Inspired by the musical and recent movie adaptation of “Wicked,” the theme for Gretna East’s first solo prom is “A Night in Emerald City.” The dance will take place on April 12, from 6:30 – 10:30 p.m. in the Junior Ballroom on the second floor of the CHI Health Center.
“With the recent release of ‘Wicked: Part One’ and the upcoming sequel in November, excitement for this enchanting world is at an all-time high,” prom sponsor Jami Chingren said. “This theme brings sophistication and sparkle to one of the most memorable nights of high school.”
The prom committee’s vision for the night includes emerald greens and shiny gold to bring Emerald City to life. The theme should not be confused with a ‘Wicked” character-themed event.
“There won’t be scarecrows and tin-men or Glinda versus Elphaba colors,” Chingren said. “Our Emerald City theme is all about luxury, elegance and Art Deco glamour.”
Along with Chingren, the theme was chosen by 17 students on the planning committee. Each member presented an idea to the committee, ending in a vote that led to the choice of “A Night in Emerald City.”
“I loved our decision-making process,” committee co-chair, senior Nathan Medcalf said. “I felt like this system was fair for everyone, and everyone got a say in what was chosen.”
The theme “A Night in Emerald City” implies that it will be a glamorous evening, and students are expected to dress the part. Prom is a formal event that has a dress code; anyone who plans to attend should wear dress pants, a button-down shirt, a suit, a tuxedo or a formal dress. All school dress code rules will still apply.
“An upcoming AEP lesson will cover attire guidelines,” Chingren said. “We also understand that formalwear can be expensive, and students needing assistance should reach out to a school counselor for support and resources. Our goal is for everyone to enjoy this special night without financial stress.”
Tickets are available now on GoFan for $30 each. Juniors and seniors can attend, but underclassmen may only attend if accompanied by an upperclassman. Anyone bringing an outside guest must fill out an outside guest form, which will be released in the coming weeks. Gretna High students will be considered outside guests. Also, like Homecoming, attendees will be subject to breathalyzers before entering.
The committee is eager to bring its vision to life and set up a memorable night for the first Griffin solo prom.
“My first favorite thing is working with everybody,” Medcalf said. “Getting a unique perspective on it from different people really makes making something like this come together really fun. This year, I get to work on Gretna East’s first solo prom while also working on my senior prom. It makes it a bittersweet process.”
