In March 2010, Constance McMillen, an 18-year-old lesbian high school student at Itawamba Agricultural High School in Mississippi, wanted to wear a tux and bring a same-sex date to the school prom.

In short, she asked her principal, who said no. After the American Civil Liberties Union contacted the school on McMillen’s behalf, “They shut down the prom,” said Samantha Korich, the director of a young musical inspired by McMillen’s case.

The ACLU then filed a lawsuit. Private proms were organized, including one only a handful of students attended, and a secret one McMillen was not invited to. Celebrities got involved and helped financially back that year’s 2nd Chance Prom in Mississippi, an event where students of all orientations could celebrate together.

Life inspires art

In its coverage, The Guardian called the prom-centered incident, “a real-life scenario that would have made for a great John Hughes plot.”

The great teenage comedy filmmaker of the ‘80s died in 2009, but McMillen’s case did inspire art: “The Prom,” the relatively new musical opening Friday at Cascades Theatre.

The show is set in Indiana, where Emma Nolan, played by Maddie Palombo, is having similar difficulties with sanctimonious administrators.

Then four Broadway stars who could use a hit decide it’s time to head to the Midwest together. Or as Cascades Theatrical Company puts it on its page for the show: “On a mission to transform lives, Broadway’s brassiest join forces with a courageous girl and the town’s citizens and the result is love that brings them all together.”

Director Korich said rights to the show, which opened in 2018 on Broadway and was made into a 2020 film starring Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman recently became available to companies such as Cascades Theatrical Company in Bend, where the show runs through Jan. 26.

“We’re one of the first theaters to do ‘The Prom,’ which is really exciting,” Korich said.

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The show’s themes about feeling ostracized, forming a community and being decent hits home for the crew and cast of about 25, the director said.

“A lot of people can relate to the situations that the characters are experiencing in the show,” she said. “Emma — the reason why this story’s so heartfelt and feel comfortable in your own skin in a world that doesn’t necessarily approve of everybody being just who they are.

“That’s kind of what this show is about, acceptance and not making each other’s journeys harder. And really, just trying to be decent human beings. That’s the overall goal, that we all could just be more decent to each other.”

Other CTC news

Deschutes Public Library is sponsoring Thursday evening’s sneak preview to “The Prom,” so it’s free, no ticket required. Admission is on a first come, first served basis at Cascades Theatre, 148 NW Greenwood Ave., in Bend. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show to start at 7:30.

The theater will hold auditions from 6 to 9 p.m. on Jan. 13 and Jan. 14 for its upcoming March-April production of Agatha Christie’s whodunnit “The Mousetrap,” directed by Richard Choate.

If You Go

What: “The Prom,” by Matthew Sklar (music), Bob Martin (lyrics) Chad Beguelin (lyrics and book)

When: Opens 7:30 p.m. Friday, with additional performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, until Jan. 26

Where: Cascades Theatre, 148 NW Greenwood Ave., Bend

Cost: $43 for adults, $39 for students and seniors

Contact: cascadestheatrical.org or 541-389-0803