Footloose (musical)
Encyclopedia
Footloose is a 1998 musical
based on the 1984 film of the same name. The music is by Tom Snow (among others), the lyrics by Dean Pitchford
(with additional lyrics by Kenny Loggins
), and the book by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie
.
The next day, Ren shows up for school and Willard Hewitt, a slow-witted cowboy with a bad attitude and a strong loyalty to his mother, decides to beat him up but Ren goes along with it and doesn't mind. So, they become friends. Ren tells Willard about the dancing he used to do in Chicago ("I Can't Stand Still"). Willard tries to stop him from dancing in the middle of the school, but Ren ignores him and puts on a show in front of the school principal, who angrily explains that dancing is illegal in the town of Beaumont. Willard defends Ren, saying that he is new in town and does not know the rules. After the principal leaves, Rusty, who is madly in love with Willard, tells him how brave he is to have stood up to the principal on Ren's behalf. Rusty and her friends, Wendy Jo and Urleen, then explain to a bemused Ren that dancing is illegal after Reverend Moore passed a law forbidding dancing after a horrifying car accident involving four kids returning from a dance. They then warn him to lie low unless he wants to get into even more trouble than he already is. ("Somebody's Eyes").
Ariel returns home to a disgruntled Shaw, who stubbornly ignores her despite her repeated attempts to engage conversation with him . Exasperated, she leaves the room in a huff, leaving the Reverend and Vi, his wife, alone to bicker over her. Shaw expresses his concern over Ariel's relationship with Chuck Cranston, but when Vi attempts to assure him their fling will soon cool down, he silences her and storms off to finish writing his sermon. Ethel, fed up with the groundless suspicion that Ren is forced to suffer as the "new kid", commiserates alongside Vi. They are joined by Ariel, and lament how no one ever listens to them, everyone being so set in their own ways that they are seldom allowed to get a word in edgewise ("Learning to be Silent").
After school that day, several of the students go to the Burger Blast, a burger restaurant. Ariel, Rusty and their friends are doing homework at a table while Willard talks to Ren, who is dressed up in a waiter's uniform and roller skates, as he has just been hired to work at the restaurant. When Ren takes Ariel's order, she flirts with him. Willard warns Ren that Chuck Cranston would not be happy if Ren were to become involved with Ariel. Ren then proceeds to question Willard about his relationship with Rusty. Willard proclaims that he thinks she is very good looking, but is annoyed by her nonstop talking. Ariel is talking with her friends about how she wants to find a decent guy ("Holding Out for a Hero"). Chuck shows up in a fury and starts to yell at Ariel. Ren and Willard come to her defense, but it is Betty Blast, the owner of the restaurant, who breaks up the fight.
After Ren gets off work, Ariel takes him to her secret place beneath the train tracks where she discusses her hatred of Bomont. Unbeknownst to them, Chuck witnesses the pair together.
Afterwards, Ren walks her home, catching the Reverend and Vi by surprise, as they had believed that Ariel was at home in her room all the while. On top of Shaw's displeasure at his daughter's disobedience, a nervous Ren unintentionally insults him in an attempt to ease his worries, making the situation more awkward and causing all of Shaw's friends (who were over playing a game of bridge) to dash off. An irritated Shaw then sternly orders Ariel to cease her visits with him, but Ariel retaliates, claiming that he is doing no more than make her feel like a prisoner. After a fed up daughter and wife storm off in a rage, Shaw begins to feel a pang of guilt, pondering whether or not he is being fair with his daughter while considering the problematic task of being both a preacher and a father ("Heaven Help Me").
