Tony nominated musical ‘The Prom’ playing at East Hawai’i Cultural Center in Hilo

The Hilo Education Arts Repertory Theatre is presenting “The Prom,” the outrageous and heart-warming musical comedy that was the recipient of seven Tony Award nominations.

“The Prom” will run through April 2 at the East Hawaiʻi Cultural Center in Hilo. It plays Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m.  with Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.hearthilo.org. “The Prom” already has sold out several of its performances and has extended twice in order to  accommodate the incredible demand for tickets.  

The Hilo Educational Arts Repertory Theatre, known as HEART, was responsible for the recent sold out productions of “The Lion King,” “Jr.,” “Cabaret,” “Avenue Q” and “, JR., CABARET, “Beauty and the Beast.”

“The Prom” follows four Broadway stars who are in desperate need of  some good publicity. So when they hear that trouble is brewing around a  small-town Indiana prom, and the press is involved, they know that it’s time to put a spotlight on the issue … and themselves.

The town’s parents want to keep the dance on the “straight” and narrow, but when one student wants to bring her girlfriend to prom, the entire town has a date with destiny. Now, Broadway’s brassiest are coming to small-town-Indiana to join the fight as they kick-ball-change the world.

The cast of 35 performers stars:

• Sam Deitch as Emma, the high school student banned from the prom
• Tyler DelaCruz as Alyssa, head of the student council with a secret
• Erin Smith as Tony Award winner Dee Dee Allen
• Kimo Apaka as Drama Desk Award winner Barry Glickman
• Cori  Lynne as Angie, a Broadway chorine
• Danny Randerson as Trent, esteemed Juilliard graduate/cater waiter
• Vince Zamora as Mr. Hawkins, high school principal
• Cynthia Jeffrey as Mrs. Greene, president of the PTA
• Zayne Paresa as Sheldon, Broadway’s press agent with a plan.

Rounding out the principal cast are HEART Artistic Director, Charles Bankhead Haines and Yisa Var, who both play multiple roles. 

The show is directed by HEART Executive Director Larry Reitzer, with choreography by Jason Aiwohi-Tomlin and musical and vocal direction by Haines.  

“ ‘The Prom,’ which is one of the funniest musicals I have ever seen is based on a true story that inspires everyone to accept each other’s differences while encourages people to be the person (or star) they were meant to be,” Reitzer said. “It’s a big, old fashioned musical comedy with show stopping dance numbers that will have people leaving the theatre with a song in their heart and confetti in their hair.”