“Tonight I gotta cut loose! Footloose! Kick off your Sunday shoes!”
Last night, cowboy boots, Stetson hats, fringed skirts and plaid shirts were whirling and jumping to the beat of Kenny Loggins' signature hymn to youth's freedom and self-expression in Workshop Theatre’s production of Footloose: The Musical on the Cottingham theatre stage. Workshop's latest musical offering brings energetic, pitch perfect vocals and high energy choreography to this vibrant ‘80s musical. This production captures the spirit of the original 1984 film with singularly strong performances from the cast, bringing depth and resonance to those fondly remembered, colorful movie characterizations.
The blockbuster film, Footloose, was a smash hit bringing in over $80 million dollars worldwide. It told the story of a small Midwestern cowtown of Bomont, introducing flashy teenage characters wanting to rock ‘n’ roll against the town's ultra conservative minister and his pedantic flock. And it featured a breakout music video for its youthful audience. It made Kevin Bacon a huge movie star in this coming-of-age drama with a young Sarah Jessica Parker as BFF Rusty in a supporting role long before her Sex and the City diva stardom.
As the star-crossed teen lovers Ren and Ariel are the charming AydanWunderlich and powerhouse vocalist, Hayle Barry, both hitting emotional high notes on their steamy duet “Almost Paradise” complete with a balcony staircase to boot. Wunderlich as the restless new kid in town also scores big time with his opening solo “I Can't Stand Still” and his Bible thumping soliloquy at the eleventh-hour town meeting turns the tide of graduation prom events.
“Holding Out for a Hero” was a harmonic vocal hit with the audience with Ariel Barry and her BFFS: Rusty, Urleen, and Wendy Jo played by Dara Younce, Rye Winecoff and Erin Niland raising the vocal bar higher with each song. Other jukebox hits with the Footloose audience were: “Let’s Hear it for the Boy” performed by Dara Younce and act two opener "Still Rockin'' performed by Will Dowd (doubling as Cowboy Bob).
The show-stopping song in act two was "Mama Says," led by the charismatic country bohunk, Samuel Cleveland as Willard with his Bomont buddies, Bickle, Garvin and Jeter, played by Isaiah Dickson, Jordan Robinson and Tay Brown with hilariously inspired New Kids on the Block precision staging which demanded a second chorus finale.
Columbia area community theatre stage favorites, Frank Thompson and Lisa Baker play the fundamentalist Reverend Shaw Moore and his dutiful wife, Vi—both of whom have ample opportunities to shine in their character solos. Baker joins Hayle Barry, her daughter, Ariel and the talented Mendy Lewis as Ethel, Ren's mom, in a heartbreaking trio called “Learning To Be Silent” which was the vocal highlight of the evening. Baker's soulful solo, “Can You Find It In Your Heart,” was beautifully delivered in act two which Thompson later reprises for his Footloose conversion.
The bad boys are Dylan Livingston as Chuck, Ariel's demanding but rejected boyfriend, joined by cowpoke ruffians, James Nolan and Tyler Zangla for their song “The Girl Gets Around,” a hoot early-on in the performance. Strong support in various cameo roles throughout the production are provided by Absalom Oliver, Brandi Mimbs, Harrison Ayer, Ann McGaha, Nikki Anderson, Cherelle Turner and Caroline Leonard as the no holds barred character standout Betty Blast.
Vocal and choreographic dynamics are presented by ensemble members: Meghan Sonatore, Hope Anglemyer, Lola Carroll, Hannah Cummings, Abby Mathias, Lexi Narry, Peyton Rabon, Jordan Robinson, Catherine Cieri, Gillian Lease, Dahlila Redner, D’Asia White, and Hannah Williamson.
The Workshop Creative Team works their stage magic under the direction of Julian Deleon with Jordan Harper as his outstanding music director and Katie Hilliger Page as the choreographer, supported behind the scenes by producer Jeni McCaughan, stage manager Amy Husmann, costume designer Andie Nicks, and technical director, Patrick Faulds.