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Saying “Footloose” is about some high school kids wanting to have a dance is like saying that “Titanic” is about a boat that sinks.
Yes, it is, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The Pittsburg High School Theatre Department will present “Footloose” at 8 p.m. today, 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday in the school auditorium. It’s a big, colorful musical with lots of dancing, but it’s also a moving story about love and loss.
The show, based on the 1984 movie of the same title, has Alex McNay in a strong performance as Ren McCormack, a Chicago teen who reluctantly moves to a small town with his mother, played by Hannah Hashman, after his father abandons the family. Ren doesn’t fit in very well, especially when the dance-loving teen learns that dancing is against the law in his new home. That law was passed after four young people, on their way home from a dance in a nearby town, were killed in a car accident.
He does make one friend, Willard, played by Rico McKay. This is McKay’s first show at PHS, and hopefully there will be many more.
Ren also finds himself drawn to Ariel Moore, played by Kelsey Parks, a preacher’s daughter whose wild ways can’t soothe the heartache she feels. Her brother was one of the four killed in the accident, and her father is the Rev. Shawn Moore, who pushed the anti-dance law through.
Tyler West portrays Rev. Moore. A senior with an outstanding career in PHS theater, this will be his last musical at the school and he’s going out on a very high note. Not only does he sing well, but he gives a mature, heart-wrenching portrayal of a man crippled by grief who shuts out those who love him most, including his daughter and his devoted wife, played by Gabby Murnan.
All in all, there are about nearly 100 people involved with the show, according to director Greg Shaw.
“For the first time we’ve included PHS faculty members in the cast,” he said. “We’ve got 15 teachers and one administrator, along with 60 students on stage and 25 people off-stage.”
Shaw said that faculty and students had worked together very well.
“It’s been neat for the adults to see how much work the kids put into this,” he added.
Also in the excellent cast are Lynda Nelson and Mike Hogard as Lulu and Wes Warnicker, Ren’s aunt and uncle; Jon Bishop as Coach Roger Dunbar; Megan Gabehart as Eleanor Dunbar; Mackenzie Willis as Rusty, who’s Willard’s girlfriend, sort of; Mollie Stephens as Urleen; Kelsey Jones as Wendy Jo; Alex Henry as Chuck Cranston, a high school drop-out/drug pusher and Ariel’s boyfriend; Kevin McNay as Lyle; Mason Bayliss as Travis; Josh Wilde as Cowboy; Anna Ewing as Irene; Josh Wilde as Jeter; David Elam as Bickle; Ethan Bradshaw as Garvin; Jessica Wade as Betty Blast; Taylor Madison as Cowboy Bob; Stuart Perez as Principal Harry Clark; Julie Jones as Peggy Clark; Brad Cornell as a police officer; Liza Erwin, Emily Fite, Olivia Laidler, Brie Moore, Chelsea Montgomery, Kayla Nance, Klair Parsons, Morgan Rhue, Jen Scholes, Gracie Spencer and Brittany Wilde, featured dancers/students; Mariah Laman, Lydia McKinney, Page Miller, Alison Percy Megan Peters, Taylor Quick, Isis Ruiz, Chelsea Sponsel, Emily Weston, Kylie Wilber, Brittany Young, Michael Giffin, Logan Johnson, Hayden Parks and Jimmy Ritz, students; and Benita Boehm, Jordan Dee, Kedecha Gueary, Sabrina Jones, Moriah Morgan, William Grassi, Rhonda Bradshaw, Rene Scholes, Emily Smith, Anita White, Rhonda White, Robbie Cummings, Darrin Kelley and John Laflen, townspeople.
There are several show-stopping musical numbers in the show, including the title song “Footloose,” a duet of “Almost Paradise” with Kelsey Parks and Alex McNay and “Mamma Says” by Rico McKay.
Susan Laushman is music director of the show, and also pianist and conductor of the pit orchestra. Other orchestra members are Kaylin Moser, keyboard II and percussion; Kurt Kornosky, reeds; Robert Terry, electric guitar; Wes Smith, bass; and Bob Laushman, drums.
