Character guide
Dee Dee Allen
from The Prom
Dee Dee Allen is a two-time Tony winning but currently unemployed Broadway diva in The Prom, Matthew Sklar's 2018 musical.
- Show
- The Prom
- Broadway premiere
- 2018
- Role
- Lead
- Music by
- Matthew Sklar
Dee Dee Allen on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 2020 Netflix film
Meryl Streep played Dee Dee Allen in Ryan Murphy's 2020 Netflix film, taking over the self-absorbed two-time Tony winner that Beth Leavel originated on Broadway in 2018 and earned a Tony nomination for. The film adds fantasy sequences that show Dee Dee in action on Broadway.
Streep also sings on Wear Your Crown, a new end-credits song written for the film, where she delivers a rap verse. Dee Dee's scenes with the school's principal, Mr. Hawkins, played by Michael Potts on Broadway, went to Keegan-Michael Key on screen.
Who is Dee Dee Allen?
Dee Dee is a legendary but fading Broadway star whose latest show has just flopped, leaving her desperate for good press and a cause to attach herself to. She latches onto Emma Nolan's prom controversy as much for her own image as out of genuine concern, and the show tracks her slow, often clumsy journey from self-obsessed celebrity to someone who actually listens to the teenager she claims to be helping.
Her relationship with a small-town Indiana school principal, who happens to be a genuine fan of her work, becomes an unexpected mirror that forces her to confront her own vanity and loneliness.
Dee Dee's role in The Prom
Dee Dee is a lead role and one of the show's comic engines, requiring a performer skilled in big, brassy belting alongside sharp comic timing. Her numbers include It's Not About Me and The Lady's Improving, both showcasing her larger-than-life persona and her gradual, grudging growth.
Beth Leavel originated the role on Broadway and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance, cementing Dee Dee as one of the show's most memorable creations, a satire of Broadway self-regard that still earns real affection from audiences by the final curtain.
Dee Dee Allen: frequently asked questions
What show is Dee Dee Allen from?
Dee Dee Allen is a lead character in The Prom, which opened on Broadway in 2018.
Is Dee Dee Allen a lead or supporting role?
Dee Dee Allen is a lead role.
Who wrote the music for The Prom?
Matthew Sklar composed the music, with lyrics by Chad Beguelin.
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