At school the next day, Ren shows up late to gym class with Ariel and Willard and explains to the teacher that he was jumped by Chuck, but the teacher won't listen. Ren laments that the citizens of Beaumont are so "wound up", muttering that at least in Chicago he had the clubs to turn to in times of stress. After a quip by Willard suggesting that they "should take the coach dancing", Ren realizes that throwing a dance would be the perfect way to alleviate the teenagers' pressures, while at the same time making a statement to Reverend Moore and the town council. Willard tells Ren that he is insane, but Ren won't listen and reveals his plan to all of the students, eventually winning them over. Word catches on to Reverend Shaw, who, as the one responsible for banning it to begin with, is determined to do anything within his power to ensure that it does not happen ("I'm Free/Heaven Help Me").
Chuck Cranston then shows up at the Moore's home. When he tells them that Ariel is not where they think she is, Vi and Shaw become very worried. Chuck leaves, and shortly after Ariel then shows up pretending she was at her friend's house studying, but her parents reveal that they know she wasn't there. After an argument Shaw is about to hit Ariel, when Vi intervenes. Vi then tries to console him while telling him that his reprimanding is not all that logical ("Can You Find it in Your Heart?").
Meanwhile, Ren, Willard, and their friends are trying to find a way to present their idea to the town council. Ren is extremely discouraged and considers forgetting the whole idea. Willard gives Ren some advice that his beloved mother told him and explains that he can't give up ("Mama Says"). Just as Ren's confidence has built up, Ariel shows up with a black eye
and tells Ren that Chuck beat her up. Ariel tells everyone to leave her alone, but Ren comforts Ariel instead. Ariel reveals that her brother was in the car accident that led to the dancing ban. She gives Ren a Bible with various passages he can use for his motion. It is then they both realize they've fallen in love with each other ("Almost Paradise").
At the town council meeting, Ren stands up and explains to the council, including the principal, coach, and Reverend Moore, that dancing is written about in the Bible and should not be illegal ("Dancing is Not a Crime"). Ren is favorably supported, but the members don't listen and the motion is dismissed.
After the meeting, Ethel explains that Shaw had those votes locked no matter what, and she suggests that Ren go talk to him face to face. Ren goes to the pastor's house and explains to him that he should not take his anguish about his son's death out on the entire town. They argue, but when Ren points out that they're both dealing with loss — Rev. Moore's loss of his son, Ren's loss of his father — they realize a common bond. Ren leaves, but struck by Ren's insight, Rev. Moore struggles with what to do ("I Confess")/("Heaven Help Me (Reprise)").
At the next service, Shaw tells the whole congregation that he is going to allow the teenagers to hold a dance. They are overjoyed. Ren asks Ariel to the dance and Willard invites Rusty, telling her that he is even willing to dance with her. After the crowd leaves, Vi and Shaw are left alone, where Shaw tells Vi how much he loves her and how he has made many mistakes in the past ("Can You Find It In Your Heart?" (Reprise)"). At the end, the Reverend, his wife, and all the townsfolk attend the huge dance ("Footloose (Finale)").
Act II
Act II (REVISED)
In April 2005, the show was revised slightly. Aside from numerous tweakings to the script, there are slight differences in the revised version's musical numbers. Chief among these is a brand new song opening Act II called "Still Rockin.'" Other changes include the removal of the 'rap' "Dancing is not a Crime". Only the very first section of the rap is used and right before "Mama Says" instead of during the Town Council meeting. Ren gives a speech instead during the meeting. Also, the Reverend's song "I Confess" has also been removed and replaced with a much longer and more emotional scene with Ren after the Town Council meeting and a short reprise of "Heaven Help Me" sung by Reverend Moore alone. Furthermore, the show now begins with Rusty, Wendy Jo, and Urleen singing the opening of "Footloose" instead of Ren and the boys, and during "Learning to be Silent" Ariel sings with Vi and Ethel during the song.
on October 22, 1998 and ran for 709 performances until July 2, 2000. It was directed by Walter Bobbie with choreography by A.C. Ciulla.
Footloose received mixed critical reception. General consensus was that the show was in and of itself poor, but the music and talented cast made it entertaining. It was nominated for four Tony Awards. The wardrobe is on display at the Costume World Broadway Collection in Pompano Beach
, Florida
.
