Carnation City Players to debut 'The Prom'

Kathleen Gray Farthing
Trent (Ezra Keeton); Barry (Don McCallister); Dee Dee (Carri Wagner); Angie (Clare LaTourette); and Principal Hawkins (Bob Ritchie) listen to Emma’s song about acceptance, which has gone viral during a scene from "The Prom," which debuts April 19 at Firehouse Theater in Alliance.
Trent (Ezra Keeton); Barry (Don McCallister); Dee Dee (Carri Wagner); Angie (Clare LaTourette); and Principal Hawkins (Bob Ritchie) listen to Emma’s song about acceptance, which has gone viral during a scene from "The Prom," which debuts April 19 at Firehouse Theater in Alliance.

Carnation City Players will offer a journey of heart and laughter when its spring show, “The Prom,” hits the Firehouse Stage beginning this weekend.

The show will run Friday and Saturday, and April 26-28.

The musical shares the story of Emma (Amy Lily), a brave high school student in Indiana who sparks controversy when she announces her intention to bring her girlfriend Alyssa (Ashley Burtscher) to prom. But Emma isn’t alone in her fight for equality – she’s joined by four Broadway has-beens: Dee Dee (Carri Wagner), Barry (Don McCallister), Trent (Ezra Keeton) and Angie (Clare LaTourette).

As the star couple in the upcoming production of "The Prom" at Firehouse Theater in Alliance, Emma (Amy Lily) and Alyssa (Ashley Burtscher) want to go to the high school prom together, but the PTA is not allowing it.
As the star couple in the upcoming production of "The Prom" at Firehouse Theater in Alliance, Emma (Amy Lily) and Alyssa (Ashley Burtscher) want to go to the high school prom together, but the PTA is not allowing it.

Amy Lily is making her CCP debut as Emma Nolan. Lily has performed roles such as Wendla in “Spring Awakening” and Cathy in “The Last 5 Years.” In the fall, she is returning to school to get her master of fine arts in acting at Ohio University.

Carri Wagner will play Dee Dee Allen, a Broadway diva with a heart of gold. Her recent productions at CCP include Patsy Cline in “Always…Patsy Cline”; Alice Murphy in “Bright Star”; and Rosie in “Mamma Mia!”

Don McCallister will portray Barry Glickman. Known for his versatility as an actor and director, McCallister most recently appeared on stage in “A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder.”

Ashley Burtscher makes her CCP debut as Alyssa Greene, Emma’s girlfriend. Previous performance credits include Johanna in “Sweeney Todd”; Cinderella in “Into the Woods”; Cathy in “The Last Five Years”; and Marty Maraschino in “Grease.”

Cheryl Foutz plays Alyssa’s mother, Mrs. Greene. She has performed in numerous plays and musicals at Carnation City Players, Players Guild Theatre, Avenue Arts, and other area theaters over the past 20 years.

Ezra Keeton, a fresh face at CCP, will play Trent Oliver. Keeton, a professor of voice at Kent State University at Stark, also serves as director of Sing Out, Canton’s LGBTQIA+ choir.

Dee Dee *Carri Wagner) returns to talk to Principal Hawkins (Bob Ritchie) in Carnation City Players' production of "The Prom," which hits the Firehouse Theater stage on April 19.
Dee Dee *Carri Wagner) returns to talk to Principal Hawkins (Bob Ritchie) in Carnation City Players' production of "The Prom," which hits the Firehouse Theater stage on April 19.

Clare LaTourette plays the jaded Fosse girl with a heart of gold, Angie Dickinson. She was last seen on the CCP stage in “Oklahoma!” as Ado Annie.

Bob Ritchie portrays Principal Hawkins. He has previously performed in “Camelot”; “South Pacific”; and “Hello, Dolly!” at the Firehouse Theater.

Rounding out the cast are Natalie Austin, Carrie Chunat, Alison Foutz, Ava Fritz, Sofia Fritz, Vivian Fritz, Gabby Heslop, Jenna Heslop, Ethan Hess, Aidan Kern, Natalie Kern, Zach Kinser, Avery Lewis, Alaena Locklear, Shalleen Mayes, Gracie McGeehen, Robby Ritchie, Caylen Root and Makenna Root.

Kevin P. Kern is the show's director. Music director is Kim Lewis, while Kayla Arrington is choreographer.

Tickets are available at carnationcityplayers.org or through the CCP box office at 330-821-8712. Adult tickets are $15, and tickets for those younger than 18 are $13.

If you go

WHAT – CCP presents "The Prom."

WHERE – Firehouse Theater, 450 E. Market St. in Alliance.

WHEN – April 19-20 and April 26-28

SHOWTIMES – 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 2:30 p.m. on April 28.

TICKET INFO – Tickets are available at 330-821-8712 or www.carnationcityplayers.org.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Carnation City Players to stage musical 'The Prom'

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