Prom

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Rob Matsushita

Helena (Kelly Maxwell) decides she's not going to her high school prom after all. Rob Matsushita's "Prom" runs March 1-23 at Broom Street Theater.

A world premiere from playwright Rob Matsushita, this production examines a classic American rite of passage — the high school prom — from a series of unique perspectives. Over a series of short, two-person scenes, teachers, parents and students tell their stories, weaving together a narrative that's equal parts funny, serious, sexy and strange. Through March 23.

press release: Broom Street Theater is proud to present Prom, the new play by Rob Matsushita. Prom is a slice-of life series of shorts--some funny, some serious, some sexy, some strange--all somewhat connected to the 2018 Claymore High Senior Prom, in Claymore, New Jersey.

Prom opens March 1 and runs through March 23, with performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm. In celebration of Broom Street Theater's 50th Anniversary Jubilee Season, there is no admission fee. The theater will solicit a Pay What You Can donation. 

This will be Matsushita's 16th play to have its World Premiere at Broom Street Theater. When asked why he was interested in setting a play at a high school prom, Rob replied, "For the past couple of years, I've worked as a school photographer, going from different school to different school, taking class photos, overhearing conversations, talking with teachers, students, parents, thinking back to my own high school years, and I really wanted to write something in that world."

Prom is directed by Kathy Lynn Sliter with assistance from Isabella Anastasia Leigh. The cast includes some of Madison's finest actors, including Damon Butler, Sarah Edlund,  Stacey Garbarski, Abby Graf, Nick Kaprelian, Sydney Kleinholz, Sean Langenecker, Kelly Maxwell, Amy May, Doug Reed, Rachel Seizer, and Lon Tremain-Woodcock. Bob Moore designed the sets, Jenni Schwaner Ladd designed the costumes, and Taylor Kokinos designed the lights. 

Prom is structured as a series of short, two-person scenes - some in flashback, some with parents, some with students, some with teachers - giving a kaleidoscopic view of the whole event. Matsushita cites A.R. Gurney's The Dining Room as an inspiration "in which a group of people play various characters, in different dining rooms in different time periods. What fascinated me about this as a kid was it was the first time I watched a series of short that deliberately didn't conclude--they would just end, like time's up, sucker. It added this whole level of preciousness to each story, realizing that at any moment, the story might end."

Broom Street Theater, founded in 1969, is proud to announce that in celebration of our Fiftieth anniversary season, we are declaring a year of jubilee. Admission to all shows will be free in 2019. 

Artistic Director Doug Reed said, "Broom Street has always been about breaking down barriers and making the theater accessible. Storytelling is humankind’s oldest art form and live theater belongs to everyone. In that spirit, we're getting rid of the gatekeeper. If there’s naught in your pockets but some lint and an old Jolly Rancher - come on in and see the show!"

It's been our joy and privilege to bring locally-grown original theater to Madison for the last 50 years, and we look forward to the next 50.

Reed did add a few caveats, "Should you choose to contribute, we’ll still pass a basket before every show, and we'll still make the tired old joke about going to church. We may sell a very few capitalist premium seats per show. Plus, there is a PayPal button on our website."

Broom Street Theater is a non-profit, member-controlled theater located in Madison, Wisconsin. BST volunteers and staff foster artistic freedom, growth, and expression through non-traditional experimental and/or original artistic forms.