“When a challenge lies ahead and you are filled with dread and worry— give it some Zazz!” the opening lines of the opening number of the second act of The Prom. Making its way to The Hippodrome Stage in Charm City, this joyous, heartfelt, and uplifting musical about living your best life and being true to yourself is ready to give audiences all over Baltimore some real Zazz. In a TheatreBloom exclusive interview, editor in chief Amanda Gunther chatted with one of the touring company’s star performers, Emily Borromeo and talked with her all about the excitement of getting to ‘go to’ and be a part of The Prom.

Thank you so much for giving us some of your time, I know you have a show— tonight here in Baltimore!

Emily Borromeo: Thank you! I’m happy to!

Have you been with The Prom since the beginning of the tour?

Emily: Yes. We started rehearsals in New York City at the end of September [2021] and launched our tour at the end of October and first day of November. I’ve been with it since the beginning.

You’re playing Angie Dickinson, the character who has just quit her 20-year run with the show Chicago because she was always in the dancing ensemble and never called up to play the principal. Do you have any similarities that you’re bringing to the character?

Emily: It’s funny because I was actually thinking about my character and how exciting it is to play an actor because I have never played an actor before in any of my shows. I understand the plight and the frustrations, and the joys and the highs and the lows of being in the business myself. I think all of us— and by all of us I mean those of us playing the celebrity activists from Broadway— I think we can all identify with the ins and the outs of being in that career, in that lifestyle. That’s been fun to get to play with other actors who also are doing the same thing. I mostly made my career in singing, being a vocal performer, being a children’s TV show host, and an actor. This is my first big dance role so I am very excited about that.

That’s really awesome! Since this is your first big dance role, what were some of the challenges of getting into ‘a big dance role’? What was that like for you?

Emily: I think all of us, coming out of the industry shut-down, had a bit of dusting off of the dance moves and the stretching to do before we jumped back into a full-time schedule of rehearsals and eight shows a week. We were all out of work. I think there was a rustiness that I was overcoming and trying to get my endurance back up and my mental and physical conditioning back in the game, that was a challenge. I think mentally, when you’re doing anything for the first time or you’re doing anything that you’re less familiar with, there’s always the mental challenge of “Can I do this? Is my body going to be up for it? Are people going to say she’s an imposter? Are people going to say— x, y, z— whatever they say.” And all these things are voices in our heads. We all have those demons that tell us we can’t do things or that we’re not as good or we’re not worthy.

What’s funny is that my character actually gives advice to Emma (the high-schooler and main character of The Prom) and says “If you’re filled with dread and worry give it some Zazz.” Zazz is style; it’s confidence. You just have to go out there and put on a show. If you’re nervous and your hands are shaking just tell everybody they’re jazz-hands. I think part of it was getting that advice from my character and knowing that I was just doing something for the first time and nerves were telling me that I was excited, and that I was doing something important and something that was new but that wouldn’t be new in a short amount of time.

What does it mean to be a part of The Prom, which while very uplifting and joyous is not without its heavier moments? Especially coming back after the industry shut-down, what is it like for you that a show like this is your first show back?

Emily: I am so grateful to be a part of this show because, like you said, it’s uplifting. It’s a joyful and cheerful show. It’s funny but it has so much heart. You’re laughing and then in Act II you’re crying. You’re weeping with the characters and crying tears of joy; you’re crying tears of understanding at what these characters must be feeling. Even if it’s not just this issue of a girl not being able to go to her prom because there are closed-minded people in her school, there are issues that we’re all dealing with every day. There are differences that we’re all navigating every day, whether it’s interpersonal or political. The heart of this story is how we can come together to fight those differences, how we can build a better and safer world for everyone. It’s about building those bridges and giving us all the courage to be our authentic selves and finding love. I love the message of this show and I am so honored to be a part of it, beyond just being able to be singing and dancing on a stage again after it was taken away. This is such an important show; it’s such a timely show, I’m having an amazing time doing it.

 

What would you say has been the biggest challenge, other than shaking off the rust and getting back into the routines of being on stage again, of this character or this show?

Emily: You know what I think we’re all navigating right now with this show is that it’s such a physically demanding and vocally demanding show and we’re doing it while touring. And we’re doing it while navigating Covid. We have to be really diligent about our stretches, about taking care of our bodies and our voices, about being well and staying safe while traveling. And doing eight shows a week! It’s all about finding that balance and finding what is going to make you centered, what’s going to keep you in the best shape to do your job at work, and what’s going to keep you centered mentally as we navigate all the changes around us and all the fear and uncertainty. It’s mostly just being able to do the show successfully and safely on the road. I think our cast and our company is doing a fabulous job of supporting each other and knowing that we need to take care of ourselves. The only way we can do a great job on stage is if we take care of ourselves first and foremost and take care of each other.

Is there a moment in the show that defines the show for your character, Angie Dickinson? And is that moment the same as the moment that might define the show for you, Emily Borromeo?

Emily: Ooh, what a great question! My character has her big number at the top of Act II. It’s a big pep-talk number. Essentially, my character is giving advice to the character Emma. She’s saying, “Be courageous; be yourself; go out there and tell your story and let’s make some change happen. And if you feel the fear, do it with Zazz. Do it knowing that you’re being true to yourself and do it because there are lots of people out there who don’t have a voice or who don’t have the courage to do so. If you can do it? Go do it!” I think that’s just a really great message for the times that we’re living in now, for speaking up for yourself, for knowing yourself and speaking your truth. I think that’s the defining moment for my character in the show. It leads to the defining moment for the lead character, Emma, which is when they sing the song “Unruly Heart” and tell their story. They decide that they’re going to share their story on their own terms, it’s going to be through an original song, it’s going to be reaching people on the internet, and connecting everyone who doesn’t feel seen. It just opens hearts across all of these dividing lines.

