners of these regional programs then advance to the national level—the Jimmy Awards. The program impacts over 140,000 students annually who participate in high school musical theatre competitions sponsored by over forty professional theatres throughout the US. Amazing! 

The Jimmy Award nominees travel to New York City for a week in June.  I’m certain that  the opportunity to travel to NYC is exciting enough for the young people.  The week culminates with a live show in which the winners are determined. During the week, the nominees rehearse their performances for the award show and receive coaching from industry professionals.

The Jimmy Awards Show

The show begins with an opening number (typically a “mega-mix of contemporary Broadway hits”) involving all nominees, followed by a series of “showcase medleys”, in which several nominees appear in costume in the role they performed in their high school’s musical, each in turn singing a short solo, while the remaining performers act as backup singers and dancers. These medleys have gained a cult following, with fans appreciating the crossover between disparate popular musicals.Since 2016, due to an increasing number of nominees and time limitations, only a portion of nominees have participated in showcase medleys, with the remainder instead performing in a group number. 

Judging at the Jimmy Awards

During an intermission, a panel of experts selects about eight finalists. During the show’s second half, the finalists each perform a solo, and the winners are announced. All finalists also receive a $3,000 scholarship toward their future education. In addition to the main awards of Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor, other awards are given out with smaller prizes. In 2023, awards were given for Best Dancer, Rising Star, Best Performance in an Ensemble, and Spirit of the Jimmys.  Additionally, each  of these aforementioned awards include a $2,000 scholarship. 

The week-long program  is rigorous and transformative. Participants attend masterclasses, workshops, and rehearsals led by Broadway professionals. Also, they have the opportunity to meet and learn from peers who share their passion for theatre. As you would expect, they become part of a  a supportive and inspiring community. If you’d like to teach your students about the Tony awards, check out: Drama Class Tony Awards Study and Game 

Eva Noblezda
Eva Noblezda, winner of Jimmy Awards, 2019

The Impact of the Jimmys

The Jimmy Awards make a profound impact on the lives of young performers. Many past participants go on to successful careers in theatre, film, and television. Notable alumni include Eva Noblezada, who starred in Miss Saigon and Hadestown on Broadway, and Andrew Barth Feldman, playing the title role in Dear Evan Hansen.

The exposure and training provided by the Jimmys can open doors to prestigious performing arts colleges and professional opportunities. In addition to the invaluable experience, students also compete for significant scholarships, helping to ease the financial burden of pursuing a career in the arts. If you are looking for an excellent theatre program in a small college, check out my Alma Mater, Stephens College.  

Why the Jimmys Matter

Perhaps this is the best reason for the Jimmy Awards.  They not only recognize and reward talent but also highlight the importance of arts education in schools. With school systems making cuts to the arts almost on a daily basis, this award is hugely important.  Musical theatre programs provide students with a creative outlet.  Additionally, they  teach valuable life skills, and foster a sense of community. The Jimmy awards celebrate the hard work of students, teachers, and schools, encouraging the continued support and development of arts programs nationwide.

Dramamommaspeaks

How to Support the Jimmy Awards

There are several ways to support the Jimmy Awards and the young performers they celebrate. As simple as it sounds, please attend local high school musical productions.  Or you can donate to arts education programs. Or help spread the word about the importance of the arts in schools. Additionally, watching the Jimmy Awards ceremony you can help raise awareness and appreciation for these talented young artists. There are plenty of theater teachers desperate for funds.  

In conclusion, as you can see here, the Jimmy Awards are more than just a competition. They are a celebration of the future of musical theatre. The Jimmy awards play a crucial role in ensuring that the magic of Broadway continues to thrive for generations to come.

This year’s Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Josh Groban, star of the recent revival of Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Talk about a talent!  If you are interested in teaching your students about Josh Groban, pick up this Dramamommaspeaks resource: Josh Groban Biography Lesson and One Pager Assignment.

Are you and your students familiar with The Jimmy Awards?  I’d love to hear about it. Email me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com

 

The Essential Drama Integration Guide for Come From Away the Broadway Musical

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The Essential Drama Integration Guide to Come From Away the Broadway Musical

The Essential Drama Integration Guide for Come From Away the Broadway Musical

Have you used drama integration to reach your students? This would be a good place to begin. Use my drama integration Come From Away the Broadway Musical.

