This was not a dress rehearsal.
Ryan Murphy, creator of “American Horror Story,” “Glee” and “Pose,” bought out half the house at Tuesday night’s performance of “The Prom” on Broadway for LGBTQ+ youth who have never seen a Broadway show before -- a true effort to “kick-ball-change the world,” as they say in the musical.
“I wish this show was around when I was a kid. I related to this show so much because I’m from Indiana; the show is set in Indiana. I was not allowed to take my boyfriend to my senior prom,” Murphy told the audience as he took the stage ahead of the musical’s evening performance.
The Hetrick Martin Institute, GLAAD, The Trevor Project, New York City Public Schools’ Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSA) and Broadway For All were among the organizations that helped pull off the big night for the students.
“You are not alone,” Murphy told the students, revealing a star-studded guest list that included Glen Close, Ben Platt, Gus Kenworthy, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Morrison, Billy Porter, Cristian Siriano, Bernadette Peters, Andrew Rannells and Max Emerson.
“I was at a place as many of you were when I was growing up…my backyard was a cornfield, I’m from a very religious family, so I really get it,” Murphy added. “All of us came out tonight to celebrate 'The Prom' which is an amazing musical but also to celebrate you kids and to tell you that we love you and we see you and you have support.”
GLAAD told "GMA: "Thanks to Ryan Murphy, hundreds of LGBTQ youth and advocates experienced an empowering message of acceptance, not only as The Prom’s story unfolded onstage, but from so many of their favorite celebrities and LGBTQ notables in the audience. ”
"It was a fun opportunity for our counselors, who support youth in crisis every day, to celebrate "The Prom’s" inclusive message for young people everywhere," The Trevor Project said.
Murphy also announced that "The Prom" is headed to Netflix.
“I want to see optimistic content and I want to make optimistic content,” Murphy told the excited crowd, adding that the Netflix adaptation would make its debut in September 2020 to “change hearts, minds and votes.”
“The Prom” is a story of a high school student banned from taking her girlfriend to prom as a group of Broadway stars head to the girl's small Indiana town with their own intentions to "fight the injustice."
“The show says in a profound way that LGBTQ rights are human rights,” Murphy said.