I always hesitate to say ‘favorite’ moment, but do you have a moment that you just absolutely love? Either on stage or maybe even when you’re off-stage, watching from the wings?

Emily: I do watch from the wings, every night I watch the ensemble dance song, “Tonight Belongs To Us.” It’s the finale of Act I. I just love watching it from a personal perspective because I’m in awe of the dancers in our show and what they’re capable of and what they’re bringing to every performance, physically and energetically, and storytelling-wise, I just find them to all be so fabulous and inspiring. Then my favorite part to be in is when we’re all on stage together in the finale building the prom of our dreams. Because everyone is on stage and we’re all wearing our prom attire, sparkles and tuxedos, fancy shoes and tiaras; everyone is living their best prom dream and we’re all doing the choreography in unison which I think is just symbolic of the show’s message that we all kind of come together in the end.

Now you’re talking about all the sparkly dresses and the prom attire… Did you go to your high school prom? Was your dress anything like the one you’re wearing?

Emily: Oh that’s making me laugh because that was so long ago! I did go to prom! I didn’t wear sparkles but I did wear pink.

Was it Barbie pink? Or a different pink?

Emily: It was like a rose-muted pink. Not too pink but it was a light-pink for sure. I didn’t have a prom date so I asked my best friend’s younger brother to go with me. At that age I was just happy to be with my friends and dressing up and we had a DJ, which I thought was the coolest thing ever! We were going somewhere that was not school! It was at night, there were decorations; everything about it just felt super fancy and exciting so I didn’t really care that I didn’t have a prom date of a love interest, that it was just my friend’s brother. It was all good.

The prom dress that you wear at the end of The Prom, is it also pink and not sparkly or is it something else entirely?

Emily: I would call it champagne sequin flapper. I think there is a vintage element to it. I think there’s a movie starlet fabulousness and sparkle to it. There’s a confidence to it for someone who would just go out there and wear a bright gold sparkly dress.

What would you say is the thing that you hope people take away with them when they come out to see The Prom?

Emily: I hope that everyone feels happy and joyful seeing our show. I think that we’re living through some really tough times and that there’s been a lot of darkness and a lot of loss and challenges. I hope that people can return to this theatre experience having joy in their hearts, having laughter, having a singular experience in which we’re all in one room together celebrating live theatre, celebrating art. And it’s one of a kind each time, we have a different show, it’s a different energy, it’s a different audience and that moment is kind of frozen in time. I hope that they also come and that they take away from our show the message that there are differences and we are all different. But we can work towards a future that is better. And it takes work to do that. It takes opening our hearts and it takes listening but we can do it. I hope that it starts conversations at home around the dinner table, or it changes a mind here or there, or makes people ask questions, I think that’s the best kind of theatrical experience. I hope people continue to go to the theatre and support theatre because we need it and we need the arts. We need it as a society and we haven’t had it and now we know it’s such an integral part of our humanity.

What is the one thing being a part of The Prom has taught you about yourself as a performer, as a human being? What has been your big takeaway from being a part of this on a personal level?

Emily: That is a great question because I feel like there are a so many things! I am learning things every day! On a personal level I am blown away every day, since the beginning when we all met, by how amazing artists are. How creative, how powerful, how intelligent, how bright artists are, and what is possible when we come together and make a show happen. We had three weeks of rehearsals for this. I want to say it was less than 20 days of rehearsal. And on the first day we got our scripts. So you fast-forward three weeks and all of the sudden we have a full production. The people that make it happen, from the creatives to the designers to the crew and the musicians and the dressers and the hair, all of these people are fabulous at what they do and everyone is doing their job to create this beautiful production that just soars. I love watching all of those little pieces of the machine work together.

I would say this show has boosted my self-confidence more than any other show that I’ve ever done. It challenged me and I had no other choice but to rise to the challenge and find my way in. It challenged me coming into a role where I was dancing. It challenged me into a role that was comedic. Comedy can be really difficult. I don’t think people understand how hard comedy is, and how technical it is, how much chemistry you need, how much timing and technique is involved with making comedy land. This show is so wonderfully written, that honestly? Half the battle is just read the words that are on the page and you’ll make someone laugh because that’s how good the writing is. It definitely challenged me to be a comedic leading lady who dances and sings and is doing all of that scene work. It showed me what I’m capable of. From the conversations I’ve had with my fellow company members, I think a lot of people are having that experience with this particular show. There was some challenge they faced coming into it or some questions they had and then doing this show, working and rehearsing through it, and we’re all able to come out of this as better versions of ourselves.

If you had to describe the experience of The Prom in just one word?

Emily: One word. The Prom experience of this show? I would say… “Zazzy!” Zazz is the song they sing. ‘Give it some Zazz!’ It’s like pizazz but Z-a-z-z. Or Z-a-z-z-y. It’s sparkly and over-the-top, it’s funny— it’s Zazz! Zazz is when you shimmy your hands and jump for joy. That’s what Zazz is. It’s gusto and all that good stuff in one word. So Zazzy!

Is there anything else you’d like to say about the show or the experience as a whole, being back on tour?

Emily: I would just say we are so excited to be bringing live theatre back. It’s been wonderful. We’ve had such great responses from audiences. We’re so excited to bring it back, and if I might add, hopefully everyone can come to the theatre and support us and wear a mask and keep each other safe and keep us safe. We’re doing the same so we can continue to keep the show open and spread the joy across the country!  

The Prom plays through January 23, 2022, at Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre in the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center— 12 N. Eutaw Street in the Bromo Seltzer Arts District of Baltimore, MD. For tickets call the box office at (410) 752-7444 or purchase them purchase them online.

To read the TheatreBloom review by Erin Tarpley, click here.