What is Drama Integration?

Through participation in theatre, students develop speaking and listening skills. Students collaborate with others in accomplishing common goals. Though many classroom teachers do not have a drama teacher to collaborate with, drama is a natural place to begin arts integration.

The story behind Come From Away is one which can easily be used in any classroom studying September 11th. Rather than just studying the story, how about teaching the historical moment through a theatrical production?

Why is The Musical Titled “Come From Away”?

“Come from away” is a term used in Canada’s Atlantic provinces for someone who has moved to the area from somewhere else. I’m a come from away myself, from Ontario, though my mother was born here.

The first reason to teach with this musical, and foremost in my opinion, if the story. It is just plain fascinating and begins with an explanation of  Operation Yellow Ribbon.

The Essential Drama Integration Guide for Come From Away the Broadway Musical News - Mirror Online

Operation Yellow Ribbon was commenced by Canada to handle the diversion of civilian airline flights in response to the September 11 attacks in 2001 on the United States. Canada’s goal was to ensure that potentially destructive air traffic be removed from United States airspace as quickly as possible, and away from potential U.S. targets.

Instead of U.S. soil, those aircraft headed into the U.S. were place on the ground in Canada, at military and civilian airports in the Canadian provinces of Newfoundland, Newfoundland and Labrador, and British Columbia (and also several in New Brunswick, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec) where any destructive potential could be better contained and neutralized. None of the aircraft proved to be a threat, and Canada and Canadians hosted thousands of passengers stranded in Canada until U.S. airspace was reopened.

The Essential Drama Integration Guide to Come From Away the Broadway Musical

Canada began the operation after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), implementing Security Control of Air Traffic and Air Navigation Aids (SCATANA), grounded all aircraft across the United States, an unprecedented action. The FAA then worked with Transport Canada to reroute incoming international flights to airports in Canada.

During the operation, departing flights—with the exception of police, military, and humanitarian flights—were cancelled, marking the first time that Canadian airspace had been shut down. In total, as a result of Operation Yellow Ribbon, 255 aircraft were diverted to 17 different airports across the country. 45,000 people were displaced.

I told you it was fascinating! Come From Away is placed in Gander, Newfoundland.

The Essential Drama Integration Guide for Come From Away the Broadway Musical

Gander is a town located in the northeastern part of the island of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.  Located on the northeastern shore of Gander Lake, it is the site of Gander International Airport, once an important refueling stop for transatlantic aircraft, and still a preferred emergency landing point for aircraft facing on-board medical or security issues. At the time of the 911 attack, its population was 6,000.

Most of the streets in Gander are named after famous aviators, including Alcock and Brown, Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, Eddie Rickenbacker, Marc Garneau and Chuck Yeager.

The Essential Drama Integration Guide for Come From Away the Broadway Musical

Come From Away the Broadway Musical

Some musicals are developed with each creative team member responsible for particular parts of the show from playwriting to directing to choreography.  Others are more collaborative in nature.  The path of the musical, Come from Away  to  becoming a Broadway musical was fairly traditional once it was conceived.

However, its conception was the unique aspect and perhaps that why audiences love it so much.  In this particular case, the composer and lyricists are also the playwrights.  This doesn’t occur very often.

The Essential Drama Integration Guide to Come From Away the Broadway Musical

What is equally fascinating is the creative team’s personal connection to the story.  The setting is in their home province of  Newfoundland, Canada.  The team didn’t realize there was a story to be told until ten years later when they were approached to write the show.

The musical has been received by audiences and critics as a cathartic reminder of the capacity for human kindness in even the darkest of times and the triumph of humanity over hate.

DID YOU KNOW ONLY 14 STATES TEACH ABOUT 911?

Fourteen.

That’s a crying shame, but I’m out to change all that!

DramaMommaSpeaks Come From Away Drama Integration Guide

The Essential Drama Integration Guide for Come From Away the Broadway Musical

My Drama Resources

As you may be aware, I create drama education resources for teachers in my store, DramaMommaSpeaks.  Currently, my Come From Away unit is very popular with vocal music, language arts and theater teachers.