Original Broadway cast
production, billed as both Footloose: The Musical and simply Footloose in different press accounts, opened at the Novello Theatre
on the Strand
, following a United Kingdom
touring version. It premiered on April 18, 2006, and closed November 11, 2006. Directed by Karen Bruce
, the creative team included Morgan Large designing sets and costumes, James Whiteside as lighting designer, and Mike Dixon and Chris Egan as musical supervisors.
Original London cast
in Cardiff Bay. This time directed by Karen Bruce, it starred Cheryl Baker and Stephen McGann and went on to tour another 11 venues mainly in the south of England and Scotland.
The production transferred into London's West End
, starring David Essex
and Cheryl Baker
in April 2006, before closing in November of the same year - due to the limited availability of the Novello Theatre. The production then embarked its third national tour, which opened in Salford in January 2007, and continued until July 2007, starring Lyn Paul
. Then the cast returned to London at the Playhouse Theatre
from August 17, 2007 through December 6, 2007; Lyn Paul
continued her role.
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
based on the 1984 film of the same name. The music is by Tom Snow (among others), the lyrics by Dean Pitchford
Dean Pitchford
Dean Pitchford is an American songwriter, screenwriter, director, actor, and novelist. His work has earned him an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award, as well as nominations for three additional Oscars, two more Golden Globes, seven Grammy Awards and two Tony Awards.-Early life:Pitchford was born in...
(with additional lyrics by Kenny Loggins
Kenny Loggins
During the next decade, Loggins recorded so many successful songs for film soundtracks that he was referred to as, King of the Movie Soundtrack.He began with "I'm Alright" , "Mr. Night", and "Lead the Way" from Caddyshack...
), and the book by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie
Walter Bobbie
Walter Bobbie is an American theatre director, choreographer, and occasional actor and dancer. Bobbie has directed both musicals and plays on Broadway and Off-Broadway, and was the Artistic Director of the New York City Center Encores! concert series...
.
Act 1
Ren, an ordinary city kid, is in a dance club in Chicago, dancing off his stresses born of his long and arduous eight-hour work day ("Footloose"). But this is his last visit; he tells his friends that due to financial pressures brought on by his father's abandonment, he and his mother Ethel are moving to a small town in the middle of nowhere named Bomont (much to the chagrin of his friends, who gripe, "Bomont?! Where the hell is Bomont?!"), where his aunt and uncle have offered them a place to stay. Once there, Ren and Ethel attend church and get their first glimpse of Reverend Shaw Moore ("On Any Sunday") a conservative minister who is a big authority figure in the town. After a long sermon lambasting the evils of "rock and roll" music and its "endless chant of pornography", the Reverend's daughter, Ariel, runs off to a gas station to meet her boyfriend Chuck Cranston, who is "trailer trash", only wanting to get in Ariel's pants ("The Girl Gets Around"). While they embrace, the Reverend shows up and catches Chuck with his hands around his daughter, much to his displeasure.The next day, Ren shows up for school and Willard Hewitt, a slow-witted cowboy with a bad attitude and a strong loyalty to his mother, decides to beat him up but Ren goes along with it and doesn't mind. So, they become friends. Ren tells Willard about the dancing he used to do in Chicago ("I Can't Stand Still"). Willard tries to stop him from dancing in the middle of the school, but Ren ignores him and puts on a show in front of the school principal, who angrily explains that dancing is illegal in the town of Beaumont. Willard defends Ren, saying that he is new in town and does not know the rules. After the principal leaves, Rusty, who is madly in love with Willard, tells him how brave he is to have stood up to the principal on Ren's behalf. Rusty and her friends, Wendy Jo and Urleen, then explain to a bemused Ren that dancing is illegal after Reverend Moore passed a law forbidding dancing after a horrifying car accident involving four kids returning from a dance. They then warn him to lie low unless he wants to get into even more trouble than he already is. ("Somebody's Eyes").
