Producers and co-Presidents of the Prom Committee announced today cast for the upcoming National Tour of the 2019 Drama Desk Award winner for Outstanding Musical The Prom.
The production will star Kaden Kearney as “Emma, High School Student, Banned from the Prom,” Kalyn West as “Alyssa Green, Head of Student Council with a Secret,” Courtney Balan as “Tony Award Winner Dee Dee Allen,” Patrick Wetzel as “Drama Desk Award Winner Barry Glickman,” Emily Borromeo as “Angie Dickinson, Broadway Chorine,” Bud Weber as “Trent Oliver, Esteemed Julliard Graduate/Cater Waiter,” Sinclair Mitchell as “Mr. Hawkins, High School Principal,” Ashanti J’Aria as “Mrs. Greene, President of the PTA” and Shavey Brown as “Sheldon Saperstein, Broadway’s Press Agent with a Plan.”
Rounding out the ensemble are Jordan Alexander, Gabrielle Beckford, Ashley Bruce, Olivia Rose Cece, Maurice Dawkins, Jordan De Leon, Shawn Alynda Fisher, James Caleb Grice, Megan Grosso, Chloe Rae Kehm, Braden Allen King, Brandon J. Large, Christopher McCrewell, Adriana Negron, Lexie Plath, Brittany Nicole Williams, Thad Turner Wilson and Josh Zacher. (See bios for each below)
The hilarious hit Broadway musical comedy, which won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical will run technical rehearsals at the Carson Center in Paducah, KY before officially launching at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, OH on Tuesday, November 2, 2021, followed by a multi-season tour that will visit more than 20 cities in the 2021-22 season. Click here to view the current tour route.
Directed and choreographed by Tony Award® winner Casey Nicholaw (Aladdin, Mean Girls), The Prom features a book by Tony Award® winner Bob Martin (Elf, The Drowsy Chaperone) and Tony Award® nominee Chad Beguelin (Aladdin), music by Tony Award® nominee Matthew Sklar (Elf the Musical) and lyrics by Tony Award® nominee Chad Beguelin with scenic design by Tony Award® winner Scott Pask (The Book of Mormon), costume design by Tony Award® winner Ann Roth (The Book of Mormon) and Matthew Pachtman (The Book of Mormon), lighting design by Tony Award® winner Natasha Katz (Diana: The Musical), sound design by Tony Award® winner Brian Ronan (Mrs. Doubtfire, Mean Girls), wig and hair design by Josh Marquette (Pretty Woman, Means Girls), make-up design by Milagros Medina-Cerdeira (Mean Girls), orchestrations by Tony Award® winner Larry Hochman (Hello, Dolly!), music supervision by Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Mean Girls) and casting by The Telsey Office. The Prom is based on an original concept by Jack Viertel.
The producing team for The Prom includes Bill Damaschke, Dori Berinstein, Jack Lane, NETworks Presentations, Natasha Davison, Merry & Jim Mosbacher, Terry Schnuck, Liz Armstrong, Elizabeth L. Green, Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, Seth A. Goldstein, Jane Dubin, Smedes-Stern-Palitz, Fahs Productions, Joe Grandy, Don & Nancy Ross, Three Belles & A Bob, Instone Productions, Fakler-Silver, Arment-Tackel, Cliff Hopkins, Larry & Elizabeth Lenke Christopher Ketner, The John Gore Organization, Nancy & Ken Kranzberg, Independent Presenters Network, Mark Lonlow & JoAnne Astrow, Iris Smith, Wallace-ATxRandomProductions, Garris-Morris-Masie Productions, Judith Manocherian The Shubert Organization, Karen DeVerna & Jeremiah J. Harris, Fox Theatricals, Adrienne Blackman and Heidi & Stephen Distante.
The Prom made its world premiere at The Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, GA, Susan V. Booth, Artistic Director, in 2016, and played its final performance at the Longacre Theatre on Broadway on August 11, 2019 after playing 23 previews and 310 regular performances.
Cast Bios
KADEN KEARNEY (Emma). National tour debut! Regional: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck); One Man, Two Guvnors (Rachel); Agent 355 (Mary/Robert), Chautauqua Theatre Co. TV: Prodigal Son (Fox). Training: UC Irvine (MFA Acting), Cal State Long Beach (BA Theatre). Heaps of gratitude to their teachers, classmates, family, and team. For Mimi.
