A New Jersey school district has allowed a local high school to put on an adaptation of The Prom after social media backlash.
On 13 October, Cedar Grove High School alum Rebecca Altschul took to Instagram and revealed that the school’s Spring production was facing cancellation due to “community concern.”
“After seeing [The Prom] a few years ago and learning that it was now available for schools to produce, the students themselves chose this musical,” she explained.
“We secured the rights, paid for the materials, and announced the show to the students but have now hit a bump in our normal road.
“For a program that has run for over 20 years under the same director and never had any question of content for any show in the past, this is a first.”
According to a report from NJ.com, the Essex County School District received complaints over the show’s “inappropriate” content and themes.
For those unaware, the critically-acclaimed Broadway play follows four has-been actors travelling to a conservative Indiana town to help a lesbian high school student bring her girlfriend to prom.
Shortly after Altschul’s post was uploaded, students, parents, and community members rallied to support the school’s theatre program.
Even Josh Lamon, who starred in the original production of the beloved show, criticised the school district’s decision in his own social media statement.
View this post on Instagram
“This is infuriating and deeply homophobic. There is nothing inappropriate in or about the show. You can attend the BOE meeting Tuesday to let your voice be heard,” he wrote.
“You can amplify and spread the word. These kids deserve to do this show that they have worked hard for. These kids deserve to know that they are seen and that this kind of hatred is wrong.”
Fortunately for Altschul and the students involved in the production, Cedar Grove Superintendent Anthony Grosso reversed the cancellation decision on 14 October.
“After further inquiry with the licensing organisation, we were informed that a High School Edition of the of The Prom just became available,” he said.
“Therefore, Cedar Grove Public Schools fully supports producing the High School Edition of the musical The Prom, which was not previously available at the time of licensing.”
In response to the joyous news, Altschul took to Instagram and thanked the production’s various supporters.
“Thank you so much to everyone for your support…see you all in March to build a prom,” she wrote.
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