OHS theater to put on 'The Prom'

Apr. 10—OTTUMWA — Ottumwa High School theater director Jeff Leonard gets pretty excited any time students get ready for their fall or spring performances.

This year, though, seemed to carry a little more excitement.

Saturday and Sunday, the theater department will be performing the school edition of "The Prom," which is based on a true story. The play is about a gay high school student from Indiana named Emma who wants to take her girlfriend to prom and is shunned by her friends and the local parent teacher association. Behind the scenes, four washed-up Broadway performers scan social media to find a cause to contribute to, and they come across Emma's plight.

The Broadway show was nominated for six Tony Awards in 2019, and the film version is currently on Netflix. The story is based loosely on a 2010 prom controversy in the Itawamba County School District in Mississippi.

"So I fell in love with the Netflix version of this movie and I thought, 'Wow, if we could get this on stage at the high school ...'" Leonard said Tuesday. "It's very high-energy with very vivid colors and great dancing.

"I knew the kids would love it."

So far, that has been the case. The theater department has worked for four months on the show.

"They've loved the process," he said. "We're now at show week, and any burnout has been replaced with excitement."

The school edition of the play closely follows the original, but some language has been cut out, as well as "sensitive areas," Leonard said. One of the goals of the performance, said OHS principal Shelley Bramschreiber, is to shine a light on inclusivity toward all students.

"There's a theme about anti-bullying, and one of the big things we talk a lot about in school is how we treat others with respect, and that kids don't have to be like you," she said. "We don't all have the same beliefs.

"The lesson of acceptance is very important for teenagers today."

Leonard noted there is also a biblical element to the show. One of the musical numbers is about the Golden Rule of "loving neighbors as yourself."

"The show isn't as much about a gay student that wants to invite her girlfriend. That's just the catalyst," he said. "It's acceptance. It's treating people with respect."

The OHS show features 22 cast members. One of the lead characters had to drop out of the show, and Central College freshman Mason Farrington has filled in as Principal Hawkins.

"Mason has been driving back from Pella, sometimes daily, to make rehearsals, and we're really grateful for that. He's done a fabulous job, as are all the kids," Leonard said. "His first time on stage was during '11 O'Clock' (last spring), and he has just jumped in head first.

"It's so exciting for me to see students that have really embraced and fell in love with theater the way they have. So I hope this will stick with them beyond this, wherever they end up."

The show is two acts, and runs about 2 hours, 15 minutes. Shows will be 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students, and is cashless, so those attending will need to pay by debit or credit card.

Also, $1 of each ticket sale will go toward the OHS prom this year.

"Hopefully we'll get this place full. We have 1,000 seats in here now, brand-new lighting," Leonard said. "We're just excited to get to do this. It's very vibrant, great characters. There's a couple sad moments, but mostly I just want people to come and get ready to laugh, maybe dance with the cast at the end of the show.

"And it's the prom," he said. "Everyone remembers their prom."