KALYN WEST (Alyssa Green). Broadway: The Prom (Shelby, u/s Emma, Alyssa). Off-Broadway: Gigantic (Marlie). National Tour: Mean Girls. NY: Nikola Tesla Drops the Beat (Kat Johnson, AFT), The Demise (Natalie, NYMF), PopStar (Katie, Alchemy Theater Productions). Regional: The Gardens of Anuncia (Younger Anuncia, The Old Globe), Moby Dick (Stubb, ART), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Esmeralda, Fulton), The Prince of Egypt (Ensemble, TheatreWorks), In the Heights (Vanessa, Fulton), Rent (Mimi, Casa Mañana), Back Home Again (Aggie, Lesher Center), The Music Man (Zaneeta, Flatrock Playhouse), ASS by Ellen Simon (Ana, Pioneer Theatre Company). TV/Film: Blue Bloods (Rachel, CBS), Imitation Girl (Gabby, Ilium Pictures). @misskurlykay, http://www.kalynwest.com
COURTNEY BALAN (Dee Dee Allen) is an original Broadway cast member of The Prom and is thrilled to be bringing this beautiful story across the US. Other original Broadway companies: Finding Neverland, Title of Show, Cry-Baby, In My Life, and the 2016 revival of Falsettos. Off-Broadway: I Love You, You’re Perfect Now Change, I Love You Because, Unexpected Joy, Rated P, The Marvelous Wonderettes. Regional: The Humans (Aimee Blake, Pittsburgh Public), Funny Girl (Fanny/Riverside, FL), Into the Woods (Baker’s Wife, Alliance, Atlanta), The Little Mermaid (Ursula, Argyle, NY), Company (Amy, Pittsburgh Public), The Music Man (Marian, CT Rep), Oklahoma! (Ado Annie, OK Lyric), The Odyssey (Penelope & Circe, ArtPark, NY), Urinetown (Pennywise, Theatre Raleigh). Original cast albums: The Prom, Finding Neverland, Unexpected Joy, Rated P, I Love You Because. A proud graduate of the University of Michigan musical theatre department, a proud member of Actors Equity Association, and a proud Jersey Girl. http://www.courtneybalan.com. As always, for Jason, Mom and Dad.
PATRICK WETZEL (Barry Glickman). Broadway: All About Me, Spamalot, The Drowsy Chaperone, Thou Shalt Not, The Producers, Annie Get Your Gun, and Ain’t Broadway Grand (debut). Also Broadway: Tuck Everlasting (Associate Director), Aladdin (Asst. Resident Director), Something Rotten! (Stage Manager), and Frozen (Stage Manager). National Tours: Billy Elliot (Mr. Braithwaite, Helen Hayes nom.), Cinderella (with Eartha Kitt), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (with Donny Osmond). Regional: Bay Street Theater, NC Theater, North Shore Music Theater. TV/Film: The Prom (with Meryl Streep), The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete (with Jennifer Hudson), A Christmas Carol (with Jim Carrey), The Producers. Agent: CGF Talent.
EMILY BORROMEO (Angie Dickinson). Broadway/National Tour: School of Rock. Off-Broadway: Broadway Bounty Hunter (Joe Iconis). TV: Host of Sunny Side Up, a preschool series (Emmy nom.; Sprout/NBCUniversal), Tell Me a Story (CBS), Sneaky Pete (Amazon), The Jim Gaffigan Show (TV Land), The Sing-Off (NBC). California native and Brown University graduate. Thanks to The Prom team, Telsey, and Henderson Hogan. Endless love to Ellis, my family, and friends. For my mom, Angie who always encouraged my “Zazz”! @emilyborromeo
BUD WEBER (Trent Oliver) is thrilled to be going to The Prom across the country! Credits: The Book of Mormon (Broadway, 1st National Tour, New Zealand), Something Rotten! (Broadway), Aladdin (Broadway), Wicked (Broadway, 1st National Tour). Thanks to Ross at A3 Artists, Tom who is the best prom date, and his friends and family for their continued love and support.
