Courtesy of Connecticut College
With the musical “The Prom” coming to the Athey Center stage in Connecticut College’s Palmer Auditorium Connecticut College, The College Voice had the opportunity to sit down with cast member Ruslan Feyzov ‘28 to learn more about the production, the cast’s journey and the show’s personal significance to Feyzov. His enthusiasm, pride and joy increased my anticipation to see the show.
Bringing “The Prom” to Conn
The idea of bringing “The Prom” to Conn was originally conceived last spring semester by Dr. Ginny Anderson from the Connecticut College Theater Department in cooperation with Justin Mendillo, Director of Conn’s Gender and Sexuality Programs. By bringing this musical to stage, they wanted to address the evolving social climate and emphasize themes of love, acceptance, and belonging.
Auditions took place at the end of Oct. 2024, and rehearsals began at the start of the spring 2025 semester. In fact, the cast arrived on campus a week before classes resumed to fully immerse themselves in their roles. This intensive preparation period provided them with a unique opportunity to bond and grow as a team. Rehearsals during this time ran from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., an intense but rewarding experience. To support the cast, the directors decided to show movies such as “Before and After Stonewall,” an integral part of learning about the LGBTQ+ activist movement.
Feyzov could not hide his excitement and pride about how well the production process is going. He talked about the cast with so much joy, celebrating their hard work and the progress they have made. According to Feyzov, what makes a show truly outstanding and memorable is a cast that functions as a united team— something which is certainly the case for “The Prom” cast.
Because “The Prom” centers around queerness and the LGBTQ+ community, the cast and crew hope to leave a long lasting impression on audiences. Feyzov emphasized that the musical’s message of humanity, equality, and acceptance is crucial.
The Heart of “The Prom”
For those who are not familiar with “The Prom,” Feyzov summarized the main message of the musical: ““The Prom” is about love and acceptance for all human beings, and the goal is to spread that love and acceptance as broad as we can.” Set in a small, conservative town in Indiana, “The Prom” centers around the story of a high school student fighting to bring her girlfriend to prom with the help of some eccentric Broadway stars.
Stepping into a Challenging Role
In the production, Feyzov plays Nick, a supporting character who is homophobic. Playing this role is particularly challenging for him, as he personally disagrees with Nick’s beliefs. Feyzov has tried to see his role as an opportunity for development in his Theater major.
The Audition Process
Landing a role in “The Prom” required a rigorous audition process. Candidates had to prepare two songs and a monologue for their initial auditions. Some of the candidates received a callback, and were invited to the next round of auditioning. After this round, directors Anderson and guest artist Dennis Corsi decided which character would best fit each candidate.
A Show to Remember
Feyzov emphasized his pride in seeing “The Prom” come to life. Watching his peers evolve, engage, and develop during the production process has been incredibly rewarding and motivating. He hopes that both the Connecticut College community and audiences beyond campus will come see “The Prom” and that the message of love, joy and acceptance will be spread., “This show has become a huge part of my life and I know I will be sorry to see it end,” he said.
Get Your Tickets!
Tickets are currently available at the Palmer Auditorium Box Office and on the Connecticut College On-Stage website. Tickets may be available at the door, but it is safer to buy them in advance!
Performance Dates:
- February 28 at 7 p.m.
- March 1 at 7 p.m.
- March 2 at 2 p.m.
Ticket Prices:
- $5 for Connecticut College students and staff
- $10 for general admission
See you at “The Prom!”
