Characters / The Prom

Emma Nolan

Actor: Caitlin Kinnunen (u/s Gabi Campo and Brittany Zeinstra); Jo Ellen Pellman (film)

A seventeen year old lesbian who becomes an outcast and an outline when the PTA cancels the school prom rather than let her attend with her girlfriend.

• Adaptational Attractiveness: While her sense of style is far from fashionable, she's played by a more conventionally attractive actress in the film.
• Audience Surrogate: Emma is arguably the character with whom the audience are most aligned, and it's her that the plot revolves around
• Butch Lesbian: To an extent. She wears a lot of flannel, drives a stereotypically lesbian car, and wears a tux to the second prom.
  • Averted in the film where she plays a long-haired lesbian who initially wears a dress
  Emma: Are you saying because I'm a lesbian, I drive a pick-up?
  Barry: Well, do you?
  Emma: [pause] Shut up.
• Hates Wearing Dresses: Is forced to wear a dress to the first prom, and is clearly very uncomfortable in it.
• The Heart
• Heroic BSoD: At the beginning of Act 2, after being tricked into attending a separate prom alone and then having a panicking Alyssa refuse to come out, she all but completely shuts down. It takes a pep talk from Angie to get her head back into the goal.
• Little Miss Snarker: Is known to snark back at adults and students alike.
• Parental Abandonment: Her parents threw her out of the house when she came out.
• The Scapegoat: Expressly states that she doesn't want to become this after the prom gets cancelled. She does.
• Wise Beyond Their Years: Despite the emotional turmoil she's put through, Emma is (mostly) remarkably mature for her age.

Barry Glickman

Actor: Brooks Ashmanskas (u/s Josh Lamon and David Josefsberg); James Corden (film)

A narcissistic Broadway actor who takes Emma under his wing.

• Adaptational Attractiveness: James Corden is noticeably younger and has more of a leading man look (not to say he has that look though) to him than Brooks Ashmanskas.
• Camp Gay: Almost unbelievably so.
• The Fashionista: Has a few party dresses in his closet "for emergencies".
• Holier Than Thou: Has a very over-inflated ego, but becomes less egocentric over the course of the show.
• In Touch with His Feminine Side: Big time.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Starts off as kind of a self-centred jerk but Emma brings out his heart of gold pretty quickly.
• Large Ham
• Missing Mom: Hasn't spoken to his mother in thirty years. The film turns this into 21 years and they reconcile in the third act.
• Parental Substitute: Becomes one for Emma, although perhaps "Uncle Substitute" is more fitting.
  Barry: [sung] I can tell you're feeling wary, but you can count on Uncle Barry. He can turn this butchy duck into a swan!
• Screw the Rules, I Have Money!: Believes in buying over everything when all else fails. He immediately offers up $5k to pay for a prom.

Dee Dee Allen

Actor: Beth Leavel (u/s Courtney Balan and Kate Marilley); Meryl Streep (film)

A diva in desperate need of good press.

• Berserk Button: Gets set off quite easily for a multitude of reasons.
• Defrosting Ice Queen: Mellows considerably over the course of the show, helped by Principal Hawkins.
• The Diva
• Holier Than Thou: Thinks extremely highly of herself, and doesn't understand what's so bad about being a narcissist.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Like Barry, once she starts listening to others, she becomes a whole lot nicer and less selfish.
• Lady in Red: While performing "The Lady's Improving" in Principal Hawkins' office.
• Large Ham
• Screw the Rules, I'm Famous!: Often has this attitude. Best summed up in the film where she enters the town's hotel, puts down her two Tony Awards and thus demands "your best suite." That A) the hotel doesn't have "suites" and B) the clerk has zero clue who she is doesn't enter her mind.
• Unstoppable Rage: Has to be stopped from physically harming Emma and bustled out of the room when Emma announces she's not going to appear on Dee Dee's ex-husband's talk show to tell her story, a favor that cost her a $2.3 million Hamptons house.

Angie Dickinson

Actor: Angie Schworer (u/s Cara Cooper, Kate Marilley and Vasthy Mompoint); Nicole Kidman (film)

A Chicago showgirl who has never been allowed to play Roxie Hart despite being in the chorus for twenty years.

