Character guide
Alyssa Greene
from The Prom
Alyssa Greene is Emma Nolan's secret girlfriend in The Prom, Matthew Sklar's 2018 musical, and the daughter of the PTA president who canceled the prom.
- Show
- The Prom
- Broadway premiere
- 2018
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- Matthew Sklar
Alyssa Greene on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 2020 Netflix film
Ariana DeBose played Alyssa Greene in Ryan Murphy's 2020 Netflix film; Isabelle McCalla originated the role on Broadway in 2018. Alyssa's mother, the PTA head who fights Emma's prom, went from Courtenay Collins on stage to Kerry Washington on screen.
DeBose and Washington both sing on Wear Your Crown, a new end-credits song written for the film, with Nicole Kidman, Jo Ellen Pellman and Meryl Streep.
Who is Alyssa Greene?
Alyssa is a high-achieving student council president caught between her love for Emma and her fear of disappointing her mother, the PTA president who spearheaded the decision to cancel prom rather than allow a same-sex couple to attend. That conflict keeps Alyssa closeted for much of the show, adding pressure to her relationship with Emma even as outside forces intensify.
Her arc is ultimately about finding the courage to be honest with her mother and her community, culminating in a public declaration that reshapes both her family relationship and the town's prom.
Alyssa's role in The Prom
Alyssa is a supporting role built around emotionally direct pop ballads, including Alyssa Greene and the duet Dance With You, which require a clear, contemporary musical theater voice. The part balances outward composure with private anguish, giving the actor room for a quieter kind of tension against the show's broader comic characters.
Isabelle McCalla originated the role on Broadway, bringing sincerity to a character whose late-show honesty helps drive the story's resolution and gives the central love story its happy ending.
Alyssa Greene: frequently asked questions
What show is Alyssa Greene from?
Alyssa Greene is a supporting character in The Prom, which opened on Broadway in 2018.
Is Alyssa Greene a lead or supporting role?
Alyssa Greene is a supporting role.
Who wrote the music for The Prom?
Matthew Sklar composed the music, with lyrics by Chad Beguelin.
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