This week is Lake Zurich High School’s spring musical “The Prom – School Edition” at the Lake Zurich Performing Arts Center (LZPAC) at the high school (300 Church St.) for three consecutive days through Saturday, starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday.
Showings of the contemporary musical also take place at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 25, and Saturday, April 26, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Ticket sales are at https://search.seatyourself.biz/webstore/accounts/lzpac/buy-tix.
“The Prom” is based on a book by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin with lyrics by Chad Beguelin and music by Matthew Sklar.
The original Broadway production was directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw and produced for Broadway by Bill Damaschke, Dori Berinstein, and Jack Lane.
The story takes place in Indiana with themes of love, acceptance, and LGBTQ+ rights as a small town high school produces dual prom events (one secret) amid professional actor influences and social media pressure. Lessons are explored as opportunities for humanity to grow and learn, with love bridging gaps.
Faculty member Tom Skobel directs the Lake Zurich High School interpretation.
“The lesson that the audience should take from ‘The Prom’ is that people should build a better world by showing acceptance and valuing everyone’s unique identity,” Skobel said.
Skobel appreciates the professional Broadway-grade stage and auditorium in Lake County.
“The facility helps with the fact we have a lot of fly space and can use that space along with traditional set pieces,” Skobel said.
There have been protests to Midwest school productions of “The Prom” but “no pushback” in Lake Zurich, Skobel said, adding the musical was selected in July of 2024.
“I think we have a very supportive theatre community and very supportive Lake Zurich community so I’m really proud,” Skobel said.
Anna DaValle of Lake Zurich plays Emma Nolan, a lead character, with Amanda Lagerlof-Perez of Lake Zurich, who plays Alyssa Greene, also a lead and Emma’s romantic interest.
Both high school students (Emma and Alyssa) want to attend prom as a couple for their first public date outside of secrecy.
“I’m truly honored to play this character as I relate to her on a personal level,” DaValle said. “As someone who’s a part of the LGBTQ community, I feel that sharing Emma’s story is very important.
“It’s a very nice feeling to know that there are others out there who understand how you feel, and I think that this musical captures that message wonderfully,” DaValle said.
“Through all the glitz and glamour of the show, I have hope that the audience can take away this message of acceptance and love the show as much as I do.”
Lagerlof-Perez, whose pronouns are she/her, said, “I do like girls in real life, I have a girlfriend who’s also in the play so I can relate to (her character) Alyssa in that aspect.”
About the potential for community objections or local protests, “I think a lot of us were worried about that when the show was announced but everybody I’ve talked to has been really supportive and excited about the themes of the play,” Lagerlof-Perez said.
“I think we are really a supportive community,” Lagerlof-Perez said about Lake Zurich. “It’s a show worth seeing.”
Playing a lead part of Trent Oliver, a struggling actor who was educated at a prestigious arts school, is Jack Rough of Hawthorn Woods.
“I am here to have a good time doing a show that I think is important with people I love,” Rough said.
“I think that Trent sometimes values what other people think of him over doing what is right.
“I don’t think we are changing anyone’s minds with this show, if someone is homophobic, they are still going to be homophobic after seeing ‘The Prom.’
“However,” Rough said, “I think it is a good reminder for people who do feel marginalized or alone that there is always joy and love in the world even amongst all the hate.
“There aren’t that many shows that are this much fun and have a powerful message,” Rough added.
“‘The Prom’ is entertaining, heartfelt, exciting and a story that so many of us, especially high schoolers, relate to,” Rough said.
This is the first theatrical show for Aaron Conners of Lake Zurich to direct. Conners doubles as student director and as a cast member playing Kevin, a stereotypical bully who, “gains a deeper understanding of others.
“It may sound cheesy but with everything going on in the world, people really just need to ‘just breathe’ and stop the hatred,” Conners said.
Aarya Patel, stage manager of Hawthorn Woods, said, “I think the themes portrayed in ‘The Prom’ are extremely important and being a part of a production that has the possibility to have a real impact on the audience is extremely meaningful to me.
”One of the major themes of this show is acceptance,” Patel said.
“My hope is that the audience is able to come into this show with an open mind and really allow themselves to connect with its characters and learn from their journey.”
Eileen O’Leary of Lake Zurich, student choreographer and a cast member portraying Kaylee, said, “My character comes to recognize and accept her mistakes and learn from them.
“I hope the audience realizes and takes away how important acceptance is in our community.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
