New Jersey school reverses ban on LGBTQ musical ‘The Prom’

A New Jersey high school that attempted to cancel an adaptation of the lesbian musical The Prom has u-turned following social media backlash.

Cedar Grove High School alum and music department staff member Rebecca Altschul shared on Instagram that the school’s The Prom production was facing threats of cancellation due to “community concerns” over the themes and content of the show.

The Prom, a Tony-nominated musical that has been adapted into a Netflix film by Ryan Murphy starring Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, follows a lesbian high-schooler who wants to go to the prom with her girlfriend much to the horror of the school’s conservative PTA board. 

“After seeing [The Prom] a few years ago and learning that it was now available for schools to produce, the students themselves chose this musical,” Altschul posted to Instagram. 

Altschul added that the musical theatre program has run for two decades under the same director but this was the first time any of the content of a proposed show had been questioned.

Altschul explained: “We secured the rights, paid for the materials, and announced the show to students but have now hit a bump in our normal road.”

“The students, who feel this show is a representation of themselves and were so excited to have a chance to work on it, are now obviously a mix of devastated and angry at the news,” Altschul added, encouraging people to voice their concerns over the school’s stance.

Josh Lamon, an actor in the original stage production of The Prom, shared Altschul’s statement in a sign of solidarity with his own Instagram post that took fire at the school’s decision: “This is infuriating and deeply homophobic. There is nothing inappropriate in or about the show.”

“You can amplify and spread the word. These kids deserve to do this show that they have worked hard for,” Lamon continued. “These kids deserve to know that they are seen and that this kind of hatred is wrong.”

After facing mounting criticism the Essex County school district retracted their censoring decision and, in a statement with NJ.com, announced the school will stage a “High School Edition” of The Prom “that has been modified by its creators for family audiences.”

“After further inquiry with the licensing organisation, we were informed that a High School Edition of The Prom just became available,” said Cedar Grove Superintendent Anthony Grosso said in a statement. “Therefore, Cedar Grove Public Schools fully supports producing the High School Edition of the musical The Prom, which was not previously available at the time of licensing.”

Altschul’s thanked everyone for the production’s supporters and shared that “the show will go on… see you all in March to build a prom!”

The Prom is available to stream on Netflix.