On Feb. 27th, the lights dimmed, the big gym fell silent, and the room erupted as the prom was revealed. “The fact that the venue looks amazing made my decision to go even greater,” senior Krystal Ngeam said. Gabrielino’s 2026 Prom would be held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, and the theme is Amor Enterno, under the lights of Ebell.
The Wilshire Ebell Theatre was originally closed due to COVID-19 and has recently reopened to the public. Making Gabrielino students the first to reaccess the theatre.
For the Class of 2026, to many, prom is a special night to celebrate the final year of high school. For Ngeam, however, it means more than that.
“Knowing it’s my last ever prom, I want to make the best out of it. Whether that be finding the perfect prom dress or getting ready with friends, I can already feel that this prom will forever be a special memory I will have,” Ngeam said.
There may be a lot of excitement for prom, but there can be mixed feelings, similar to senior Xinli Li’s emotions. “I feel mixed emotions since it’s my last prom and saying goodbye to everyone. But, I’m excited because I get to party and dance with my friends,” Li shared.
Besides prom, many students find the most important parts of prom are the theme and the venue itself. Worrying about the venue’s location and setting, while the theme should be unique and match the location.
After the prom reveal, what are students’ and teachers’ thoughts on the theme and venue for prom? The consensus so far is overwhelmingly positive for both the location and theme.
While questioning senior Carson Lam’s thoughts, he shared what he found appealing about prom. “I liked it because I thought the venue was very nice, and it looked like a really good place to take pictures,” Lam said.
While prom will be held at a theatre, it provides both indoor and outdoor scenery for students who will attend. Making it the perfect opportunity for students to take pictures or take a breather before continuing to enjoy the event inside the venue.
Ngeam agreed with Lam, “I think the theme fits the venue really well, with the aesthetic and colors. My opinions on the venue were great! It looks super nice inside and outside, so I am super ecstatic to see it in person.”
Junior Ria Singh commented, “I think the location and venue were a really good match because the red and gold color scheme that goes along with the theme fit perfectly with the gold features of the venue. I also think the venue captures those same Spanish vibes that the theme uses in the words “Amor Eterno ,” Singh shared.
With prom having the perfect match of theme and venue, many students are satisfied with this year’s prom. Having positive and content reviews from many students.
As prom slowly approaches, many seniors, although excited to do promposals and find the perfect outfits, are perhaps bittersweet about prom. Ngeam shares her different sentiment about prom.
“It is bittersweet because I will never experience a high school dance ever again, and knowing this will actually be the last ever dance I will attend makes it all the more sad. But, I am happy that prom is almost near because I can’t wait for the memories I’ll make.”
Though, what about next year’s prom? How can the theme and venue satisfy the upcoming seniors and juniors? While interviewing students and teachers, many brought up good suggestions and recommendations to create an unforgettable 2027 prom.
Ngeam advises, “A recommendation I have is for the DJ to play a lot of hype songs. Upbeat music really brings the crowd together, and the energy that it produces makes it all the more fun and memorable.”
While math teacher, Lauren Kawai, commented on her own experience and what makes a prom good, “When I went to prom, we had ours on a cruise ship, which meant not everybody could go. There was a limit on the number of students who could attend. I think it’s important as long as you have a big venue that can include everybody,” Kawai shared.
