Footloose Show Info
Footloose
Stage Adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie
Based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford
Music by Tom Snow
Lyrics by Dean Pitchford
Additional Music by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins and Jim Steinman
Synopsis
One of the most explosive movie musicals in recent memory bursts onto the live stage with exhilarating results. When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school. What he isn't prepared for are the rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing instituted by the local preacher, determined to exercise the control over the town's youth that he cannot command in his own home. When the reverend's rebellious daughter sets her sights on Ren, her roughneck boyfriend tries to sabotage Ren's reputation, with many of the locals eager to believe the worst about the new kid. The heartfelt story that emerges is of a father longing for the son he lost and of a young man aching for the father who walked out on him. To the rockin' rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated top 40 score (the soundtrack album reached number one on the Billboard charts and has sold over 15 million copies!) and augmented with dynamic new songs for the stage musical, FOOTLOOSE celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people, guiding them with a warm heart and an open mind.
Show History
FOOTLOOSE was based on a movie of the same name, released in 1984. The film also was written by Dean Pitchford and featured a star-studded cast including Kevin Bacon, John Lithgow, Lori Singer, Dianne Wiest, Chris Penn, and Sarah Jessica Parker. The FOOTLOOSE story in fact has its origins in the real-life tale of Elmore City, Oklahoma, where a law dating back to the 19th century forbade dancing within city limits.
The musical version of FOOTLOOSE opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on October 22, 1998 and ran for 709 performances. Its catchy, rock ‘n roll music and stellar cast helped it to develop an extensive fan base: the musical since has become one of the most frequently performed school musicals. It also has drawn crowds and success in the United Kingdom, where it toured beginning in January 2006. The tour ended in a production at London’s Novello Theatre, where it opened on April 18, 2006 after two weeks of previews. A new UK tour of FOOTLOOSE is planned for 2007, following the end of a successful London run.
Cast Requirements
PRINCIPALS
2 Woman
2 Teen Girls
1 Man
3 Teen Boys
FEATURED
3 Women
3 Teen Boys
1 Man
ENSEMBLE
Singing-dancing ensemble consisting of Townspeople and High School Students
CHARACTERS
Ren McCormack - teenage boy from Chicago
Ethel McCormack - his mother
Reverend Shaw Moore - the minister of Bomont
Vi Moore - his wife
Ariel Moore - their teenage daughter
Lulu Warnicker - Ren's aunt
Wes Warnicker - her husband
Coach Roger Dunbar - the high school gym teacher
Eleanor Dunbar - his wife
Rusty - Ariel's best friend
Urleen - Ariel's friend
Wendy Jo - Ariel's friend
Chuck Cranston - Ariel's boyfriend
Lyle - Chuck's buddy
Travis - Chuck's buddy
A Cop
Betty Blast - the owner of The Burger Blast
Willard Hewitt - Ren's friend, a country boy
Principal Harry Clark
Jeter - Ren's friend
Bickle - Ren's friend
Garvin - Ren's friend
Cowboy Bob - the lead vocalist at the Bar-B-Que
Cowboy Bob's Band
Townspeople and High School Students
Set Requirements
FOOTLOOSE takes place in Chicago and the small town of Bomont.
SPECIFIC LOCATIONS
City of Chicago
Town of Bomont, in Church
The Churchyard
Behind a Gas Station
A High School Hallway
The Moore Home
The Burger Blast
The Great Plains of Bomont
The High School Gym
The Bar-B-Que, a Country/Western Dance Hall
The Junk Yard
Under the Train Bridge