SINCLAIR MITCHELL (Mr. Hawkins) is honored to be a part of this amazingly enlightening and inclusive show. Broadway: The Lion King. Off-Broadway: The Emperor Jones (Irish Rep), Harlem Song (Apollo Theater). National Tour: School of Rock, The Producers, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (starring Ann-Margret). CCM Grad. Olympic Torch Bearer, ’96 Games. Thank you to About Artists Agency. Love to Joey. God Bless.
ASHANTI J’ARIA (Mrs. Greene) is a NYC native and Fordham University graduate. Select Broadway/Off-Broadway: Saturday Night Fever, Disaster, Last Smoker in America, Chicken and Biscuits. Ms. J’Aria has toured with Legendary artists, Gloria Gaynor, and Ronnie Spector. Select TV: Katy Keene, FBI’s Most Wanted, and Family Matters. In December, catch her as Maya in the feature film Maya and Her Lover released by 1091.tv on a streaming site TBA.
SHAVEY BROWN (Sheldon Saperstein) is so excited to be going to prom again! National/International Tour: My Fair Lady, Dreamgirls (Curtis). Off-Broadway: Smokey Joe’s Cafe, The Fantasticks (El Gallo). Regional: The Old Globe, Ahmanson, American Conservatory Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Walnut Street Theatre, Ordway Theatre. Film/TV: The Blacklist, Vinyl (HBO), The Only Living Boy in New York. Thanks to the Telsey and the whole creative team, WAM, friends, family, God, my Josh and our two boys. IG: @shaveybrown
JORDAN ALEXANDER (Ensemble) National tour debut! Regional: Pittsburgh CLO, Pioneer Theatre Company. TV: Inventing Anna (Netflix), Nora from Queens (Comedy Central). Special thanks to Telsey, DGRW, and Mom! BFA University of Cincinnati – CCM. @JordnAlexander
GABRIELLE BECKFORD (Ensemble) is a Queens native. Regional: Crowns (Yolanda, McCarter Theatre Center/Longwharf Theatre), Gloria: A Life (Fedna, McCarter Theatre Center/American Repertory Theatre), Nina Simone: Four Women (Sweet Thing, Alabama Shakespeare Festival), Hair (Leatta, Geva Theatre Center), and All Shook Up (Ensemble, u/s Sylvia; Laguna Beach Playhouse). Repertory Theatre: Aida (Nehebka), Hairspray (Dynamite #1), Big River (Alice’s Daughter), and Sister Act (Tina, Nun #2, Go Go Dancer) at the Pagosa Springs Center for the Arts.
ASHLEY BRUCE (Ensemble) National Tour: Jersey Boys (Mary Delgado). Regional/Other: Saturday Night Fever (Stephanie Mangano), Beauty and The Beast (Belle), Cinderella (Cinderella). TV: “Thanksgiving Day Wellness campaign” (GMA), The Paul O’Grady Show (ITV Studios), Dear Green Place (BBC Studios). Endless gratitude to Telsey + Co and the entire team at The Prom. http://www.ashleybruce.com
OLIVIA ROSE CECE (Ensemble) a dancer originally from Rhode Island, is thrilled to be joining The Prom. BFA, Pace Commercial Dance. National Tour: Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. TV/Film: So You Think You Can Dance, Disney’s Better Nate Than Ever, Nickelodeon’s Blues Clues & You, Saturday Night Live, and more! Thanks to her amazing family, boyfriend, and teachers, who have all guided her and helped her reach new mountains!
MAURICE DAWKINS (Ensemble) National Tours: Cats (Coricopat, u/s Mistoffelees). Regional/Ship: Newsies the Musical, Cats, Mamma Mia!, and South Pacific. Proud alumni of Sarah Lawrence College and LaGuardia High School. He’s grateful to the people who’ve fostered his artistic and human growth throughout the years. Much love to his mom, his partner, Laura, and to his cats, Mr. Business and Luna!