• Dumb Blonde: Averted - she is shown to be pretty smart, and knows a lot about the Electoral College.
• Closer to Earth: She's probably the most "normal" of the four stars, as she lacks Barry and Dee Dee's mammoth egos and Trent's pretentiousness. Fittingly, she's the one who finds out about Emma's plight in the first place and is consistently demonstrated as the most empathetic of the group.
• Hidden Depths: Her political knowledge, and her ability to teach Emma how to be more confident.
• Leg Focus: Her legs are commented on by other characters.
  Emma: Before you give me a lecture, or kick me to death with those crazy antelope legs of yours...
• Named After Someone Famous: Angie Dickinson is an actual actress best known for starring in the TV series Police Woman, which won her a Golden Globe, and for her turn in Dressed to Kill. Oddly, no one comments on the name in the show, suggesting that it's more a Shout-Out, especially because (as mentioned below) her last name is only heard once (when the group is checking into their motel: "Four rooms under Dickinson") and never with her first name attached.
• No Last Name Given: Her last name is heard, but it's a blink and you'll miss it moment, compared to the other actors.
• Parental Substitute: To Emma, and is also seen hugging Alyssa after she comes out.
• Statuesque Stunner: A long-time chorus showgirl, and is very much the physical type one would expect.
• Team Mom: Definitely more motherly than Dee Dee...

Trent Oliver

Actor: Christopher Sieber (u/s Josh Franklin and David Josefsberg); Andrew Rannells (film)

A Julliard graduate – and, in the film, former sitcom star – who has fallen on hard times.

• Bumbling Dad: Not actually a father, but definitely becomes a bumbling father figure to the students.
• Friend to All Children: Is the one who does the most for changing the townspeople's opinions on homosexuality, and is instrumental in their Heel–Face Turn.
• Giftedly Bad: His attempt at writing a ballad about acceptance—fittingly titled "Acceptance Song"—is utterly, utterly horrible, with treacly, badly-rhymed lyrics and an overly simplistic melody. Trent thinks it's a work of genius; everyone else knows it's the exact opposite.
• Holier Than Thou: He went to Julliard and refuses to let anyone forget it.
• Large Ham: Even more than Barry and Dee Dee!
• The Load: While he actually contributes by getting them a ride and prompting the homophobic bullies' Heel–Face Turn, he's still viewed as such by Barry and Dee Dee.
  Barry: Why are you here?
• Small Name, Big Ego: To his frustration, he's only recognized as "that guy from Talk to the Hand."
• Theatre Is True Acting: Played for Laughs in the film, where Trent waxes poetic about his classical stage training at Julliard to hide his shame that he's currently unemployed and only known as an actor from an old sitcom.
  Trent: You see, my passions are fueled by the power of Lady Theater and how she can, with a gentle touch of her hand, sculpt a human soul. But we learned at Juilliard...If I could soliloquize, "If you prick me, do I not bleed?" "And if you do not pay me, do I not still act?" That might be enough. Still, I have played Hamlet, and yet I'm only known as that guy from the beloved early aughts' sitcom...'Talk to the Hand.' I question the very meaning of my existence.

Alyssa Greene

Actor: Isabelle McCalla (u/s Kalyn West and Gabi Campo); Ariana DeBose (film)

Emma's closeted girlfriend and the daughter of the head of the PTA.

• Broken Ace: Popular girl, cheerleader, ace student, on the student council, on the debate club... Everything seems great for her, except that she seems to have little interest in most (possibly any) of her extracurricular activities, most of which seem to be forced on her by her overbearing mother. She's also gay, and incredibly anxious about it, terrified of what would happen if her mom found out. Watching her girlfriend's life fall apart after she's outed to the entire school absolutely doesn't help matters.
• Brainy Brunette: Appears to be the spokesperson for the student council and is also in the debate club (although these extra-curriculars may be down to her mother's insistence).
• Disappeared Dad: Her father abandoned her and her mother at some point prior to the events of the show.
  Alyssa: [sung] Cause mom's convinced if you're perfect, your father might come back...
• The Heart
• Heroic BSoD: "Alyssa Greene" is an entire song dedicated to her breaking down during the show after the fake prom brings her to a panic and she realizes that Kaylee and Shelby know about her relationship with Emma. After the song, when an overstressed Emma breaks up with her, Alyssa can only stare off into the distance before walking alway.
• Lipstick Lesbian: Only to an extent, but definitely dresses more feminine than Emma.
• Wise Beyond Their Years: Like Emma, although she is under an extreme amount of pressure, she's more mature than her classmates.

Tom Hawkins

Actor: Michael Potts (u/s David Josefsberg and Sheldon Henry); Keegan-Michael Key (film)

The principal of James Madison High School. He's on Emma's side and vows to help fight her injustice.

• Ascended Fanboy: A major fan of Dee Dee's, he finds himself ending up in a relationship with her.
• Cool Teacher: Is very sympathetic to Emma's plight.
• Hero-Worshipper: Is a huge fan of both Broadway and Dee Dee in particular.
  Dee Dee: What are you? Big fan? Small fan? Scary, stabby fan?
• Hot Teacher: Dee Dee certainly seems to think so.
• Only Sane Man: Is often completely bemused by how the New York characters act.