Ariel returns home to a disgruntled Shaw, who stubbornly ignores her despite her repeated attempts to engage conversation with him . Exasperated, she leaves the room in a huff, leaving the Reverend and Vi, his wife, alone to bicker over her. Shaw expresses his concern over Ariel's relationship with Chuck Cranston, but when Vi attempts to assure him their fling will soon cool down, he silences her and storms off to finish writing his sermon. Ethel, fed up with the groundless suspicion that Ren is forced to suffer as the "new kid", commiserates alongside Vi. They are joined by Ariel, and lament how no one ever listens to them, everyone being so set in their own ways that they are seldom allowed to get a word in edgewise ("Learning to be Silent").
After school that day, several of the students go to the Burger Blast, a burger restaurant. Ariel, Rusty and their friends are doing homework at a table while Willard talks to Ren, who is dressed up in a waiter's uniform and roller skates, as he has just been hired to work at the restaurant. When Ren takes Ariel's order, she flirts with him. Willard warns Ren that Chuck Cranston would not be happy if Ren were to become involved with Ariel. Ren then proceeds to question Willard about his relationship with Rusty. Willard proclaims that he thinks she is very good looking, but is annoyed by her nonstop talking. Ariel is talking with her friends about how she wants to find a decent guy ("Holding Out for a Hero"). Chuck shows up in a fury and starts to yell at Ariel. Ren and Willard come to her defense, but it is Betty Blast, the owner of the restaurant, who breaks up the fight.
After Ren gets off work, Ariel takes him to her secret place beneath the train tracks where she discusses her hatred of Bomont. Unbeknownst to them, Chuck witnesses the pair together.
Afterwards, Ren walks her home, catching the Reverend and Vi by surprise, as they had believed that Ariel was at home in her room all the while. On top of Shaw's displeasure at his daughter's disobedience, a nervous Ren unintentionally insults him in an attempt to ease his worries, making the situation more awkward and causing all of Shaw's friends (who were over playing a game of bridge) to dash off. An irritated Shaw then sternly orders Ariel to cease her visits with him, but Ariel retaliates, claiming that he is doing no more than make her feel like a prisoner. After a fed up daughter and wife storm off in a rage, Shaw begins to feel a pang of guilt, pondering whether or not he is being fair with his daughter while considering the problematic task of being both a preacher and a father ("Heaven Help Me").
At school the next day, Ren shows up late to gym class with Ariel and Willard and explains to the teacher that he was jumped by Chuck, but the teacher won't listen. Ren laments that the citizens of Beaumont are so "wound up", muttering that at least in Chicago he had the clubs to turn to in times of stress. After a quip by Willard suggesting that they "should take the coach dancing", Ren realizes that throwing a dance would be the perfect way to alleviate the teenagers' pressures, while at the same time making a statement to Reverend Moore and the town council. Willard tells Ren that he is insane, but Ren won't listen and reveals his plan to all of the students, eventually winning them over. Word catches on to Reverend Shaw, who, as the one responsible for banning it to begin with, is determined to do anything within his power to ensure that it does not happen ("I'm Free/Heaven Help Me").
Act 2
Ren, Ariel, Willard, and Rusty are in a town neighboring Bomont, where there is a big dance hall, complete with a country band ("Let's Make Believe We're in Love/Still Rockin'"). Rusty repeatedly attempts to dance with Willard, but he weasels his way out, dragging Ren off to the bar to get drinks. There, he explains to Ren that he doesn't know how to dance. Rusty overhears them, as do several cowboys, who begin to mock Willard. Rusty comes to his defense, saying that he might not be perfect, but she loves him anyway ("Let's Hear it for the Boy"). During Rusty's song, Ren tries to teach Willard to dance, who after much initial stumbling and apprehension whips off an amazing dance combination, much to Rusty's surprise.Chuck Cranston then shows up at the Moore's home. When he tells them that Ariel is not where they think she is, Vi and Shaw become very worried. Chuck leaves, and shortly after Ariel then shows up pretending she was at her friend's house studying, but her parents reveal that they know she wasn't there. After an argument Shaw is about to hit Ariel, when Vi intervenes. Vi then tries to console him while telling him that his reprimanding is not all that logical ("Can You Find it in Your Heart?").