JORDAN De LEON (Swing) National tour debut! Select Regional: The 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle Rep, The Muny, PCLO, DCPA, Pasadena Playhouse, Syracuse Stage, KC Starlight, STAGES St. Louis. CCM. The Price Group. For Jennie and my team. Instagram: jordan_deleon_
SHAWN ALYNDA FISHER (Ensemble) can’t wait to go to The Prom again! National Tour: Fela! (u/s Sandra) Favorite Regional: The Music Man (Zanetta Shinn, Goodspeed Opera House), Bring It On: The Musical (Swing, Alliance Theatre premier), Anne of Green Gables: A New Folk Rock Musical (Dance Captain, the Rev), and Chicago (Maltz Jupiter). A Kansas native and KSU graduate: BA in biology and dance. Much gratitude to her family, friends, and The Mine! To God be the glory! Matthew 5:16. @shawnalynda
JAMES CALEB GRICE (Ensemble) is honored to be making his national tour debut in The Prom! Regional: West Side Story (Chino, VA Repertory). Richmond, VA native and University of Richmond graduate. For Mom. Endless love to Clay, Dad, and Malou. @jamescalebgrice
MEGAN GROSSO (Ensemble) is beyond excited to be making her national tour debut! Regional: Dames at Sea (Ruby), Crazy for You. BFA, The Chicago College of Performing Arts. Endless gratitude for the entire Prom team, Telsey + Co, and my teachers. Love and hugs to my family. @m_grosso
CHLOE RAE KEHM (Ensemble) National tour debut! Pittsburgh CLO: Grease, Oklahoma!, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Brigadoon, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Infinite thanks to CESD, Telsey, and The Prom creative team. Love to family and those who made this possible. @chloeraekehm
BRADEN ALLEN KING (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making his national tour debut! Pre-Broadway Lab: The Music Man. Regional: Newsies the Musical (Axelrod), Billy Elliot (Atwood Concert Hall, Lesher Center for the Arts). All his love to Mom, Dad, Tyler, Caroline, Lindsay, and all his teachers/mentors who have supported him along the way. Special shoutout to Rick. IG: @bradenallenking
BRANDON J. LARGE (Ensemble) is thrilled to go to The Prom after no senior festivities and an on-screen year at Columbia U! Credits: Mr. Robinson (NBC Universal); albums with Josh Groban, Rod Stewart, Red Hot Chili Peppers; Next On Stage Season 2 (BroadwayWorld.com, Top 10). Thanks to Steven at Connor Ankrum & Associates, family, PAC, VNHS. @brandonjlarge
CHRISTOPHER McCREWELL (Ensemble) is ecstatic to be making his national tour debut with this show about love and acceptance. Favorite credits: Children of Eden (Father) and Sister Act. Forever grateful to his family, friends, FSE, Bethany and Telsey + Co for all of their support.
ADRIANA NEGRON (Ensemble) is thrilled to be joining The Prom! Favorite credits: Cats (Rumpleteazer, National Tour), West Side Story (Anita, Tokyo), and A Chorus Line (Diana Morales, Shanghai premier). BFA Musical Theater, Montclair State. Adriana would like to thank her family for their support! @_adriananegron
LEXIE PLATH (Swing) National Tours: Cats (Bombalurina), Bullets Over Broadway (Ensemble), Anything Goes (Virtue). Regional: A Chorus Line (Val, Arvada Center), Bullets Over Broadway (Ogunquit Playhouse), Guys & Dolls (Fulton Theatre). BFA Western Michigan University. To my family, love you mean it. Instagram: @lexie.plath
BRITTANY NICOLE WILLIAMS (Ensemble) is overjoyed to be back on stage! National Tours: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, A Bronx Tale. Regional: Mamma Mia! (Arkansas Repertory Theater), Annie Get Your Gun (Westchester Broadway Theatre). Alumnus, The Ailey School and AMDA NY. Thanks to God, my family, Telsey + Co, and The Prom team! IG: @brittany_nicolew
THAD TURNER WILSON (Ensemble) NYC/Broadway: Billy Elliot, Radio City Christmas Spectacular. National Tour: Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Billy Elliot, The Producers. Thanks to Casey and creative team, Telsey + Co, Craig Holzberg, and Avalon Artists. For Mike and Mom.
JOSH ZACHER (Ensemble) is from Indiana and elated to be going to The Prom! National Tour: A Chorus Line, The Elf on the Shelf (OTC). Regional: West Side Story (Ordway), Footloose (REV), Newsies the Musical (TBTS), Young Frankenstein (NSMT). Endless love and thanks to his amazing friends and family! BFA: NYU/Tisch. http://www.josh-zacher.com, @dancingdudejz