What Can You Expect When You Go to THE PROM?

Gary Panetta of The Peoria Journal Star wrote an article about what to expect when you attend THE AWESOME 80s PROM.  Here is a copy in case you missed it.

Backstage:  Are you ready to party like it’s the 1980’s?

 By GARY PANETTA (gpanetta@pjstar.com)

Journal Star

Posted Aug 01, 2010 @ 01:01 AM

Get ready to do your best moonwalk.

“The Awesome 80s Prom” is coming.

The show, which runs 6:30 p.m. Aug. 6 and 7 at The Waterhouse, is less like a conventional stage show and more like a nonstop party.

Audience members are encouraged to don their best 1980s retro look as they dance, drink, joke and otherwise interact with a cast of 16 local performers who are trying their hardest to simulate an authentic 1989-style prom at the appropriately named Wanaget High School.

There are speeches, prom nominations, a coronation, announcements, scads of 1980s era music and lots of improvised comedy put on by the usual round of high school stock characters: The Nerd (Tyler McIntyre), the Football Player (Brandon Cheney), the Spaz (Lindsey Cheney), the Drama Queen (Nyk Sutter), the Head Cheerleader (Brit Christensen), the Class President (Kip Burroughs) and so forth.

The show is directed and produced by Wade Dooley and Andrew Driscoll. Driscoll is the owner of The Waterhouse Inc., located on 619 SW Water St., Suite B. Dooley is a former community theater player who is trying to build a professional career in New York City, where he works as a swing actor in an off-Broadway production of the show, which has been running there for about five years.

The rights for “The Awesome 80s Prom” recently became available, and Dooley thought the show would work well in Peoria – a reasonable gamble, considering that Lite Rock 107 has been broadcasting its own Awesome ’80s Weekend for what seems like an eternity.

In any event, “The Awesome 80s Prom” is a big departure from typical musical theater where audience members are simply expected to sit and silently watch. Participation is crucial and the show often works best when people attend in groups. In fact, in New York City “The Awesome 80s Prom” often attracts bachelorette parties or people celebrating birthdays.

“It’s something fun and very different to go to,” Dooley said. “This isn’t a typical theater experience. At this show, you’re encouraged to stand up and dance. In New York most of the people stand the whole time and they’re dancing and interacting with the characters. The more you interact, the better the show is – because the story is going on around you and you have to be observant and pay attention to what’s happening.”

PCT Goes Back In Time With “The Awesome 80s Prom!”

Peoria Cabaret Theatre is stoked to present The Awesome 80s Prom, August 6^th and 7^th, 2010,   directed by Wade Dooley!

The Awesome 80s Prom is a blast-from-the-past party in the style of Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding set at Wanaget High’s Senior Prom… in 1989!    All your favorite characters from your favorite ’80s movies are at THE PROM, from the Captain of the Football Team to the Rebel, from the Geek to the hottie Head Cheerleader, and they’re all competing for Prom King and Queen. And just like on “American Idol”, the audience decides who wins, all while moonwalking to retro hits like “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go!”  Come “Back In Time”, to quote a Huey Lewis tune, and join the breakdance circle or just sit back and watch the ’80s drama unfold.

The Awesome 80s Prom has productions in New York City, Chicago, Minneapolis and Baltimore and has been featured on NBC’s “TheToday Show”, CBS’s “The Early Show”, “Fox 5 News” and Fuji Television as well as in print in The New York Times, The NY Daily News, New York Magazine, Playgirl, and many others.   www.awesome80sprom.com (NY Production)

The Awesome 80s Prom – This time you don’t have a curfew!