Beginning July 16 and running through July 26, Sol Theatre will be housed at Thunder River Theatre Company (TRTC) in Carbondale for the first show of their MainStage season, Matthew Sklar and Bob Martin’s “The Prom.” The musical details the story of four Broadway actors who travel to the conservative community of Edgewater, Indiana to vouch for Emma, a student who was banned by her high school Parent Teacher Association from taking her girlfriend Alyssa to prom.
“‘The Prom’ is a story I saw on Broadway years ago with the original Broadway cast,” said Luke Ryan, director and choreographer of ‘The Prom’ and creative consultant of Sol Theatre. “I was in college at the time, and I had a lot of college alums in the show, so we got free ticket offers. And I went four different times, and I just fell in love with it.”
He explained that he fell in love with the production during this time because the show was so original and fresh. This story is inspired by a real case in which, in 2010, Constance McMillen, a high school senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Fulton, Miss., was banned by her school’s board from taking her girlfriend to prom. McMillen challenged this, resulting not only in the prom being canceled but also in the school being sued by McMillen in collaboration with the American Civil Liberties Union. The school was found to have violated the student’s First Amendment rights.
“The writers of the show took this concept and this story and integrated it into a musical comedy,” Ryan said. “Still, at its core, it has this beautiful, powerful, queer message about empowerment and how the world is not great, but it’s getting better.”
This production also comes hot on the heels of not one but 10 Henry Award nominations from the Colorado Theatre Guild for Ryan’s previous directorial venture, “Cabaret,” which premiered on the TRTC stage last summer. Ryan said this news came to him powerfully and movingly and has given Sol a new burst of passion and inspiration behind their projects.
“I’m still very young to be doing what I’m doing, and so thank God Jennifer believed in a 26-year-old with Laduca boots,” Ryan said. “It’s been really exciting — I think every year we’re going to get bigger and bigger, especially now that we’ve had the honor of being recognized by the Colorado Theatre Guild and are among these other huge professional theaters in Colorado. It does mean a lot because this has been a passion project for a few years. So that was a nice way to take off.”
This cast includes the local talents of Sol Theatre Executive Director Jennifer Austin Hughes as well as Jennetta Howell, Nathan Cox, China Kwan and Christopher Wheatley. Hughes, who will be appearing on the Sol Theatre stage for the first time in a decade, looks forward to bringing this story to the community. Additionally, she is excited for her fellow crew and castmates to connect with audiences and get a taste of the community in the Roaring Fork Valley.
“The process has been an unmitigated joy,” Hughes said. “I can’t wait for [the audience] to see the cast in full swing. The energy they bring to the stage is the same energy they have as people. They’re a happy group of people, and we’re telling a happy story.”
In discussing the company’s main theme for this season, Hughes said many of the shows selected for this year’s programming share a throughline of acceptance and inclusion.
“Theater is built on the blood, sweat and tears of the LGBTQIA+ community,” Hughes said. “Theaters don’t exist without that community, and so it’s always been a safe and inclusive place. But it’s more important than ever to highlight that. Like we told the kids in ‘Shrek’ and sang the song ‘Freak Flag.’ You have to fly your freak flag so the other freaks know where to find you. This is our way of waving a flag and saying this is where you can find us.”
Special talents from out of state include Rachel Grodek, Kurt Perry, Samuel Meyer, Justine Verheul, Annabelle Woodard, Caitlin Walsh, Marsalis Causey, Kaden Weis, Maddy Smith and Cameron Scott.
Perry, who has a background performing on several stages, including two years playing Mr. Smee in the new Broadway revival of “Peter Pan,” said his time working with Sol and being in the community has been rewarding. When asked what he hopes the show will offer audiences, Perry said he hopes that families with queer children and allies of the queer community will find a sense of hope and belonging, all while enjoying the strong music and dance routines.
“Having never been to the Roaring Fork Valley before, I do have to just say how fabulous everyone has been and what a lovely, incredible reception that we’ve had,” Perry said. “We are blown away by the hospitality, kindness, fabulous food and joyful time we’ve had here. I would say that this is a family show. I mean, there are some PG-13 moments, but this is a story of a found family, and this is a story of a girl finding herself and finding her strength and finding her identity. It’ll be a great time for everyone.”
To purchase tickets, make a donation or get involved in other ways,
visit solsummertheatre.org