On November 7, 8, and 9, 2025, the Centennial Arts Center (C.A.C.) Hammet Ory Theatre debuted its opening with the musical The Prom. Directed by Shelley Bolman P’27, alongside musical direction by Michael Bennett and choreography by Patrick John O’Neill, the students produced a sensational rendition of The Prom. From the cast to the crew, each member of the team of Concord Academy students who made the show possible was cast into the limelight, showcasing their talent and piecing the vision to life.
The Prom, a musical based on the true story of Constance McMillen, is a comedy focused on the teenage lesbian Emma, a high school student in a conservative Indiana town who is banned from bringing her girlfriend to the prom. When faced with resistance to this prohibition from the principal, the Parent-Teacher Association (P.T.A.) cancels the event entirely. Hearing of her story, four out-of-work Broadway stars seeking to revive their careers and reputation rush to the town in the name of “making the world a better place.” Conflict, love, acceptance, and more follow.
As this show is the first in the C.A.C., The Prom was chosen for various reasons, and Bennett remarked, “We wanted to open up the C.A.C. with a big joyful celebrat[ory] musical, and this show does that, with it being full of energy. The music is fun, and it’s also a celebration of Broadway and has a meta aspect in that regard.”
Bolman added, “We also wanted to make a message through this musical.”
In the same sentiment, Bennett shared, “Shelley [Bolman] likes to always ask: ‘Why this show now?’ … We think about what goes on in the world and what art pieces can respond to that.”
This is true in their goal for what the audience takes away from the show. Bolman set in the Director’s Note on the program, “I hope this production, like Concord Academy’s mission statement, reminds us that equity is not a destination but a process. The students at CA, through their adaptability, compassion, and courage, are showing us how it’s done. Let us keep supporting them as they fight for justice in this tumultuous world.” As Shelley puts it, this show is important, especially now, when rights for all kinds of people are being threatened.
Bolman and Bennett describe the show in three words: queer, joy, and resistance — a perfect summary of the themes present in the musical. The Prom is an example of a debutante gone right, a mix of glitz and glamor with more serious and relatable themes. The musical is one that everyone can enjoy, and an exemplary beginning to many more shows in the new theatre.