"The Prom"

The Imperial Theatre in New York City is seen in this shot from "The Prom" (Netflix, 2020). Many thanks to Mike Hume for this screenshot and all the others appearing here. For historic information and thousands of great photos of the many theatres he's explored in the L.A. area and elsewhere visit his Historic Theatre Photography site. 

 

Mike comments about this scene: "Keegan-Michael Key, playing school principal and Broadway theatre fan Tom Hawkins, approaches the exterior of the Imperial to attend a show starring Broadway star Dee Dee Allen, played by Meryl Streep. The brief shot is believed to have been shot on location in New York, with buildings enhanced using CGI."

 

 

Another Imperial view. The film, directed by Ryan Murphy, also stars Nicole Kidman, Kerry Washington, James Cordon, Tracey Ullman and Ariana DeBose. It's based on the Broadway show by Chad Beguelin, Bob Martin and Matthew Sklar. The cinematography was by Matthew Libatique. 

 

 

Entering the "Imperial." Mike Hume comments: "After approaching the theatre, Keegan-Michael Key enters, singing about his love of Broadway shows as he walks through the lobby. We’re actually in the grand lobby of the Los Angeles Theatre."

 

 

Another shot of the lobby of the Los Angeles Theatre, 615 S. Broadway. 

 

 

Yet another view. See the pages about the Los Angeles Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the building and many photos. It opened in 1931 with the premiere of Chaplin's "City Lights."

 

 

Keegan-Michael Key heads into the auditorium. Mike Hume comments: "He sits in the audience and is mesmerized by Meryl Streep's character in the show at the Imperial. Except we’re in the Palace Theatre in Los Angeles."

 

 

Another shot in the aisle at the Palace. Mike notes that one clue that we're at the Palace is the mix of both red and green exit signs. 

 

Keegan-Michael Key in his seat. The Palace Theatre is at 630 S. Broadway, nearly across the street from the Los Angeles.

 

A view from onstage. Mike comments: "The tell-tale sign that we're at the Palace is the large oil painting just visible in the murkiness at the side of the proscenium."

 

 

A scene in the show at the "Imperial." Mike notes: "Shots of the show onstage appear to have been shot on location judging by this shot from the audience which looks like it was shot in the Palace Theatre."

 

 

 

A backstage view of the show Meryl Streep's character is in. See the pages about the Palace Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of the building and hundreds of photos. The theatre opened in 1911 as the Orpheum. 

 

 

Time for another show, "Eleanor! The Eleanor Roosevelt Musical." Mike Hume has the story: "It's the exterior of the Shubert Theatre in New York. This was a set created in Los Angeles' Arts District because permission for filming outside the real theatre in New York was denied. See a Page Six story about the set construction." 

 

 

 

Onstage during "Eleanor." Mike Hume comments: "Broadway stars Barry Glickman as Franklin D. Roosevelt (played by James Corden) and Dee Dee Allen as Eleanor Roosevelt (played by Meryl Streep) play their opening – and it will transpire closing – night on the stage of the Shubert in New York. However we’re actually in the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles."

 

 

Another Orpheum view, with the back of the main floor more colorfully lit than usual. The theatre, at 842 S. Broadway, is two blocks down the street from the Palace and Los Angeles theatres.  

Applause at the end of opening/closing night. 

 

 

 

In the trap room/green room under the stage for the opening night party. See the pages about the Orpheum Theatre on the Los Angeles Theatres site for a history of this 1926 vintage vaudeville house.

Thanks again to Mike Hume for the research and the screenshots. Don't miss the pages about the Los Angeles, Palace and Orpheum on the Historic Theatre Photography site.

On IMDb: "The Prom"