This 46 page, two-day product includes:

  • Letter to Teacher
  • Warm Up–MY Version of a Popular Physical Warm Up
  • Teacher’s Script–What I Say and How I Say it!
  • Photos of Gander, Newfoundland where the story takes place and the airstrip which became the connector between strangers
  • Plot of the Musical
  • Synopsis of the Musical
  • A Brief Description of the Operation Yellow Ribbon and 9/12, what occurred the day after the 9/11 attacks
  • Separate File of Photos for Teacher’s Use in Lecture
  • History about the Origination of the Production
  • Information on the Director, Christopher Ashley
  • Information on the Writing Team co-composers & playwrights David Hein and Irene Sankuff
  • A Shortened Lesson on: What are the Tony Awards?
  • List of Tony Awards
  • New York City Map with Competing Theaters Labeled
  • Student Note Page
  • Teacher Note Page Key
  • Trivia about Come From Away and Broadway Musicals with Some Surprising Facts!
  • Lyrics from “Welcome to the Rock”–Good for Class Discussions or as a Jumping Off Point
  • Extension Activities–Terrific Suggestions of Ways to Secure the Learning and Enrich the Experience, Individual and Group
  • Sources & Links to Video Clips from the Show
  • And More!

Looking for a Theater Curriculum Scope and Sequence  for Middle School?  Check out mine:  Drama Units Scope and Sequence. 

Comprehensive? You bet. If this interests you, perhaps my Hamilton lesson will too.  Check out this blog post here.

The Essential Drama Integration Guide for Come From Away the Broadway Musical

The Essential Drama Integration Guide for Come From Away the Broadway Musical

Come From Away Movie

The Come From Away movie was released recently.  You can find it on Apple TV.  Of course, it would be wonderful if your students could view the movie.  If not, you’ve got my complete lesson to answer any and all questions pertaining to this terrific musical.

It isn’t often that a historical moment is still pertinent twenty years later, but here we are. 

If you direct productions, you’ll enjoy this musical for its ensemble feel. The story is told by every character with most playing more than one role. That’s always a nice challenge for performers and such fun, too.  The set is simple, containing chairs, a table or two and few stage properties.  The music is clever and sounds a bit like Irish folk music to me.

DramaMommaSpeaks Come From Away Drama Integration Guide

I think once its released to amateurs, every community theater, in the country will produce it.  Wow!

A note to social studies and language arts teachers–don’t shy away from this musical because it is just that. Integrate drama into your classroom and your students will love you for it, I promise. Some of the best teaching is done when you break out of your routine and teach through a different medium.

I hope you’ll consider teaching your students about the musical, Come From Away.  As I said, it’s one of most popular products (in the top four!) so there is some reason everyone desires this lesson.  See for yourself.

Where were you when 911 occurred?  I was the first person in my school building to hear the news.  What an unforgettable experience to be sure.

phantom of the opera mask and red rose

Interested in another Broadway musical?  Check out: Phantom of the Opera

I’d love to hear about your memories of 911.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Want a FREE guide and drama integration lesson for grades 6 to 8?  Go here: FREE guide and drama integration

woman behind DramaMommaSpeaks

 

 

Has Covid Ended the Broadway Theater?

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Has Covid Ended the Broadway Theater?

Recently, my husband and I caught a wonderful performance on BroadwayHD of “Slava’s Snow Show.”  It is quinessential circus theater and we nearly wept with joy while watching it..  Even though it was a filmed performance, it was the closest thing we’d gotten to live theater in nearly a year.

These are unprecendented times, yes?  Everyone in the world is in the same boat.

Will Broadway Theater Re-open?

Broadway, Font, Letters, Sign, Lights, Red, Yellow

It is hard to believe, but Broadway is coming back sooner than we think!

A time line has been drafted for the potential reopening of Broadway theaters and live entertainment venues.

As reported in Broadway News, New York state can reopen venues through a combination of quick Covid tests and socially distanced seating. Although audience numbers would be significantly lower than pre-lockdown levels, it’s the first step to Broadway being back open again.

Speaking about the framework, Governor Cuomo said: “The overall effort is headed towards reopening with testing. And we’re going to be smart, but also aggressive about it.” He also said that Broadway theatres could realistically open if everyone was proven to be Covid negative. As long as all safety protocols were signed off, “You can open a Broadway stage with a set percentage of occupants, where people have tested prior to walking into that Broadway theater.”

