Prom-goers of years past quite literally danced the night away at Mt. Lebanon High School’s overnight prom.

However, in the last two years, the prom changed drastically. Though the location, the Omni William Penn Hotel, remains the same, the time of prom is now 7 to 11 p.m., a much shorter timeframe than previous 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. events. This change is the result of the hard work of the class of 2024 and the school administration.

Overnight proms typically exist as safety measures for students and as a way to lengthen the celebration. Students understood that the overnight prom limited the amount of partying and drunk driving to be done afterwards, but many argued that driving home at 5 a.m. after no sleep was just as bad, if not worse.

Why the Time Changed

Prom is traditionally a well-anticipated event. In fact, with the exception of graduation, it might be the most anticipated event.

Christine Brodbeck, a business information and technology teacher and Mt. Lebanon graduate, chaperoned both iterations of the prom and experienced the overnight prom as a student many years ago.

She said the decision to change prom, felt to some, “like the end of a tradition, a kind of rite of passage for Mt. Lebanon students. Others thought it was about time they changed it.”

Brodbeck was torn at first, but after she chaperoned the class of 2023 prom, she knew it was time for a change. “By 3 a.m., students were changing into sweats or pajamas and camping out by the elevators — it was obvious that the energy and excitement just weren’t lasting through the night,” she recalled.

Brodbeck respects and admires the willingness of Britanny Tonkavich, the student activities director, to change the time of prom to “make sure the new format reflected what the students truly wanted, not just what the adults thought that they wanted.”

“Now, having chaperoned two of the 7 to 11 p.m. proms, I can confidently say it was absolutely the right move,” said Brodbeck. “The class of 2025 had a blast and no one ever appeared to be bored or desperate to leave. It was, in my opinion, a perfect prom for a
special class.”

Then vs. Now

Chaperones and parents tend to experience prom much differently than the students.

Chris Needles, Orchard Drive, chaperoned from 2005 when her oldest child was in ninth grade, until 2014 when her youngest child graduated from Mt. Lebanon.

Needles became known as the “elevator guard” among fellow chaperones and students, as she secured the entrance and exit to the prom floor.

“I didn’t mind not being on the dance floor, in fact I preferred being by the elevator,” she said. Her daughter’s friends liked it too because they made her hold their extra belongings, a result of the large overnight bags students packed  for the long night ahead of them.

At the time, Needles was in cancer treatment and could not sleep very well at nights, so a few of her friends suggested that she start chaperoning the overnight prom. Needles loved the overnight concept, as she felt it kept her children safe.

“I was so shocked to see the change in time,” she said. “The whole premise was that the kids are locked in.”

Needles considered the overnight prom wholly positive, as the school provided continuous entertainment such as a hypnotist, a magic show and various snacks throughout the night. The school continues to provide this entertainment, even though the prom is no longer overnight.

“I would see kids sleeping on the floor,” said Needles. It was no secret that students got tired overnight, but Needles believes that was just the well-advertised nature of the event; students knew what they were getting into.

As the needs of students change, prom is changing with them. Students and chaperones are already reaping the benefits of a shorter night, more excitement and a full night’s sleep.