NY talent directs locals in musical with message for all generations
By Autumn Gray
Prom is happening early this year in Albuquerque, and no one needs to wait to be asked. Albuquerque Little Theatre is partnering with New York-based Devon Frieder Productions to bring the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical “The Prom” to local audiences of all ages, with an all-local cast through February 9.
“It’s not just a show for high-schoolers. This really touches every generation,” said ALT executive director Rob Armstrong Martin. “It’s a really feel-good, inclusive message that everyone will like.”
Inspired by a real-life school controversy, the plot takes inspiration from 2010 events surrounding a Mississippi lesbian who invited her girlfriend to prom and planned to wear a tuxedo to the dance. The school responded by canceling the entire event. When the teen sued the school, the news created such national buzz that several Hollywood celebrities inserted themselves into the spotlight, drawing attention to bigotry and injustice – as well as themselves.
“The Prom,” which premiered on Broadway in 2018, retells that story by celebrating a young woman declaring who she is and who she loves with the brassy help of a band of Broadway stars in search of a cause. Hilarity, tear-jerk moments, and sing-along dance numbers ensue.
“We all know what it’s like to feel different or isolated at times,” said Frieder, who grew up in Santa Fe. “This show reminds us that being your true self is a beautiful thing. Everyone deserves to be included and represented, and we get nowhere with hate.”
“The Prom” will be performed by a cast of more than 20 actors representing ages spanning three generations. About a third of the actors are new to ALT’s stage, and a handful are new to Albuquerque.
“We’re seeing an influx of talent from all over looking for work in the arts because of the reputation of Albuquerque as a hot spot for artist employment,” said Martin, himself a former New York thespian. He is slated to play the school principal in “The Prom.”
Frieder, who is producing, choreographing and acting in the musical’s leading role as Emma, also partnered with ALT in “Something Rotten” in 2024. ALT’s collaboration with a full-time, high-profile New York City theater professional is intended not only to deliver Broadway-level performances to Albuquerque but also to enable aspiring New Mexican talent to learn from and work with someone of Frieder’s caliber in the industry.
“ALT is leading the way in Albuquerque as a professional training space,” Martin said. “We really believe in employing top-notch guest artists like Devon because their teaching presence can have such an impact on pathways into the profession for our local talent.”
When not producing and mentoring in Albuquerque, Frieder works as a full-time actor and director-choreographer in New York City and has performed in and choreographed shows all over the country. Her acting credits include “Legally Blonde” as Elle Woods, “The Little Mermaid” as Ariel twice, and “Heathers” as Veronica. She is also a proud Teaching Artist for Disney Theatrical on Broadway and received a Spotlight Award Nomination for Best Choreography at the 2018 Enchantment Awards.
“Whether it’s sexual orientation, race, gender, religion, financial upbringing, or even how you interact socially, I think we all have something that at some point in our life has made us feel excluded. ‘The Prom’ really shines a light on how awful that feeling can be and what we can try and do about it,” Frieder said.
Tickets are on sale at https://albuquerquelittletheatre.org/
