The Prom's Publicity

College students revisit prom days, limos and all- 7 Jul 2006
"The Daily Universe"

By Garrett Martin

They may not be gangly, giggly teenagers anymore, but a group of BYU graduates couldn't be more excited for Saturday's prom.

Recent graduates Natalie Williams and Krista Elise are hosting a college/post-college prom at 8:30 p.m. Saturday night in Sugarhouse, complete with marble floors, a curved, flaring staircase and a photo studio to capture all the anticipated magic.

"For those of you whose dreams were shattered when not named prom king or prom queen, this is your chance to show those losers that you still have what it takes to wear the crown with pride, or maybe lose again," prom co-founder Elise said. "Either way, it's the last chance for summer romance, and the price of admission is free."

Sugarhouse High Prom, as the founders call it, will take place in a historic ballroom overlooking downtown Salt Lake.

"It's going to be the real deal," Elise said. "This place has 20-foot ceilings and chic stone pillars, but most importantly an exceptional prom DJ."

DJ Heber Eastman promised a good mix of hip-hop and '90s dance favorites, along with a very minute number of slow songs.

"I'm still looking for a top hat and cane," Eastman said. "This is a formal event and these sort of accessories are to be expected."

The belated prom was conjured up on an overfed diet of MTV and the TV show "Laguna Beach," prom committee president Williams said.

"To reconcile the difference between the sweet-sixteen lifestyle that we see on TV and our church-approved SLC lifestyle, we decided we needed to have prom just one more time," Williams said. "People think we look 17, so we might as well act like it."

The location was donated for the evening through a friend, and the promotion for the event has mainly consisted of mass text messaging, MySpace bulletin boards and word of mouth.
Williams said she hopes to have between 100 and 200 people in attendance.

"It's not your typical dance at the Wilk," she said. "It's prom. It's the bright lights of the big city. It's a chance to get out of Utah County - there is life beyond the U.C."

The dance will go until midnight on Saturday and is located in the Crandall Building at 78 S. Main St. in Salt Lake City. All are invited.