During the seven-month Pop Up Festival announced recently, small crowd sizes will be introduced for live performances. This will be the next step since the outdoor Bills Stadium reopened its doors, with up to 7,000 fans attending games.

Here’s the deal, though.  On February 23, venues with a seating capacity of over 10,000 will be allowed to reopen. Of course, this doesn’t include Broadway theater which are much smaller, but hey that’s a start!

Outdoor, Street, Road, City, View, Night, Evening, Time

Not everyone is excited about this plan. From the newyorktheatreguide.com, ” … Broadway leaders previously stated theatres can’t open until Coronavirus levels are low enough to sustain full houses in auditorium.”

Theater is expensive! My personal experiences with administrating theater companies taught me it is not cost effective without a full house. According to nytix.com, “Some may say that any attendance is better than no attendance, but operating costs for Broadway plays are often so steep that they need to sell at least 80% of tickets (or more!) just to break even.

Spending the producers’ money to put on Broadway shows for just 10-25% capacity, could very well create even more losses than having no shows at all. It seems like a real world skit of the famous Nathan Lane show The Producers, but with real consequences for art and people. Broadway Theatres could increase ticket prices but they would have to be 2-3 times the normal cost and they would soon run out of patrons with pockets that deep to buy them.”

At present, Broadway theaters are closed until May 30.

Broadway and West 34th St.

Which Shows Will Re-open?

If you think about it–we are talking about over 97,000 people returning to their jobs and/or be cast.  Unfortunately, they can’t just iron the costumes, turn on the lights and open the grand curtain.  It will take several months for a production to open again.

I looked around to see if I could discern which shows would re-open first. It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack. According to Broadwayworld.com  productions are slated to open sometime in the fall.

Productions included are:

  • The Music Man by December 20, 21l.
  • Caroline or Change
  • David Byrne’s America Utopia
  • MJ the Musical

Many productions (Dear Evan Hansen, Aladdin, Book of Mormon, Aint Too Proud, etc.) haven’t made an announcement yet.  I’ll update this list as news becomes available.

Who will open first?

Who will open first?  According to the newyorktheatreguide.com website, there are rumors that Hamilton will be the first Broadway show to re-open, with potential performances from Jul. 4, 2021. Yippee!

Speaking to Variety, Lin-Manuel Miranda said: “I think when theater comes back it’s going to be in conversation with technology in an entirely different way. I don’t think we go back to a world where a show premieres on Broadway, and then no one can see it unless they have two hundred bucks. I think producers are going to have to start thinking about how they’re going to capture [their work] because in capturing it they can actually capture a much larger audience for their live show.”

I’m intrigued by this comment.  Does Lin-Manuel mean covid precautions? Or recorded music?

Is Theater Dead? 

As a theater lover, director, producer, actress and teacher I worry about theater even without the pandemic.

It’s easily misunderstood and not everyone understands the power of the performing arts.  I didn’t know it at the time, but this post has come to pass: How Fulfilling is Life Without Theatre? 

I’m always reminded of this quote by John Steinbeck, “The theater is the only institution in the world which has been dying for four thousand years and has never succumbed.  It requires tough and devoted people to keep it alive.”

It does require grit from us in theater arts.  All around you right now there are people working to bring back theater for all of us. Feel comforted by that thought–theater people are a harty bunch!

In the meantime, while we wait to see live theater I can help a little. Here are some lessons which might be of interest to you.

They are quite popular with other teachers. I’ll tell you a secret. (Most of my lessons come with a teacher’s script so a teacher doesn’t have to think what to say to begin the lesson.  I’ve provided it for them.) I have lessons for grades two to twelve. If you don’t know about me, I am a retired drama teacher now selling drama resources. You can find them at Dramamommaspeaks Store

 

Hamilton
Boom Cards
Costume Design
Wicked
Come From Away
Costume Design
Storytelling
High School
Radio Theater
Readers Theater
Drama Vocabulary
Theater will live through this time.  I’m certain it will take several months before we see packed theaters. How exciting will it be to see happy people roaming around Times Square before a performance. I plan to be there, don’t you?

