On Saturday at LTV Studios in Wainscott, the 22 students from South Fork Performing Arts who acted and sang their hearts out in “The Prom” got a special treat after the show: The musical’s lyricist and book co-author, Chad Beguelin, was in the audience for that night’s production.
After the show, Mr. Beguelin praised the performance and took photos with the students. “I’ve obviously seen the show on Broadway, I’ve seen national tours, in all different countries and languages,” he is seen and heard saying in a YouTube video. “No production has given me more joy than this production. You are so talented and so amazing and so committed . . . to put your energy into a message of inclusion and acceptance.”
“The Prom” is about teens who face the cancellation of the school prom because one student planned to attend with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo. The story tells of L.G.B.T.Q.+ allies and educators who help the students rally to save the prom, and features an emotional coming-out scene toward the end.
Mr. Beguelin had skipped the first preview performance of his new Broadway musical, “Elf,” that night in favor of attending the show at LTV.
“They were over the moon — so excited they couldn’t contain themselves,” said Tamara Salkin, who along with Amanda Jones is a co-founder of South Fork Performing Arts. “He was so gracious to our students. I think for them to be seen by somebody in the business doing this work, and then to be so highly complimented and praised for it . . . was the most moving part.”