7/8/2022
Broadway Las Vegas
When Kalyn West looks back at performing in the original Broadway production of seven-time, Tony-nominated musical “The Prom,” she knows exactly why it became a smash.
Because of its delightful, uplifting comedy.
“It's like they say — you attract more bees with honey than with vinegar,” says West, who now costars as Alyssa Greene in the musical’s national tour. “The power of using comedy to discuss something so sensitive is that it opens people’s hearts, so that they are able to receive the message.”
Even while the show tackles solemn topics, the characters’ witty dialogue and silly antics keep the laughs coming, West promises. The musical delivers this alongside rollicking, large-scale musical numbers, providing a thrilling experience for all audiences.
The show’s finale even feels like “a party,” she adds, with audience members “on their feet, smiling and dancing” along.
“Comedy is disarming. It's inviting. It's relieving,” West says. “(The show’s creative team) understands that, and they are masters at crafting the peaks and valleys of tension and release. They know just the right moment to pull your heartstrings, and then just when to swoop in with something that makes you giggle and shake the tears off.”
A Story That Parallels Real Life
West feels strongly about playing the complex character of Alyssa Greene, a gay character struggling to come out to her friends and family.
These challenges mirror West’s own personal story, she says, as she went through the same journey just before joining the show.
“I am fortunate to have an open and supportive family, so I wasn't concerned about losing them,” West says, but adds that she still battled with finding acceptance in society.
Even as her own “queerness came into focus,” she says, it was “incredibly difficult and scary” to step outside of others’ expectations.
With that in mind, she feels a true connection with the musical’s empowering themes.
“This show is about being true to yourself,” West says. “It's about knowing that you are not alone.”
All audiences will find something they can relate to with the show’s heartfelt characters, she adds.
“This show is about compassion, love and learning,” West says.
Different from the Movie
West appreciates that people nationwide experienced the movie version of “The Prom” on Netflix, which starred Meryl Streep and James Corden.
But she encourages people to experience the live production firsthand, which offers a more memorable and meaningful experience.
With the national tour nearly identical to the Broadway production, West predicts that audiences will feel surprised at how much the live musical differs from the movie.
“(The live production) offers a completely different experience — one that's palpable and communal in a way that only live theater, shared with a crowd of strangers and friends, can achieve,” she says. “The stage production will have you laughing, crying, dancing and stuck with the music in your head for weeks.”
SEE THE SHOW
“The Prom” runs August 2 to 7 at The Smith Center – CLICK HERE for tickets.