If you could pick which musical and play you’d like to open first, which would you select?  I’d love to hear from you.  Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail. com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Deborah Baldwin of DramaMommaSpeaks

Five Reasons You Shouldn’t See The Prom Musical on Your Own

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Five Reasons You Shouldn’t See The Prom Musical on Your Own

I know this blog title sounds like I’m going to talk about something scary in The Prom–it’s quite the opposite! It’s wonderful.

Did you know Netflix is streaming The Prom musical?

It’s available to stream beginning December 11.  I’m looking forward to seeing it.

Here are five reasons you shouldn’t see The Prom musical on Your Own:

Reason #1–Movies are meant to be seen with someone, in my opinion. How much fun is it to see a musical all by yourself? You need someone to sing with you!

1960's prom night. : TheWayWeWere

A Synopsis of The Prom

Emma becomes an instant outcast and a national headline when her high school cancels the prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend. Sensing a chance to correct an injustice and maybe get some good publicity along the way a group of fading celebrities takes up the cause, and invades Emma’s small Indiana town. But their bumbling attempts at social activism make the situation far worse than they or Emma could have ever imagined. Cultures clash and the town erupts in chaos. The community’s reputation, Emma’s future, and the celebrities’ careers, all hang in the balance, until a true hero emerges to save the day. Uproarious and ultimately uplifting, this musical proves that standing up for yourself and inspiring others to accept their differences can make you the star you were always meant to be.

40 Cool Pics of the '70s Prom Couples ~ Vintage Everyday

Emma becomes an instant outcast and a national headline when her high school cancels the prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend. Sensing a chance to correct an injustice and maybe get some good publicity along the way a group of fading celebrities takes up the cause, and invades Emma’s small Indiana town. But their bumbling attempts at social activism make the situation far worse than they or Emma could have ever imagined. Cultures clash and the town erupts in chaos. The community’s reputation, Emma’s future, and the celebrities’ careers, all hang in the balance, until a true hero emerges to save the day. Uproarious and ultimately uplifting, this musical proves that standing up for yourself and inspiring others to accept their differences can make you the star you were always meant to be.

An All Star Cast

Reason #2–The Cast is exceptional! Having someone to chat with about the direction makes the viewing all the more worthwhile.

Nice, huh?

The movie cast is excellent and includes Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Andrew Renalls, Kevin Chamberlain, Ariana Grande, Keegan Michael-Key, Kerry Washington and a host of other great performers.  Newcomer, Emma Pellman will portray the lead role of Emma and Arianna DeBose as Alyssa.

Wow!

The Creative Team

Reason #3–This is an excellent artistic staff at the helm.  I mean, Casey Nicholaw?  You can’t get someone much better than him.  Just check out his biography. You might miss something in the direction  if you watch by yourself and a friend might catch it.  I understand the humor is spot on.

Casey Nicholaw, Director

Casey Nicholaw (born 1962) is an American theatre director, choreographer and performer. He has been nominated for Tony Awards for directing and choreographing The Drowsy Chaperone (2006), The Book of Mormon (2011), Something Rotten! (2015), and Mean Girls (2018) and for choreographing Monty Python’s Spamalot (2005) and Aladdin (2014), winning for his co-direction of The Book of Mormon. He also was nominated for the Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Direction and Choreography for The Drowsy Chaperone (2006) and Something Rotten! (2015) and for Outstanding Choreography for Spamalot (2005).  

Bob Martin, Co-Playwright

Bob Martin began his career acting and directing at The Second City in Toronto in 1996. He won a Tony award for Best Book for a Musical and Best Actor in a Musical category portraying “Man in Chair” in Drowsy Chaperone.  In addition, Martin wrote the Urinetown music and lyrics. Among many of ventures,  he returned to Broadway by co-writing the book for Elf with Thomas Meehan. He co-wrote Prom the Musical with

Like many artists, Martin’s resume is varied.  It includes writing the book for a musical adaptation of the 1973 film The Sting and is currently writing the book for a sequel to The Drowsy Chaperone, a musical adaptation of The Princess Bride, a musical adaptation of A Night at the Museum, and a musical adaptation of Millions.