Mrs. Greene

Actor: Courtenay Collins (u/s Courtney Balan and Kate Marilley); Kerry Washington (film)

Alyssa's strict, overbearing mother and the head of the PTA.

• Ambiguous Situation: It's deliberately left unclear if Mrs. Greene is unaware of her daughter's sexuality, or has figured it out and is in deep denial over it. When Alyssa attempts to come out to her in Act II, she says "I think you might already know"—only for Mrs. Greene to immediately and frantically shut her down, suggesting that she's at least entertained the thought.
• The Antagonist: Is the one who opposes Emma the most, although she's not portrayed without understanding. In the end, she believes she's doing what's best for her daughter, even if the reality is very different.
  Mrs Greene: I just don't want you to have a hard life.
  Alyssa: It's already hard.
• Berserk Button: Whenever Alyssa attempts to come out to her, or whenever one of the Broadway gang insults her.
• Freudian Excuse: "Alyssa Greene" implies that Mrs. Greene was deeply hurt by her husband divorcing her. But rather than discuss her feelings or sort through them, she instead turns to micromanaging her daughter's life, as she somehow believes that Alyssa being "perfect" will convince him to return.
• Heel–Face Turn: Despite spending most of the play/film being antagonistic, she ends up accepting Alyssa and Emma's relationship at the end. In one of the mid-credits scenes of the film, she even hugs Emma.
• Heteronormative Crusader: As the PTA president, she is ultimately the one who decides to cancel the entire prom rather than let Emma attend with her girlfriend. Mrs. Greene is unaware (or maybe she isn't) that her own daughter is the girlfriend in question.
• Insane Troll Logic: Mrs. Greene has convinced herself that the only way to get her divorced husband back is to make Alyssa as "perfect" as possible, which will apparently make him want to reconnect. Even Alyssa recognizes how messed up this line of thinking is.
• Last-Name Basis: Her actress, Courtenay Collins, has joked that her first name is "Mrs".
• My Beloved Smother: Is extremely pushy towards Alyssa, which is clearly taking a toll on their relationship.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: Deep down, she genuinely wants Alyssa to be happy and "not have a hard life." It's just that Mrs. Greene's interpretation of happiness is being heterosexual, and she's willing to go to any length—including cancelling the entire first prom, arranging a secret second prom, and even suing people for defamation—if it means "protecting" her daughter. The good intentions are what allow her to pull off the Heel–Face Turn described above.

Sheldon Saperstein

Actor: Josh Lamon (u/s Josh Franklin, Sheldon Henry and David Josefsberg); Kevin Chamberlin (film)

Dee Dee's (and possibly Barry's) PR manager.

• Camp Gay: Especially when played by Josh Lamon.
• Professional Butt-Kisser: As a PR manager, this is essentially his job.
  Sheldon: Believe me, I've tried. I've kissed so much ass, I can't feel my face!
• Yes-Man: Manages to organize a lot of opportunities for the other characters, although they don't always work out.

The Students

Actors: Becca Lee, Kalyn West, Teddy Toye, Drew Redington, Mary Antonini, Jerusha Cavazos, Shelby Finnie, Fernell Hogan, Joomin Hwang, Wayne "Juice" Mackins, Anthony Norman and Brittany Zeinstra (swings: Gabi Campo, Susie Carroll, Jack Sippel, Nick Masson); Nico Greetham (Nick), Nathaniel J. Potvin (Kevin), Logan Riley (Kaylee) and Sofia Deler (Shelby) [film]

The kids of James Madison High School. Only four of them are given name recognition: Nick, Kevin, Shelby and Kaylee.

• Alpha Bitch: Kaylee and Shelby.
• Big Man on Campus: Nick describes himself as this verbatim during "You Happened".
• Defrosting Ice Queen: All the kids, but especially Kaylee and Shelby, towards the end.
• Fille Fatale: Trent correctly guesses that Shelby has lost her virginity, using this information to tell her that if they wanted to follow the Bible as much as they claim, then Shelby and her family will have to be stoned to death for it.
• Heel–Face Turn: Thanks to Trent.
• Jerk Jock: Nick and Kevin.
• Kids Are Cruel: They trick both Emma and Alyssa, with Emma being sent to a fake prom by herself and Alyssa being completely left out of the loop. They leave Alyssa out of the planning because Kaylee and Shelby discover her relationship with Emma and decide to intervene.