Netflix - The Prom: The must-see musical of the end of the year

By Mulder, 26 november 2020

Directed by Ryan Murphy and starring Tracey Ullman, Kevin Chamberlin, Mary Kay Place, Nico Greetham Logan Riley, Nathaniel J. Potvin and Sofia Deler, The Prom is the spectacular and enthusiastic film adaptation of the Tony Award-nominated Broadway musical by Chad Beguelin, Bob Martin and Matthew Sklar. The script is written by Bob Martin and Chad Beguelin. The film is produced by Ryan Murphy, Alexis Martin Woodall, Adam Anders, Dori Berinstein and Bill Damaschke.

This film project is in line with Murphy's plea for greater inclusiveness in Hollywood, including his spearheading of the 2017 Half Initiative, to create equal representation for women and minorities behind the camera. Ryan Murphy announced that he will sign the adaptation at a charity performance of the musical at New York's Longacre Theatre in April 2019.

On June 25, 2019, Meryl Streep, James Corden, Andrew Rannells and Nicole Kidman joined the production, with Keegan-Michael Key as principal and Awkwafina as publicist Ms. Sheldon. Ariana DeBose joined the cast in November 2019. Jo Ellen Pellman was also chosen for the role of Emma, following a national search. This project is the first film under Murphy's $300 million contract with Netflix. Shooting began on December 11, 2019 in Los Angeles, but on March 12, 2020, production was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to that, filming had been completed, with only two days of shooting remaining.

Synopsis
Dee Dee Allen (three-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep) and Barry Glickman (Tony Award winnerJames Corden) are New York City stage stars with a crisis on their hands: their expensive new Broadway show is a major flop that has suddenly flatlined their careers. Meanwhile, in small-town Indiana, high school student Emma Nolan (newcomer Jo Ellen Pellman) is experiencing a very different kind of heartbreak: despite the support of the high school principal (Keegan-Michael Key), the head of the PTA (Kerry Washington) has banned her from attending the prom with her girlfriend, Alyssa (Ariana DeBose). When Dee Dee and Barry decide that Emma's predicament is the perfect cause to help resurrect their public images, they hit the road with Angie (Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman) and Trent (Andrew Rannells), another pair of cynical actors looking for a professional lift. But when their self-absorbed celebrity activism unexpectedly backfires, the foursome find their own lives upended as they rally to give Emma a night where she can truly celebrate who she is.

The Prom
Directed by Ryan Murphy
Produced by Adam Anders, Dori Berinstein, Chad Beguelin, Bill Damaschke, Bob Martin, Ryan Murphy, Scott Robertson, Matthew Sklar, Alexis Martin Woodall
Screenplay by Chad Beguelin, Bob Martin
Based on The Prom by Chad Beguelin, Bob Martin, Matthew Sklar
Starring Meryl Streep, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Ariana DeBose, Kerry Washington, Jo Ellen Pellman
Music by Matthew Sklar
Cinematography : Matthew Libatique
Edited by Peggy Tachdjian, Danielle Wang
Production company : Ryan Murphy Productions
Distributed by Netflix
Release date : December 11, 2020
Running time : 131 minutes