Stage Door News
Stage Door News
ST. JACOBS – Get ready to kick up your heels and dance! With its unstoppable energy and unbridled enthusiasm, Footloose, one of Drayton Entertainment’s most anticipated productions of the 2014 Season, has been vividly brought to life on stage at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse. Extended by popular demand, the production plays to packed houses through November 9th.
“We are thrilled to bring this wildly popular musical to Waterloo region,” says Alex Mustakas, Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment. “With its unforgettable songs, impressive dancing and uplifting story, Footloose is guaranteed fun from start to finish.”
To the rockin’ rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated score, Footloose is the touching story of Chicago city boy Ren McCormack who is transplanted to the conservative rural town of Bomont where rock music and dancing are forbidden. Frustrated by the restrictive environment, he vows to challenge the town council and change the law, sparking an unlikely relationship with the preacher’s daughter Ariel, inspiring his classmates, and setting into motion a chain of events which changes the destiny of the entire town.
Director Timothy French has succeeded in mounting a vibrant and heartfelt production that instantly captivates audiences. French’s clever staging and energetic choreography deliver freshness and exuberance in spades. French is no stranger to the Canadian stage – he has directed numerous musicals across the country including The Sound of Music for Drayton Entertainment.
Music Director Robert Foster leads a first class band through all the chart-topping hits from the original film including "Almost Paradise," "Holding Out for a Hero," "Let's Hear It For The Boy," and the classic title track, along with new material written specifically for the stage show. The infectious pop-rock score delivers hit after hit, taking the amazing energy of Footloose to an even higher level.
The creative Set Design by Allan Wilbee captures the small town setting and youthful spirit of the production, which is complemented by Kevin Fraser’s diverse Lighting Design. Costume Designer Jessica Bray achieves the bright and colourful 80s look expected from this iconic story.
Under the leadership of this elite Creative Team, the 22-member professional cast meets every expectation and dazzles audiences with captivating performances. In his Drayton Entertainment début, Colin Sheen is well cast as outsider Ren McCormack, the role made famous by Kevin Bacon. He's got the voice, the look, and all the right the moves to make a bonafide teenage heartthrob, as well as the sincerity to convey Ren’s sensitive underdog charm.
Also in her Drayton Entertainment début, Julia McLellan is appropriately flirtatious and headstrong as Ariel Moore, the defiant preacher’s daughter who falls for Ren. Her superb voice shines throughout the show; her performance of “Holding Out for a Hero” is one of many showstoppers. McLellan and Sheen deliver the hit song “Almost Paradise” with excellent vocals and heart – there is no question that they were meant to play these roles.
Veteran actor Victor A. Young delivers a moving performance as Ariel’s protective father Reverend Shaw Moore. Young brings all the nuances required for this important role – he’s got the commanding stage presence of a captivating worship leader, and the juxtaposition of a strict but loving father who is struggling to cope with a past tragedy and his daughter’s rebellion.
Charlotte Moore is warm and sympathetic as the Reverend’s wife Vi, while Catherine O’Brien delivers a likeable performance as Ren’s single mother Ethel. O’Brien, Moore and McLellan showcase their beautiful voices in the touching trio “Learning to be Silent.”
Katrina Reynolds, Kaleigh Gorka and Jade Repeta sparkle in their roles as Ariel’s faithful friends Rusty, Urleen and Wendy Jo. Their powerhouse voices and vivacious energy add to the fun, upbeat nature of the show. Reynolds is a particular standout with her knockout rendition of “Let’s Hear It for the Boy.”
Eric Morin radiates confidence as the town’s resident bad boy Chuck Cranston. He proves he’s got the voice to match the bravado with his rock solid performance of “The Girl Gets Around” with Ryan Gifford and Nicholas Nesbitt as his buddies Travis and Lyle.
Known for his comedic flair, Nick Settimi is absolutely hilarious as Ren’s unlikely best friend Willard. His terrifically timed one-liners make for many comic moments throughout the production, and his performance of the goofy song “Mama Says” along with Thomas Alderson as Jeter, Gregory Pember as Bickle and Jesse Weafer as Garvin, leaves the audience in hysterics.
Lee MacDougall and Daphne Moens are convincing as Wes and Lulu Warnicker, with Andrew Scanlon and Jayme Armstrong as Coach Dunbar and his wife Eleanor Dunbar respectively. Armstrong also shows off her rich voice in the country song “Still Rockin’” at the top of the second act.
Sarah Matton, Jade Percival and Christine Watson show off their astounding dance abilities at the forefront of the ensemble numbers, which also feature 20 young local dancers who were chosen to perform alongside the professional cast.
2014 marks the 30th Anniversary of the original Footloose movie which premiered in February 1984. With a modest budget and a young cast featuring Kevin Bacon, Chris Penn and Sarah Jessica Parker, Footloose became a sleeper hit and eventually a world-wide cult classic. The soundtrack was nominated for a Grammy Award, and both “Footloose” and “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The film was successfully remade in 2011 starring Hollywood newcomer Kenny Wormald as Ren, and Dancing with the Stars favourite Julianne Hough as Ariel. The stage adaptation debuted in 1998 starring Canadian Jeremy Kushnier as Ren. The production ran for more than two years on Broadway and was nominated for four Tony Awards.
Footloose is proudly sponsored by Josslin Insurance and Commercial Print-Craft Limited. Media Sponsors are 2day FM 107.7, and Hamilton Spectator. The Design Sponsors are TD Waterhouse The Brian Vickers Group and Four Points Sheraton Waterloo. The Season Media Sponsor is CTV.
Regular performance tickets are $42.00 for adults; $25.00 for youth under 20 years of age. Tickets for preview performances scheduled before the official opening and groups of 20 or more are $34.00. HST is applicable to all ticket prices.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.stjacobscountryplayhouse.com, in person at the St. Jacobs County Playhouse Box Office or by calling (519) 747-7788 or toll free 1-855-DRAYTON (372-9866).
Photo: Colin Sheen as Ren and the company of Footloose. ©2014 Hillary Gauld-Camillieri.
2014-10-10
St. Jacobs: "Footloose" bursts onto the stage in St. Jacob's October 10-November 9