This article was originally published in Kaleidoscope‘s April 2025 print edition. It is being published as a separate online article now for easy access.
Senior prom is one of the most highly anticipated occasions for Ward Melville’s graduating class. The Prom Committee dedicates countless hours to perfecting the event annually; this year, they plan to go above and beyond prior expectations. Committee President Madison Calvanese and active committee member Remus Liff provided us with a glimpse into the planning process behind this year’s prom, as well as a preview of what seniors can look forward to on June 26.
Question: What was the inspiration behind this year’s prom theme?
Remus Liff: The inspiration for this year’s prom theme, “Down the Rabbit Hole,” is the original animated Alice in Wonderland with elements of modern adaptations.
Madison Calvanese: The inspiration for this year’s prom comes from a mix of the traditional animated Alice in Wonderland movie with realistic elements from the live action. Some of everyone’s favorite animated scenes will be recreated with realistic adaptations to make it feel like you are in Wonderland.
Q: What has the planning process involved, and who is involved in it?
MC: From the beginning, we have come up with ideas for each section of prom that follows the traditional Alice in Wonderland story. During each meeting, students are able to voice opinions and discuss ideas about what the invitation, keepsake and prom itself should look like. We get together with the school administration, club advisors, a catering company, a DJ and a construction company in order to plan all of the components of the prom. Additionally, parents are very involved in doing most of the building and decorating.
Q: What are your roles in the prom committee? How does the prom committee delegate roles for planning the prom?
RL: While I’m not on the board, I originated the concept of an Alice in Wonderland theme based on the cartoon. I then worked with Madison and a few others on combining our ideas to create the final product. The board and the teachers have a lot of opinions on what is done, while people who are just on the committee voice their thoughts and ideas as well.
MC: I am the current president of prom committee. I run the meetings with the vice president, Isabella Caracci. We focus on giving students with specific skill sets different jobs to complete, such as sketching a design idea that we can then present to the rest of the club, tweak and implement. All club members are encouraged and welcome to come to after-school parent meetings where they can help explain their vision to parents. Usually, board goes to parent meetings and delegates the other club members’ ideas to parents.
Q: Is there anything you can share about what the prom committee already has planned?
RL: We’re working with the parents and committee to create a cohesive story for the walkthrough, starting with the invitation and weaving it into the design of each section. We want it to feel like you’ve just stepped into the movie without a Disney-cartoony feel.
MC: We are trying to recreate the whimsical and magical adventure that Alice went through during her journey in Wonderland. We are currently focusing on the transitional areas between each section of prom and creating an invitation and keepsake that connects to the theme and color scheme of prom.