Chad Beugelin, Lyricist and Co-Playwright

Chad Beguelin (born September 24, 1969) is an American playwright and four-time Tony Award nominee. He wrote the book for Disney’s Aladdin, as well as additional lyrics for the score. He was nominated for Best Original Book and Best Original Score for Aladdin. He is also known for his collaborations with composer Matthew Sklar, having written the lyrics and co-written the book for the Broadway musical The Wedding Singer and the lyrics for the Broadway musical Elf the Musical. Beguelin was nominated for two Tony Awards for his work on The Wedding Singer, as well as a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics. He, too, graduated from New York University’s Tish School of the Arts.

What did the Reviewers Think of it When It Opened on Broadway?

Reason #4–Reviewers love the Broadway version.  See if you agree with the reviewers.  You can’t exactly discuss the pros and cons of the production with just yourself.   When it opened on Broadway, the reviewers extol much praise on the show.  That’s a good sign the musical will be well accepted, too.

The Prom was the first musical of the 2018–2019 Broadway season to be named a New York Times Critics Pick, with Jesse Green calling it “such a joyful hoot. With its kinetic dancing, broad mugging and belty anthems, it makes you believe in musical comedy again.”

Frank Rizzo, writing for Variety wrote that “with a tuneful score, a playful book, and performances that remind you what Broadway heart and chutzpah are all about, this cause celebre of a show turns out to be a joyous, funny, and sweet production that should appeal to several generations of musical fans.”

New York Magazine‘s Sara Holdren wrote: “There’s such genuine joy rolling off the stage in The Prom that you’re ready and willing to forgive it its minor misfires… Did I shed several real tears in The Prom’s final scene? Maybe I did… I also seldom stopped laughing. The show is full of witty delights.”[16]

Adam Feldman of Time Out Magazine gave the show 4 out of 5 stars, saying “It is cheering to see a musical comedy that engages with modern questions, with a teenage lesbian romance at its center to boot… But while the issues are contemporary, there is a 1980s feel to the character types and the overall style of Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar’s score, which resembles their work in The Wedding Singer; a stronger dose of reality in the lyrics and the book (by Beguelin and Bob Martin) would better justify the show’s eventual turn to sentimental education. But Casey Nicholaw’s peppy direction helps give the show enough momentum to power past its narrative potholes and occasional bumps of heavy-handedness.”

In The Hollywood Reporter, David Rooney called the show “one part satire, packed with delicious theatrical in-jokes delivered with aplomb by game stage veterans playing caricatures of themselves; and one part inclusivity teaching moment, reminding us there’s a place for everyone beneath the Mylar balloons at a high school dance, even in conservative Indiana. If the two halves aren’t entirely seamless, especially in the uneven second act, the show has enough humor and heart to paper over the cracks.”

Reason #5  Your Students will LOVE it! You will feel so trendy because you will know the newest scoop in the show. There’s nothing better than making them happy (it does wonders for your ego too.) The Prom is contemporary, fun, quick witted and entertaining.

I have a Broadway musical lesson for The Prom available at The Prom Broadway Musical Lesson

It includes:

  • Letter to Teacher
  • Warm Up–MY Version of a Popular Physical Warm Up
  • Teacher’s Script–What I Say and How I Say it!
  • History of Prom and How it Became an Important Event in a Young Person’s Life
  • Photos (1950’s & 2018)
  • Plot of the Musical
  • Separate File of Photos for Teacher’s Use in Lecture
  • History about the Origination of the Production
  • Information on the Director, Casey Nicholaw
  • Information on the composer and choreographer, Matthew Skylar
  • Information about the Co-Playwrights, Bob Martin & Chad Beugelin
  • Information about the lyricist, Chad Beugelin
  • A Shortened Lesson on : What are the Tony Awards?
  • List of Tony Awards
  • New York City Map with Competing Theatres Labeled
  • Student Note Page
  • Teacher Note Page Key
  • Trivia about The Prom, LGBTQ rights and Recent Data About Prom
  • Lyrics from “Just Breathe”–good for class discussions or as a jumping off point
  • Extension Activities–Terrific Suggestions of Ways to Secure the Learning and Enrich the Experience
  • Sources & Links to Film Clips from the Show
  • And More!

If hope you’ll check out The Prom soon.  I know I will!  What Broadway musical is your favorite?  You know I’d love to know more about you. Don’t know much about me?  Check out:  The Top Reasons to Listen to Podcasts   Contact me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com or DeborahBaldwin.net

Dramamommaspeaks