Meanwhile, Ren, Willard, and their friends are trying to find a way to present their idea to the town council. Ren is extremely discouraged and considers forgetting the whole idea. Willard gives Ren some advice that his beloved mother told him and explains that he can't give up ("Mama Says"). Just as Ren's confidence has built up, Ariel shows up with a black eye
Black eye
A black eye , or or 'shiner', is bruising around the eye commonly due to an injury to the face rather than eye injury. The name is given due to the color of bruising. The so-called black eye is caused by bleeding beneath the skin and around the eye...
and tells Ren that Chuck beat her up. Ariel tells everyone to leave her alone, but Ren comforts Ariel instead. Ariel reveals that her brother was in the car accident that led to the dancing ban. She gives Ren a Bible with various passages he can use for his motion. It is then they both realize they've fallen in love with each other ("Almost Paradise").
At the town council meeting, Ren stands up and explains to the council, including the principal, coach, and Reverend Moore, that dancing is written about in the Bible and should not be illegal ("Dancing is Not a Crime"). Ren is favorably supported, but the members don't listen and the motion is dismissed.
After the meeting, Ethel explains that Shaw had those votes locked no matter what, and she suggests that Ren go talk to him face to face. Ren goes to the pastor's house and explains to him that he should not take his anguish about his son's death out on the entire town. They argue, but when Ren points out that they're both dealing with loss — Rev. Moore's loss of his son, Ren's loss of his father — they realize a common bond. Ren leaves, but struck by Ren's insight, Rev. Moore struggles with what to do ("I Confess")/("Heaven Help Me (Reprise)").
At the next service, Shaw tells the whole congregation that he is going to allow the teenagers to hold a dance. They are overjoyed. Ren asks Ariel to the dance and Willard invites Rusty, telling her that he is even willing to dance with her. After the crowd leaves, Vi and Shaw are left alone, where Shaw tells Vi how much he loves her and how he has made many mistakes in the past ("Can You Find It In Your Heart?" (Reprise)"). At the end, the Reverend, his wife, and all the townsfolk attend the huge dance ("Footloose (Finale)").
Songs
Act I- Footloose - Ren McCormack and Company
- On Any Sunday – Reverend Shaw Moore and Company
- The Girl Gets Around – Chuck, Travis, Lyle, Ariel
- I Can't Stand Still – Ren
- Stop Dancing - Willard
- The Shield - Willard, Lockers, Principle
- Somebody's Eyes – Rusty, Urleen, Wendy Jo, and Company
- Learn to Be Silent - Shaw, Ariel
- Learning to be Silent – Vi, Ethel, and Ariel (after revison)
- Holding Out for a Hero – Ariel, Rusty, Urleen, Wendy Jo
- Heaven Help Me – Rev. Moore
- I'm Free/Heaven Help Me - Ren McCormack, Reverend Shaw Moore, and Company
Act II
- Entr'acte
- Let's Make Believe We're in Love – Irene & her Country Kickers
- Let's Hear It for the Boy – Rusty, Girls
- Can You Find it in Your Heart – Vi
- Mama Says – Willard, Bickle, Garvin, Jeter, Ren
- Almost Paradise – Ren, Ariel
- Dancing is Not a Crime – Ren, Willard, Bickle, Garvin, Jeter
- I Confess – Rev. Moore
- Can You Find it in Your Heart? (Reprise) – Rev. Moore
- Footloose (Finale) – Company
Act II (REVISED)
- Entr'acte
- Still Rockin' – Cowboy Bob and his Band
- Let's Hear it for the Boy – Rusty and the Girls
- Can You Find it in Your Heart? – Vi
- Dancing is Not a Crime – Ren and the Boys
- Mama Says – Willard, Bickle, Garvin, Jeter, Ren
- Almost Paradise – Ren and Ariel
- Heaven Help Me (Reprise) – Rev. Moore
- Can You Find it in Your Heart? (Reprise) – Rev. Moore
