Artist Spotlight

"The Prom" comes to The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts for an eight-performance run April 26 to May 1 as part of the theater's

2021-22 Broadway Series. PHOTO COURTESY DEEN VAN MEER

Musical

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In “The Prom” some fading but narcissistic Broadway stars Dee Dee Allen and Barry Glickman, along with downon-his-luck actor Trent Oliver and lifelong chorus girl Angie Dickinson (not the real Angie Dickinson), decide they need a new stage and a cause. They discover, via Twitter, that trouble is brewing around a small-town Indiana prom as a student named Emma Nolan wants to bring her girlfriend, Alyssa Greene. The PTA cancels the prom. Dee Dee et al roll into town to inspire action for Emma.

West has the role of Alyssa in the touring show, after being the understudy for Emma and Alyssa on Broadway while also playing the role of Shelby, a “mean girl,” in the ensemble.

“It was my Broadway debut,” West said of “The Prom.” “It was a wild ride. I fell in love with the show from the very beginning.”

Just recently, however, “We’ve seen so much anti-LBTQ -legislation still getting passed. It’s a very big problem actually.”

At least “The Prom” has been described as a musical with a big heart.

Alyssa has her own problems as the story unfolds. At the beginning of “The Prom” she hasn’t come out, and her mother, Mrs. Greene, just happens to be the head of the PTA horrified by the prospect of a student inviting a same sex date to the prom. Alyssa’s father, meanwhile, abandoned the family a long time ago.

So Alyssa’s relationship with Emma is in for some possible denials and breakups before all can be well.

“I think she’s brave ... She’s been told that who she is wrong. I really respect her. I respect her humanity in her failures and successes,” West said. “For a time she doesn’t rise to the occasion and I respect that. It’s a human journey and she does rise to what’s important.”

West is originally from Salt Lake City

"The Prom" is coming to the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, as part of the venue's Broadway Series. PHOTO COURTESY DEEN VAN MEER

Musical

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and graduated from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.

“I did not grow up in a religious household but growing up in Utah I was very inundated with Mormon culture,” she said.

Asked if she could have seen a similar scenario to “The Prom” happening during the time she was in high school, West replied, “Oh for sure. I hate saying that. I knew kids who were disowned by their family when they came out. Unfortunately, that’s a big thing.”

On the road with the show, audience members have shared some of their similar experiences with the cast, West said.

“The Prom” tries to look for the inherent good in people.

“What this does quite beautifully, it weaves the humanity with the stereotypes so that’s not all you see and everyone learns something. I think its got a really cool balance of that,” West said.

And with the big heart comes funny scenes, especially involving the Broadway actors looking for a bit of a spotlight for themselves as well as Emma, and big musical numbers.

“The show has a really cool balance of classical musical theater comedy mixed with contemporary pop styles,” West said.

“The Prom” has impressive-looking creative credentials with direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw (”Mean Girls,” “The Book of Mormon”), a book by Bob Martin (”The Drowsy Chaperone”) and Chad Beguelin (”Aladdin”), music by Matthew Sklar (”Elf ”) and lyrics by Beguelin. The show was also made into 2020 Netflix movie.

As an actor, singer and dancer, West had graduated from Weber State University in 2013 with double bachelors degrees in musical theater and anthropology. Her goal was to move to New York City and audition for shows, but “I wanted to get my Equity card before I went out there,” she said.

Being an official member of Equity, the actors’ union, doesn’t automatically win you a role but it does make life easier in actually getting you into a theater to be seen for a try out.

Shortly after graduation she was cast in Salt Lake Acting Company’s former annual musical satire “Saturday’s Voyeur” and received her Equity card from the company.

“Once I got my card the only thing standing in my way was getting a plane ticket,” West said.

On the other hand, “I didn’t have an apartment, didn’t have job.”

She flew out to New York and stayed with a friend for a few days.

“Within a week I had a job and an apartment. It really worked out for me but that was a crazy time. I worked in so many restaurants, I was a host, a server; I did real estate for a hot minute; I taught fitness.”

She also went to lots of auditions. “I have been fortunate to be working as an actor fairly consistently,” she said.

West’s credits include the first national tour of “Mean Girls” and the rock musical comedy “Gigantic” on OffBroadway. On TV she’s been seen in “Blue Bloods” (CBS).

“ ‘The Prom’ was the hardest thing I’ve ever done but it was a dream come true,” she said about getting onto Broadway.

But that kinetic dancing choreographed by Casey Nicholaw can take a toll, especially in the ensemble.

After “The Prom” closed on Broadway in 2019, “I knew that the tour was going to happen,” West said.

“I didn’t think I’d be returning to the show. I was looking at other things, other opportunities.”

Then last spring the producers “reached out to me about the tour. I told

In Case You Go

What: “The Prom” When: 7:30 p.m. April 26 (Press Night and Family Night followed by a Q&A with the cast); 7:30 p.m. April 27 (LGBTQ+ Night followed by a Q&A with the cast); 7:30 p.m. April 28; 8 p.m. April 29; 2 and 8 p.m. April 30; 1 and 6:30 p.m. May 1. Audio Description Services 1 p.m. May 1; ASL Interpretation 6:30 p.m. May 1. Where: The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester How much: $39, $49, $69 and $89 depending on seat location. (877) 571-7469; www.thehanovertheatre.org