Disclaimer: I am not getting any sort of commission from the Awesome 80’s Prom advertising department to plug their show. I am just a girl (who wants to have fun, Cyndi Lauper style) who truly did have an awesome time at the Awesome 80’s Prom….as cliché as that sounds.

Bachelorette and bachelor parties in general make me roll my eyes. In recent years, they’ve gotten so stereotyped and out-of-control elaborate that they can often take away from the actual wedding itself – in my opinion, events such as weekend-long trips to Vegas involving strippers and booze (and penis-shaped paraphernalia for girls) just don’t seem necessary to celebrate the upcoming happiest day in two people’s lives.

When the original idea of going to Awesome 80′s Prom for my best friend’s bachelorette party was suggested, I am the first to admit that I was not 100% on board with it. Billed as an off-Broadway show, I did some research on their website and quickly learned it was not your typical “theater” production by any means – this was more of an interactive production where members of a fictional high school (characters such as the class nerd, the head cheerleader, and the “bad boy”) roamed around a club that was set-up like a high school prom, campaigning for student votes for prom king and queen. Not being a big fan of clubs/bars in general, and not totally sure exactly how an interactive club would work, I wasn’t too sure how the night would pan out. However, another round of research on the good old Internet taught me that Dustin Diamond (aka Samuel “Screech” Powers from Saved by the Bell) would be attending the prom the same night we would be going – and being the biggest Saved by the Bell fan out of anyone else I have ever met, this piqued my interest right away and sent me next to 80stees.com to find myself a Bayside t-shirt to proudly wear in front of Dustin.

Rule #1 – Dress the Part
Once you wrap your brain around the concept that you are a high school student in the 80s attending your high school prom, get prepared to dress 80s. Whether you want to get a replica 80s style pink dress a la Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink or simply tease your hair, wear blue eyeshadow and rock a side ponytail – get into it. You are also playing a part in this experience, and if you don’t look 80s in some respect, trust me – you will stick out.

Rule #2 – Arrive Early. It’s Worth It.
When you arrive at the prom, so do all of the characters in the show – they aren’t waiting backstage, they are arriving out front just as you are before the official start time. You will see the bad boy outside smoking cigarattes and jeering at the arriving crowd, the nerds arrive on scooters/bicycles, the football star roll up in a limo with his head cheerleader date – arriving early kicks your experience off right away, and gives you a great preview of what’s to come inside.

Rule #3 – Get Interactive
No one asks or demands that you seek out every character that is a part of the show; but many will come up to you and strike up a conversation with you – and that is the point! Some will even act as if they already know you/have seen you around school before – the best way to heighten your experience is to take their lead and interact with them. Blowing them off leads to the question of why are you even here in the first place – avoiding or getting annoyed at those directly involved in the show just wastes your time and money, as this is not a traditional club by any means!

Rule #4 – Seek Out Celebrity Prom Guests – Especially If They Are Dustin Diamond
It’s no secret that Dustin Diamond is not an A-list celebrity by any means. After Saved by the Bell, he garnered some pretty bad press with the release of his sex tape and his behavior on Celebrity Fit Club – and anyone who reads his book soon learns that he’s not the most affectionate towards his co-stars on Saved by the Bell. But Awesome 80′s Prom did a great thing hiring him – he is a fantastic addition to the already colorful cast of characters vying to be crowned prom royalty. Much more approachable than I was initially expecting, he is more than willing to take pictures with whoever wants one (even if he is making a face….see inset. I love it). My Bayside shirt proved to be a good conversation piece with him too, as he started talking to me by saying “Look at you! You’re ready for me, aren’t you?” He even offered amusing wishes to my friend on her upcoming wedding when we told him she’d be getting married – “Congratulations! Or should I say ‘I’m sorry’….I don’t know the guy!” While he is only at the prom for a limited engagement (hurry up and get there before August 28th when he leaves!), other celebrities not hired directly by Awesome 80s Prom (such as Jay-Z, Anne Hathaway, Molly Shannon, Adam Sandler and Tori Spelling) have been seen in attendance, so keep your eyes peeled.

Rule #5 – In Between Dances, Be Sure To Vote!
It’s obvious to point out, but if 80′s music is your thing, this is the place for you. After all, what other club is going to pump 2-solid hours of non-stop 80s music, from Girls Just Wanna Have Fun to Don’t Stop Believin? Be sure to take a break from the dancing to head over to the bar and cast your vote for prom king and queen – and don’t cut out early, to make sure you see the crowning of the winners!

Moral of the story – Awesome 80′s Prom actually IS awesome, if you’re willing to experience it in the way it was meant to be experienced. I found myself using the word “awesome” to describe just about everything that went on that night, and not because anyone was forcing me to. You will notice that more than half of those in attendance in the prom are part of a bachelorette party, and this actually cuts down on the number of traditionally skeezy guys who try to pick up girls at clubs – not too many guys are interested in paying to go to a themed-club that has a running plotline for 2 hours (however if you decide to stay at Webster Hall past the end of the prom, it is then turned back into a traditional club and the patrons are anybody’s guess).

Been to the prom yourself recently? Comment below with your review!