- Footloose (Finale) – Company
In April 2005, the show was revised slightly. Aside from numerous tweakings to the script, there are slight differences in the revised version's musical numbers. Chief among these is a brand new song opening Act II called "Still Rockin.'" Other changes include the removal of the 'rap' "Dancing is not a Crime". Only the very first section of the rap is used and right before "Mama Says" instead of during the Town Council meeting. Ren gives a speech instead during the meeting. Also, the Reverend's song "I Confess" has also been removed and replaced with a much longer and more emotional scene with Ren after the Town Council meeting and a short reprise of "Heaven Help Me" sung by Reverend Moore alone. Furthermore, the show now begins with Rusty, Wendy Jo, and Urleen singing the opening of "Footloose" instead of Ren and the boys, and during "Learning to be Silent" Ariel sings with Vi and Ethel during the song.
Broadway production
The musical Footloose opened at Broadway's Richard Rodgers TheatreRichard Rodgers Theatre
The Richard Rodgers Theatre, is a Broadway theater in New York City, built by Irwin Chanin in 1925. When it was first opened, it was called Chanin's 46th Street Theatre. Chanin almost immediately leased it to the Shuberts, who bought the building outright in 1931 and renamed it the 46th Street...
on October 22, 1998 and ran for 709 performances until July 2, 2000. It was directed by Walter Bobbie with choreography by A.C. Ciulla.
Footloose received mixed critical reception. General consensus was that the show was in and of itself poor, but the music and talented cast made it entertaining. It was nominated for four Tony Awards. The wardrobe is on display at the Costume World Broadway Collection in Pompano Beach
Pompano Beach, Florida
Pompano Beach ) is a city in Broward County, Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean just to the north of Fort Lauderdale. The nearby Hillsboro Inlet forms part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 99,845...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Original Broadway cast
- Jeremy KushnierJeremy KushnierJeremy Kushnier is a stage actor and songwriter.- Overview :Kushnier is most well known for his role in the Tony Award-winning musical Jersey Boys in the role of Tommy Devito and was one of the "Top 10 Great Chicago Performances of 2007". He starred in the Chicago cast, and then opened the Vegas...
as Ren McCormack - Stephen Lee Anderson as Reverend Shaw Moore
- Jennifer Laura ThompsonJennifer Laura ThompsonJennifer Laura Thompson is an American stage actress and singer. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre from the University of Michigan and graduated in 1991....
as Ariel Moore - Tom PlotkinTom PlotkinTom Plotkin is an American actor. He is primarily a Broadway performer and is most famous for originating the role of Willard Hewitt in Footloose.-External links:...
as Willard Hewitt - Dee HotyDee HotyDee Hoty is an American musical theatre actress. Over the course of her career, she has appeared in numerous high-profile Broadway productions and earned multiple Tony nominations for her performances.-Biography:...
as Vi Moore - Catherine CoxCatherine Cox (actress)Catherine Cox is an American actress. A regular on the Broadway stage in the 1980s, Cox's credits include the original Ethel McCormack in the production of Footloose, the musical Oh Coward!, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical, and...
as Ethel McCormack - Stacy Francis as Rusty
- Billy HartungBilly HartungBilly Hartung, also known as Bill Hartung and William Hartung, is an American actor and dancer with credits ranging from Broadway to film....
