The National Alliance for Musical Theatre will hold its 29th annual Festival of New Musicals on October 19 and 20 at New World Stages. Prom Queen, by Kent Staines (book), Akiva Romer-Segal (lyrics), and Colleen Dauncey (music), is one of eight new musicals this year.
Tell us about your show!
Prom Queen is inspired by the incredible, true story of Marc Hall, the Canadian teenager who took the Catholic School Board to court when they refused to let him attend prom with his boyfriend. In this fun and uplifting musical, Marc has to learn to be his own hero and fight for the right to be himself.
Describe the sound of your musical, it's like _____ meets _____:
It's like Hairspray meets Dear Evan Hansen!
What was the first musical that made you want to make musicals?
Colleen Dauncey: It was absolutely West Side Story. My parents took me to see a touring production of the show as a kid and I was mesmerized. Such a beautiful balance of incredible writing and raw emotion, and still a favourite of mine to this day!
Kent Staines: Growing up gay I was obsessed with all things Barbra Streisand, starting with Funny Girl. That show remains a favourite.
Akiva Romer-Segal: My obsession with musicals started with a steady diet of Into the Woods, Ragtime and The Secret Garden.
Who is your favorite classic musical theater composer/writer? And your favorite composer/writer working today?
Colleen: Classic - Leonard Bernstein. Contemporary - Pasek & Paul.
Kent: Classic - Stephen Sondheim. Contemporary - Stephen Sondheim.
Akiva: Classic - Stephen Sondheim. Contemporary - Lin-Manuel Miranda
Why is it important to bring your show to NAMT?
After a successful premiere production of Prom Queen at the Segal Centre in Montreal, we're eager to take it to the next level, in terms of development, attracting commercial interest and reaching a broader audience.
What's next for the show?
We hope we get a chance to share this inspiring true Canadian story with America and the rest of the world!
For more information on NAMT visit: http://www.namt.org/
PROM QUEEN book by Kent Staines, lyrics by Akiva Romer-Segal, music by Colleen Dauncey
Director: Lonny Price (Broadway: Sunset Boulevard) and Matt Cowart (Asst Dir: Broadway: Sunset Boulevard)
Cast includes: English Bernhardt (Broadway: If/Then), Alphonse Gonzales, John Hillner (Broadway: La Cage aux Folles), Taylor Iman Jones (Broadway: Groundhog Day), Chilina Kennedy (Broadway: Beautiful), Chris McCarrell (Broadway: Les Mis. NY: The Lightning Thief), Iris Sharp and Max Wilcox (NY: Gigantic)
