Prom is, in theory, a time to take the seriousness out of school for the weekend. Tuxedos and evening gowns come out of hiding, and the stresses of high school are tucked away safely. Photos are taken, meals are shared, and for one shining night, Mason City High School put everything behind them to have a good time.
On April 25th, much of North Iowa had their prom celebrations. Mason City was among them, this year with a jungle theme. As is tradition, Prom was held at Music Man Square downtown.The students were greeted with a large stencil of a tiger as they walked the Grand March floor into the dance. There were various other exotic decorations, fake torches and trees. After a ticket check and Mrs. Bouska preparing students behind the curtain, they proceeded to the Grand March. As students moved from the Grand March into the dance hall, the first thing they noticed was the music bursting from the DJ booth on the front stage.
No prom is complete without a comprehensive selection of music, and this year was no exception. A Prom DJ is under a lot of pressure, as he is responsible for either maintaining or killing the mood on the dancefloor. This year’s DJ was swift, selecting songs that were tried-and-true crowd pleasers. Songs ranged from Post Malone’s Congratulations, to Ed Sheeran’s Photograph. From LMFAO’s Party Rock Anthem, to Gwen Stefani’s Hollaback Girl. From The Chainsmokers’ Closer, to Fitz and the Tantrums’ HandClap. This brief list just scratches the surface of the night’s diverse setlist.
One thing that made this prom particularly special was a surprise guest. Elliott Burgos, an 8-year-old with brain cancer. His older brother, Cameron, a senior, and his girlfriend Ashley Alert accompanied him to the dance. He was given exclusive treatment, being crowned Mason City’s first prom king and getting to dance to his favorite song, Taio Cruz’s Dynamite. It was a touching and sweet moment to add to an already exciting and fun night.
There was a lot of anticipation built up for the Post-Prom. Jokes were made suggesting Post-Prom deserved the title of Prom, and that Prom be renamed Pre-Prom. After the dance, most of the students went to the Post-Prom, which was Harry Potter themed. Mason City was joined by students from Newman Catholic. The theme was evident throughout the building. There were cutouts to take photos with, along with costume pieces and themed names for much of the other entertainment. Activities included karaoke, large inflatable obstacle courses, laser tag, and a whole floor of blackjack. There was plenty of activities to keep the students busy until the prize drawing and hypnotist for the last hour and a half. Students earned raffle tickets by winning in any event, be it Blackjack, the obstacle course, laser tag, or cornhole. The prizes ranged from a ukulele to a mini fridge, but the only prize being talked about was the hypnotist raffle.
The hypnotist occupied the last hour of Post-Prom as everyone crowded into the gym to watch. Seniors put their names into a raffle, and around ten were selected. The original lineup shifted, as some people chosen didn’t successfully get hypnotized, and a few audience members were. The hypnotist made the lineup do incredible things, ranging from constantly tying their shoes, to convincing them that their dates had disappeared. From Prom to Post Prom, MCHS upper classmen had a great time making memories together.