as Chuck Cranston - Rosalind Brown as Wendy Jo
- Kathy Deitch as Urleen
- Hunter FosterHunter FosterHunter Foster is an American musical theatre actor/singer, librettist and playwright.-Early life:Foster was born in Lumberton, North Carolina, but raised in Augusta, Georgia and Troy, Michigan. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Studies from the University of Michigan in 1992...
as Bickle
Original London production
A LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
production, billed as both Footloose: The Musical and simply Footloose in different press accounts, opened at the Novello Theatre
Novello Theatre
The Novello Theatre is a West End theatre on Aldwych, in the City of Westminster.-History:The theatre was built as one of a pair with the Aldwych Theatre on either side of the Waldorf Hotel, both being designed by W. G. R. Sprague. The theatre opened as the Waldorf Theatre on 22 May 1905, and was...
on the Strand
Strand, London
Strand is a street in the City of Westminster, London, England. The street is just over three-quarters of a mile long. It currently starts at Trafalgar Square and runs east to join Fleet Street at Temple Bar, which marks the boundary of the City of London at this point, though its historical length...
, following a United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
touring version. It premiered on April 18, 2006, and closed November 11, 2006. Directed by Karen Bruce
Karen Bruce
Karen Bruce is an actor, dancer, director and choreographer.Karen is currently working on STRICTLY COME DANCING 2011, having choreographed on the second series of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE for the BBC. Karen won an Olivier Award for her Choreography of Pacific Overtures at the Donmar Warehouse...
, the creative team included Morgan Large designing sets and costumes, James Whiteside as lighting designer, and Mike Dixon and Chris Egan as musical supervisors.
Original London cast
- Derek HoughDerek HoughDerek Hough is an American dancer, choreographer, musician and actor. A world champion in Latin American Dance, Hough has appeared since September 2007 on the hit U.S...
as Ren McCormack - Stephen McGann as Reverend Shaw Moore
- Lorna WantLorna WantLorna Want is a British actress most noted for her appearances in the 2005 CBBC/Simon Fuller television series I Dream with S Club 8.-Career:...
as Ariel Moore - Giovanni Spaño as Willard Hewitt
- Cheryl BakerCheryl BakerCheryl Baker is an English television presenter and singer. She is most famous for being a member of 1980s pop group Bucks Fizz, and has performed for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, winning it the second time.-Early career:After leaving school and a series of secretarial jobs, Cheryl...
as Vi Moore - Caroline Deverill as Ethel McCormack
- Stevie Tate-Bauer as Rusty
- Johnny Shentall as Chuck Cranston
- Lisa Gorgin as Wendy-Jo
- Natasha McDonald as Urleen
British national tours
Footloose, directed by Paul Kerryson, premiered in the UK at the Theatre Royal, Plymouth in February 2004, where it played for three weeks before embarking on a 24-week national tour. A second UK national tour opened on January 4, 2006, at the Wales Millennium CentreWales Millennium Centre
Wales Millennium Centre is an arts centre located in the Cardiff Bay area of Cardiff, Wales. The site covers a total area of . Phase 1 of the building was opened during the weekend of the 26–28 November 2004 and phase 2 opened on 22 January 2009 with an inaugural concert...
in Cardiff Bay. This time directed by Karen Bruce, it starred Cheryl Baker and Stephen McGann and went on to tour another 11 venues mainly in the south of England and Scotland.
The production transferred into London's West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
, starring David Essex
David Essex
David Essex OBE is an English musician, singer-songwriter and actor. Since the 1970s, Essex has attained nineteen Top 40 singles in the UK , and sixteen Top 40 albums...
and Cheryl Baker
Cheryl Baker
Cheryl Baker is an English television presenter and singer. She is most famous for being a member of 1980s pop group Bucks Fizz, and has performed for the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest twice, winning it the second time.-Early career:After leaving school and a series of secretarial jobs, Cheryl...
in April 2006, before closing in November of the same year - due to the limited availability of the Novello Theatre. The production then embarked its third national tour, which opened in Salford in January 2007, and continued until July 2007, starring Lyn Paul
Lyn Paul
Lyn Paul is an English pop singer and actress. She came to fame as a member of the international chart-topping pop group The New Seekers in the early 1970s...
