By: Andrea Myers
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The Awesome 80s Prom cast - Photo by Pat Sukhum
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“Why bother with a full tuxedo, when you can sport a t-shirt with one printed right on it? Hot pink leggings and a mini skirt?”
The press release for The Awesome 80s Prom, running July 7-August 26 at the Hennepin Stages, began with such enticing questions that I couldn't resist checking out the interactive performance in person. As an 80s child I often fantasized about what life would have been like had I been a high schooler in that beloved, fashionably irresponsible decade. Having been just a kindergartener when the frizz of the 80s turned toward neon chic, I was dying to play a role in my own real-life John Hughes movie.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the show; I knew from the advertisements that it was interactive, but I assumed the actors would still be quite separated from the crowd. When my group of three thrown-back girlfriends and I paraded into the main room of the Hennepin Stages, however, we were thrown right into the realistic, decked-out gymnasium of “Wanaget High,” full of glammed-up partygoers and lots and lots of cheesy crepe streamers. As we got our bearings, it was hard to tell exactly who in the room was an actor; most attendees were so enthralled with the setting that the dance floor had already filled with boogiers and classic 80s tunes blasted from the speakers.
Deciding to sit down at our table and take in our surroundings, we worked our way into the back row of bar stools and ordered a drink. Before we had even set down our purses – many of which were acid wash denim and/or pleather, by the way – we were greeted by a stuttering girl named Kerrie, the “nerd girl” (played by the charming Haley Chamberlain), who spoke to us through an impressive array of headgear, glasses, and horrible pig tails about how she was worried about getting home before curfew. All of a sudden, it occurred to me: we weren't here to watch a play, we were here to be a part of the play.
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A vintage take-home polaroid keepsake from The Awesome 80s Prom - Taken by Drew Hammond
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Before long Kerrie was joined by her “nerd boy” date Louis (Topher Brattain), and the two reached across the table toward each other in a delightfully awkward handshake. As things were about to heat up between the geeks, the lights dimmed and the music faded to give way to “the drama teacher” (Jen Scott) and “the principal” (Dave Bothun), who greeted the prom attendees and proceeded to announce this year's prom king and queen nominees. What ensued was a parade of classic 80s movies characters: the jock, the cheerleader (egged on by her two sidekicks, “the Heathers”), the foreign exchange students, the bad boy, the glam boy (who was nominated for queen, not king), the class president, the head of the prom committee, and our beloved nerd friends. Throughout the night, audience members were encouraged to vote for their chosen candidates, mingle with the guests, and have our pictures taken by Lloyd (Drew Hammond), the overly rambunctious and flirtatious AV Club dork.
The two hour show passed quickly, with activity alternating between the stage and the dance floor, and it was hard to stay in my assigned seat. Bad boy Fender (Bryce Davidson) sulked around the edges of the room with a handle of whiskey and copy of Playboy in tow, while the principal scolded guests and frequently whipped out his tape measure to make sure guys and girls were the requisite 12 inches away from each other. The setting was so realistic that it was hard not to be swept away, as songs like “Jesse's Girl,” “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” and “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” put the final touches on the 80s transformation.
Other highlights included an extremely realistic Prince imitator who tore through an amazing lip-synched and air-guitared version of “Let's Go Crazy” that had me rushing to the stage to get a closer look; a breakdancing circle that caused what appeared to be an innocent bystander to bust out a series of spins, snakes and spirals that got the audience rallying around the center of the room (something tells me he was part of the cast); and a grand finale that featured all of the cast members in a synchronized spot-on version of the infamous “Time of My Life” number in Dirty Dancing, ending with glam boy Dickie Harrington (Dave Crady) being scooped up Jennifer Grey-style and spun around the room.
All in all, The Awesome 80s Prom lived up to its name. So don't be afraid to dress up, plug in, and tune out; the Prom is a one-of-a-kind event that will keep you laughing hysterically until the end, gasping for breath and begging for more.
Location Info:
The Hennepin Stages
Artist Info: Awesome 80s Prom
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