Teens can be mean. And sometimes mean teens grow into unkind adults, too. But then there are other people who have the power to empower and uplift others who need support. Those are two of the root messages at the heart of The Prom, now onstage at MusicalFare Theatre.

The story takes us from the stages of New York to the gymnasium of Indiana, from actors who are looking for a way to snag some publicity, to a teen girl who just wants to go to prom with another teen girl. Their stories intersect in a way that affirms how good things really, truly can happen, even when fear, ignorance, and exclusion put up strong barriers.

Yes, The Prom is replete with important messaging. It’s also full of bouncy and joyful music, great dancing, glitzy costumes, and completely lovable and some laughable characters. In other words, it’s better than a taffeta dress, a sweaty-handed date in a ruffled shirt, and slow dancing to “Color My World.”

In brief, actors Barry (Louis Colaiacovo) and DeeDee (Jenn Stafford) closed their latest show in one night. Their friend Angie (Nicole Cimato) is waiting for her chance to be Roxy Hart in Chicago. Their buddy Trent (Marc Sacco) is about to tour in bus-trip production of Godspell, and their publicist Sheldon (Dave Spychalski)  is between gigs, too. They decide to embrace a cause that would provide social proof of their empathy and snag them some good press. They spot a story about a high school in Indiana that was pushing back on its prom because student Emma (Sam Crystal) wanted to bring her girlfriend Alyssa (Alexandria Watts) whose Mom (Davida Evette Tolbert) is the PTA mom who is leading the no same-sex-prom dates charge.

Director Doug Weyand selected an impressive mix of familiar faces and ensemble actors making their MusicalFare debut for this cast. Crystal is exceptional as Emma: her covers of “Just Breathe” and “Unruly Heart” are poignant and sweet. She breaks out of her shell when Angie shows her a bit of “Zazz,” too: Cimato is a riot with her riffs on choreographer Bob Fosse.  Watts reminds our inner teen that the kid in the spotlight (the PTA mom’s kid or the preacher’s kid) is sometimes suffering inside while on public display with her wistful song “Alyssa Greene.” Stafford is deliciously, delightfully vain and self-centered as DeeDee until she connects with Mr. Hawkins, the school principal (Jake Hayes) and seeks to reform herself with “The Lady is Changing.”

Michael Oliver-Walline’s choreography is lively and high energy and perfectly syncs to the score and the house band under Theresa Quinn’s direction. The whole experience is quite fun with that undercurrent of something important happening here. When Colaiacovo as Barry shares his prom story with Emma, it’s that reminder that every generation has its own version of struggle…and when will our world get it right for all kids and the adults they will become?

The Prom runs about two hours with a 15-minute intermission to October 6. There are Wednesday evening talk-backs with the cast and local agencies with DEIB and LGBTQ messages of help and hope to share, too. Tickets and details at muscialfare.com. Get there before your gardenia corsage wilts.