|
If the goal of this year’s spring musical was
to have audiences leave the auditorium with a “song in their hearts and
beat in their feet”, then Footloose can only be described as a
resounding success!
|
|
The
Park Center Drama Department staged the very popular Rodgers and
Hammerstein musical, Footloose, in March of this year.
This swift-paced
musical is based on the smash-hit movie starring Kevin Bacon, and is
packed with marvelous dancing and songs from the 80's such as Holding
Out For A Hero, Let’s Hear It For The Boy, Mama Says, Almost
Paradise and, of course, Footloose!
The
story is set in Bomont, a small and conservative community in the south.
Ren McCormack, a streetwise kid from Chicago, and his mother, Ethel
McCormack, are forced to move to Bomont when Ren’s parents separate.
Everyone is suspicious of the new kid in town, as he questions their way
of life and soon has the whole town on its feet – in more ways than one! |
| Dancing is
outlawed in Bomont after the town pastor, an extremely powerful man in the
community, convinces the citizens that dancing is immoral.
Ren loves nothing more than to sing and dance, so needless to say,
conflict between Ren and the Rev. Shaw Moore is inevitable. Things become
even more complicated when the pastor’s rebellious daughter, Ariel
Moore, befriends Ren, and they, with the help of the other teenagers in
the town, decide to organize a dance. |
|
|
|
The story of Footloose
is a family story that one can easily relate to. It deals with people learning to overcome their mistrust in
outsiders - those who do not “fit the mold” - but moreover, it
addresses the way people can overcome differences spanning generations,
and work together for the good of the community. |
|
The cast
for Footloose was extremely well chosen. Ren McCormack, played by Andy Kust, and
Ariel Moore, played by Ashley Borgstrom, were outstanding as two young
people, from different worlds, who fall in love. The Reverend Shaw Moore,
played by Andrew Sturdy, and Vi Moore, his wife, played by Kari Stark,
were exceptional in their respected roles as Ariel’s rigid parents, and
Jon Maack won audiences over with his humorous portrayal of Willard
Hewitt.
|
|
|
|
Other
talented cast members included Kristi Rolek, Deb Dustin and Jenny Sneen as
Ariel’s best friends, Rusty, Urleen and Wendy Jo. Dave Christians was
very convincing as Chuck, Ariel’s delinquent boyfriend, as was Ricky
Olson as the town policeman. Lindsey Gauvitte was absolutely enchanting in
her dual roles as Betty Blast, roller-skating owner of the Burger Blast,
as well as Irene, charming country-and-western singer at the Bar-B-Que. |
| Kate
Janke and Jodi Flannery-Olson, who are both newcomers to Park Center this
year, directed Footloose. Ms. Janke was also the musical director
and Ms. Flannery-Olson was responsible for the choreography of the
musical. Molly Micholajak and
Lindsay Patterson assisted with costuming – a task made easier by the
fact that both ladies grew up during the eighties, and knew exactly what
clothes to look for! Rob
Sturdy and his competent “techies” were in charge of the technical
aspects of the production, including the building of the set. A small pit
orchestra, with talented teacher, Steve Borgstrom, as lead guitarist, and
piano player extraordinaire, Dan Tewalt, accompanied the cast.
Lindy Edwards was producer for the show. |
|
Group photo published with permission of Bill Jones, photographer from Brooklyn Park Sun Post.