“The Prom” has finally found its lead after a nationwide search. Actress Jo Ellen Pellman has landed the lead role for Netflix's upcoming adaptation of the popular Broadway musical being directed by Ryan Murphy.

Deadline exclusively revealed the casting news for the new film based on the Tony-nominated musical. Pellman will be essaying the role of Emma, a high school senior in Edgewater, Indiana, who gets banned from taking her girlfriend (Ariana DeBose) to the prom. The controversial decision prompts four down-on-their-luck Broadway stars to head over to this small town to support Emma. Jo Ellen Pellman’s credits include roles in TV series such as “The Deuce” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”

Other newcomers in the cast are Sofia Deler, Nico Greetham, Logan Riley Hassel, and Nathaniel J. Potvin. They will all be joined by some big names like Awkwafina, James Corden, Nicole Kidman, Keegan-Michael Key, Andrew Rannells, Meryl Streep, and Kerry Washington. Ariana Grande was originally cast in the role before being replaced by DeBose for the role of Alyssa.

Bob Martin and Chad Beguilin, who wrote the original book for the musical, will be writing the screenplay based on the concept by Jack Viertel. Beguelin will also provide the music and lyrics with his partner Matthew Sklar from the musical. The film is expected to begin filming in December this year.

The show made its debut in Atlanta in 2016 at the Alliance Theatre for almost two months. The musical finally started its run on Broadway on Nov. 15, 2018, and closed production on Aug. 11, 2019, after playing 309 performances in New York’s Longacre Theatre. The show has two acts featuring original songs.

“The Prom” ended up with six nominations at the Tonys, including Best Musical and Best Lead Actress. It also received a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, which the musical won. Currently, “The Prom” will be heading into a national tour that starts in February 2021 with their first stop in Rhode Island.

A young adult novel of the show was recently released on Sept. 10, which was written in collaboration with the show’s creators to adapt the musical into a book.

Netflix will release “The Prom” in Fall 2020.

The Prom broadway cast
The original Broadway cast of "The Prom" is pictured on opening night at The Longacre Theatre on Nov. 15, 2018 in New York City. Walter McBride/Getty Images
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