For the first time since 2012, a Lemont High School student appeared on stage in the Illinois High School Theatre Festival All-State Production. Junior Julia Macari portrayed Angie in the fest’s production of “The Prom.” Out of approximately 300 Illinois students who auditioned, Macari was featured as one of eight lead roles.
Taking on a lead role is nothing new for Macari. She has played Fiona in “Shrek,” Veronica Sawyer in “Heathers” and Regina George in “Mean Girls.” Having performed since the age of nine, Macari has dedicated a lot of time to her craft in order to get to this place.
The All-State Production was held between Jan. 9 through 11 at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. The show was performed a total of five times over that period. “The Prom” was directed by Hinsdale South High School’s Danny Yuska, and produced by Deerfield High School’s Britnee Kenyon and Homewood-Flossmoor High School’s J.R. Willard-Rose.
The show itself is about a few Broadway stars who gather together in support of a girl who is facing hostility for wanting to attend prom with her girlfriend. It sheds light on the importance of inclusivity and acceptance, heavily focusing on the LGBTQ+ community. Macari’s role as Angie is portrayed as a dazed Broadway veteran with a heart of gold, extending her support and experience to the show’s protagonist, Emma.
“‘The Prom’ has a lot of great messages, but I think the most important one is to fight for what you love no matter what other people think,” Macari said.
Not only did it showcase a great message, the show was also a huge hit with the theatre festival’s audience. The cast received a plethora of warm comments and even gained new fans. While this show solidifies the success Macari has found throughout her theater career, she continues to strive towards even greater accolades in the near future.
“I’m looking forward to working with my director, Danny Yuska, again at his private theater company next fall. While we don’t know what show he plans on doing, he makes everything worthwhile,” Macari said.