In just over a month, on February 13, 14, and 15, Footloose will take over the Derry Opera House stage. This show is a jukebox musical filled with rockin ‘music and jives to brighten your day. With popular songs like “I Need a Hero,” “Footloose,” and “Let’s Hear it for the Boy.” This show will make you want to kick off your Sunday shoes.
When mother and son, Ren McCormack (senior Mason Turek) and Ethel McCormack (junior Beck Solomons) have to move to a small town called Bomont. The McCormack’s are not prepared for the adjustments they have to make to their day-to-day life. The McCormack’s are greeted by Reverend Shaw Moore (senior Dylan Anderson); he makes a point to show he is in charge of this town. In doing so, they had the power to ban dancing.
His rebellious daughter Ariel Moore (senior Hanna Carroll), catches Ren’s eye but gives him the cold shoulder when he tries to introduce himself. He knows he will have to get through Ariel’s rioting boyfriend Chuck (senior Alex Barnes.) A few days into school he meets his first friend Willard Hewitt (junior Jake Birch), a simple country bumpkin with a warm heart and a big smile.
Giving Ren the scoop of the town are Ariel’s best friends, Rusty (senior Reya Rivera), Wendy Jo (sophomore Lainey Anthony), and Urleen (sophomore Lylah Chaffee) sing the song “Somebody’s Eyes,” which explains the strict rules and morality that pervades the town of Bomont.
Determined to make dancing allowed again, Ren gets a group together to try to change the minds of the Reverend and the town board. Included in the board are Moore’s wife Vi (sophomore Meryl Mason), and fellow adults Lulu Warnicker (senior Maddie Tufts), Wes Warnicker (freshman Caleb Dupes), Coach Dunbar (senior Madeline Rolfe), and Eleanor Dunbar (senior Julia Pizzi.)
As things start to form together Co-Director Noah Payeur looks forward to seeing how the audience will like the show.
“Everyone seems to be enjoying their time and doing all the dances and they look amazing,” Payeur said. “Since Footloose is well known I’m excited for the audience to see it.”
Rivera is eager for people to see the show and all dedication that was put into the process. Along with being a cast member, she has also designed the set and “can’t wait for people to see it.”
“Getting to spend three days a week with such a fun and close cast has been my favorite part,” Rivera said. “I’m most excited for people to see all the hard work we’ve put in, and the amazing choreography that goes along with such fun songs.”
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