Plans for a filmed version of the Tony Award-nominated musical The Prom have moved forward, with the announcement of the casting of several key roles.
The Prom earned positive notice on Broadway for its musical adaptation of a true story about a lesbian teen who wants to take her girlfriend to the prom in rural Indiana. The school’s reaction kicks off a media circus over the right of queer teens to take whom they choose to school events. Earlier this year, producer Ryan Murphy announced that he would adapt the show to the big screen alongside Netflix.
Oscar-winners Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep will lead the cast which also includes James Corden, Ariana Grande, Andrew Rannells and Keegan-Michael Key. Streep and Corden will play the roles of flailing actors Dee Dee Allen and Barry Glickman.
Rannells and Kidman will star as Dee Dee & Barry’s actor friends Tom and Angie. Grande steps into the role of queer teen Alyssa Green, while Key plays her school principal Mr. Hawkins.
Netflix and Murphy have also launched a nationwide search for the lead role of Emma, the girl who wants to take Alyssa to the prom.
It’s not clear at this time whether Ryan Murphy intends to direct the film as well as produce it. He and Netflix have announced the movie will shoot later this year with a target release date of fall 2020, where it will show in theaters and land on Netflix streaming.
