It’s 2010, and Itawamba Agricultural High School’s Prom was just cancelled due to backlash received after senior Constance McMillen’s request to bring her girlfriend, and to wear a tuxedo. The courageous 18 year old would later take the Mississippi school district to court, and win, resulting in a precedent-setting ruling and an achievement in LGBTQIA+ history.
The story of Constance McMillen serves as the inspiration for our current production, “The Prom.”
Paige Lord leads the onstage portrayal of Constance’s journey as Emma Nolan
The journey to McMillen’s win was not an easy one. Constance had initially stated her intentions to bring a same-sex date to prom in December 2009, which was denied. Constance then contacted the ACLU, who provided the school district with threats of legal action if they did not allow Constance to attend the prom. The Itawamba Agricultural High School Board then proceeded to cancel the prom.
In what the Itawamba school board painted as an attempt to protect Constance, had isolated the student, and subjected her to blame and ridicule from her peers and community members, who blamed Constance for the prom’s cancellation.
Emily Diener plays school board president and over-bearing mother, Mrs. Greene alongside Ryan Blok as Principal Hawkins.
Emily Diener plays school board president and over-bearing mother, Mrs. Greene alongside Ryan Blok as Principal Hawkins.
Throughout the lawsuit, a private prom was planned by the school’s parents, but once again cancelled when Constance attempted to buy a ticket. A new private prom was announced by school officials, parents, and local news. When McMillen arrived with her date she was met with about 5 students in attendance. The remainder of her classmates were in the Evergreen region of Itawamba, where a separate prom was being held without McMillen’s knowledge. The prom that Constance was invited to, was a decoy prom.
Hailie MacKay and Paige Lord portray the onstage couple.
Like every other teenage girl in Itawamba county, Constance dreamed of one spectacular night with the date of her dreams. This dream was ripped away by bigoted parents and school leaders at the expense of Constance. Despite these adults purposefully attempting to make Constance feel small and embarrassed, she rose above. She spoke on her experience on several major television programs, presented at the 2010 GLAAD awards, and was the Grand Marshall of the 2010 NYC Pride Parade.
“The Prom” is more than a show, it is a tribute. As we dance on the Circle stage, we dance for Constance and every young person who has been told they don’t belong. We tell Constance and Emma’s stories in hopes that no one is made to feel this way again.
The cast of Circle Theatre’s “The Prom” perform “Love Thy Neighbor”
WRITTEN BY ANNIE EGAN, MARKETING & OUTREACH INTERN
SOURCES
ACLU complaint takes on “Decoy” prom for mississippi lesbian student. American Civil Liberties Union. (2010, April 20). https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-complaint-takes-decoy-prom-mississippi-lesbian-student
Cable News Network. (2010, July 20). Mississippi school pays damages to lesbian teen over prom dispute. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/07/20/mississippi.lesbian.settlement/
Joyner, C. (2010, March 12). ACLU files suit against Miss. school for canceling prom. USA Today. https://web.archive.org/web/20100314150542/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-11-no-prom-mississippi_N.htm
Kieffer, C., & Wilson, A. (2010, April 1). Itawamba prom off, then on again. Nems360.com – itawamba prom off then on again. https://web.archive.org/web/20100403215514/http://www.nems360.com/view/full_story/6891294/article-Itawamba-prom-off–then-on-again
McMillen v. Itawamba County School District. American Civil Liberties Union. (2023, January 26). https://www.aclu.org/cases/fulton-ms-prom-discrimination
Wildman, S. (2010, November 2). Constance McMillen: The accidental activist. Glamour. https://www.glamour.com/story/constance-mcmillen
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT 2011; Constance McMillen. Women of Achievement. (2017, December 18). http://womenofachievement.org/heroism/constance-mcmillen/