. Then the cast returned to London at the Playhouse Theatre
Playhouse Theatre
The Playhouse Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, located in Northumberland Avenue, near Trafalgar Square. The Theatre was built by F. H. Fowler and Hill with a seating capacity of 1,200. It was rebuilt in 1907 and still retains its original substage machinery...
from August 17, 2007 through December 6, 2007; Lyn Paul
Lyn Paul
Lyn Paul is an English pop singer and actress. She came to fame as a member of the international chart-topping pop group The New Seekers in the early 1970s...
continued her role.
British national tour cast
- Stephen Webb as Ren McCormack
- Twinnie Lee Moore as Ariel Moore
- Maureen Nolan as Vi Moore
- Richard GrieveRichard GrieveRichard Grieve is an actor, currently living in England. He was born in Hong Kong. He has worked extensively in film, television, theatre and musical theatre, but is perhaps best known for his roles in the British soap Emmerdale, and two Australian television series, Neighbours and Home and...
as Reverend Shaw Moore - Jodie Jacobs as Rusty
- Claire-Louise Mealor as Wendy-Jo
- Tarisha Rommick as Urleen
- Simon Lipkin as Willard Hewitt
- Robbie Sotcher as Chuck Cranston
- Lisa Peace as Ethel McCormack
- Ricky Morrell as Lyle
- Martin Johnston as Principal Clark
American 10th Anniversary national tour
Prather Entertainment Group produced a "10th Anniversary" U.S. tour of Footloose.American 10th Anniversary National Tour cast
- Erik Keiser as Ren McCormack
- Lindsay Luppino as Ariel Moore
- Glenn Wall as Reverend Shaw Moore
- Jennie Hollander as Ethel McCormack
- Michael Kennan Miller as Willard Hewitt
- Kara Guy as Rusty
- Mary-Elizabeth Milton as Urleen
- Sara Catherine Barnes as Wendy Jo
- Katherine Proctor as Vi Moore
- Jeff Blim as Chuck Cranston
Awards and nominations
Footloose was nominated for four Tony Awards:- Tony Award for Best Book of a MusicalTony Award for Best Book of a MusicalThe Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical is awarded to librettists of the spoken, non-sung dialogue, and storyline of a musical play. Eligibility is restricted to works with original narrative framework; plotless revues and revivals are ineligible...
—Stage adaptation by Dean Pitchford, Walter Bobbie - Tony Award for Best Original ScoreTony Award for Best Original ScoreThe Tony Award for Best Original Score is the Tony Award given to the composers and lyricists of the best original score written for a musical in that year. The score consists of music and lyrics...
—Music by Tom Snow; Lyrics by Dean Pitchford; Additional numbers by Eric CarmenEric CarmenEric Howard Carmen is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboardist.He scored numerous hit songs across the 1970s and 1980s, first as a member of the Raspberries , and then with his solo career, including hits such as "All By Myself", "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again", "She Did It",...
, Sammy HagarSammy HagarSam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
, Kenny Loggins, Jim SteinmanJim SteinmanJames Richard "Jim" Steinman is an American composer, lyricist, and Grammy Award-winning record producer responsible for several hit songs. He has also worked as an arranger, pianist, and singer... - Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical—Dee Hoty
- Tony Award for Best ChoreographyTony Award for Best Choreography-1940s:* 1947: Agnes de Mille – Brigadoon / Michael Kidd – Finian's Rainbow* 1948: Jerome Robbins – High Button Shoes* 1949: Gower Champion – Lend An Ear-1950s:* 1950: Helen Tamiris – Touch and Go* 1951: Michael Kidd – Guys and Dolls...
—A.C. Ciulla