Written by orange• October 15, 2024• 4:40 am• CSUF, fullerton, Musical, Review, Theater, Uncategorized

The Prom @ CSUF – Review

photo credit: Jesús Lopez

Written by Diana Michelle Robles

Cal State Fullerton Theater certainly woo’d its opening night audience with its rendition of The Prom, The Musical.

Story:

As a ploy to spin their bad publicity, four has-been Broadway stars take Emma (Keira Lopez-Ward), an Indiana lesbian, under their wing as they fight for, in no particular order, her right to go to the high school prom with her girlfriend and their careers. This story excels in showing contrast and cohesion. The actors’ out-of-touch exuberance contrasts with the small, conservative community they infiltrate. Yet, Emma and the company of actors quickly weave together through shared experiences ranging from being a LGBTQ+ youth to being an outcast from the community meant to love you.

Acting:

Having been to other CSUF productions, it’s unsurprising that this cast, built of students, is impressive. Despite some undeniable stumbles that we’ll disregard as opening night nerves, this troupe of actors certainly has work to be proud of.

While everyone was decently solid, Logan Cabieles took charge in his role of Barry Glickman, leading not only his fellow actors, but also in overall laughs. Keira Lopez-Ward’s vocals as Emma Nolan were perhaps the best of the best of the night, and she played the part of a mildly-annoyed teenager well.

This is a show that certainly puts the mundane and old-age perspective forward as a way to define the social division between the majority, which is represented by the ensemble, and Emma’s cause. Yet, the ensemble was anything but mundane. They truly made the show the success it was, successfully turning moving parts into a well-oiled machine. Perhaps a show is only as good as its chorus line, after all.

Costumes:

With this being about a prom, it would have been great to see more floor-length gowns, but that, of course, would interfere with the cast’s ability to dance. All of the looks for the Broadway troupe were flashy and over the top in the best way, especially for Ms. Dee Dee Allen (Grace Miguel). I’d have expected nothing less.

Set:

This production was stacked with a variety of sets and props that really made the show exceed expectations. As a college show, they definitely could have gone simple with their production, but they brought out all the stops, and it paid off. The strong set design from scenic designers Carolyn Mraz and Destiny Manewal, along with brilliant lighting design done by Scott Bolman, made it a great show to look at.

Entertainment:

Head into CSUF’s Little Theatre, whether it be in a full gown/tuxedo or jeans/sneakers, for a full night of pure energy. Not only is it hysterical, but it’s also a peek into today’s ever-changing social climate and a testament to the power of tolerance. You might even leave feeling the kids might be alright.