Maggie Stephens does an impressive job with the choreography. Dan Williams served as technical designer, and Denise Williams as lighting designer. Anita White designed the program and posters. Todd Hoover was costume designer, and Christy Rhuems designed hairstyles.
Brette Minton served as assistant director, with Emily Folk as stage manager and Kyle Schwenker as house manager. Linda Dunekack and Nancy Close were in charge of ticketing. Serving on the lighting crew were Rashawn Davis and Duncan Willis, with Tiffany Payne and Kam Konak on the sound crew. On props were Jacob Fleck and Charlotte Tomlinson. Catherine Geiger is on the make-up crew, with Emma Bailey and Kelley-Cheyenne Shropshhire on the costume crew. On the running crew are Contril Stewart, Ben Carrington, Gene Frevele, Koy Kutz and Trevor Maiseroulle.
Saying “Footloose” is about some high school kids wanting to have a dance is like saying that “Titanic” is about a boat that sinks.
Yes, it is, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The Pittsburg High School Theatre Department will present “Footloose” at 8 p.m. today, 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday in the school auditorium. It’s a big, colorful musical with lots of dancing, but it’s also a moving story about love and loss.
The show, based on the 1984 movie of the same title, has Alex McNay in a strong performance as Ren McCormack, a Chicago teen who reluctantly moves to a small town with his mother, played by Hannah Hashman, after his father abandons the family. Ren doesn’t fit in very well, especially when the dance-loving teen learns that dancing is against the law in his new home. That law was passed after four young people, on their way home from a dance in a nearby town, were killed in a car accident.
He does make one friend, Willard, played by Rico McKay. This is McKay’s first show at PHS, and hopefully there will be many more.
Ren also finds himself drawn to Ariel Moore, played by Kelsey Parks, a preacher’s daughter whose wild ways can’t soothe the heartache she feels. Her brother was one of the four killed in the accident, and her father is the Rev. Shawn Moore, who pushed the anti-dance law through.
Tyler West portrays Rev. Moore. A senior with an outstanding career in PHS theater, this will be his last musical at the school and he’s going out on a very high note. Not only does he sing well, but he gives a mature, heart-wrenching portrayal of a man crippled by grief who shuts out those who love him most, including his daughter and his devoted wife, played by Gabby Murnan.
All in all, there are about nearly 100 people involved with the show, according to director Greg Shaw.
“For the first time we’ve included PHS faculty members in the cast,” he said. “We’ve got 15 teachers and one administrator, along with 60 students on stage and 25 people off-stage.”
Shaw said that faculty and students had worked together very well.
“It’s been neat for the adults to see how much work the kids put into this,” he added.
Also in the excellent cast are Lynda Nelson and Mike Hogard as Lulu and Wes Warnicker, Ren’s aunt and uncle; Jon Bishop as Coach Roger Dunbar; Megan Gabehart as Eleanor Dunbar; Mackenzie Willis as Rusty, who’s Willard’s girlfriend, sort of; Mollie Stephens as Urleen; Kelsey Jones as Wendy Jo; Alex Henry as Chuck Cranston, a high school drop-out/drug pusher and Ariel’s boyfriend; Kevin McNay as Lyle; Mason Bayliss as Travis; Josh Wilde as Cowboy; Anna Ewing as Irene; Josh Wilde as Jeter; David Elam as Bickle; Ethan Bradshaw as Garvin; Jessica Wade as Betty Blast; Taylor Madison as Cowboy Bob; Stuart Perez as Principal Harry Clark; Julie Jones as Peggy Clark; Brad Cornell as a police officer; Liza Erwin, Emily Fite, Olivia Laidler, Brie Moore, Chelsea Montgomery, Kayla Nance, Klair Parsons, Morgan Rhue, Jen Scholes, Gracie Spencer and Brittany Wilde, featured dancers/students; Mariah Laman, Lydia McKinney, Page Miller, Alison Percy Megan Peters, Taylor Quick, Isis Ruiz, Chelsea Sponsel, Emily Weston, Kylie Wilber, Brittany Young, Michael Giffin, Logan Johnson, Hayden Parks and Jimmy Ritz, students; and Benita Boehm, Jordan Dee, Kedecha Gueary, Sabrina Jones, Moriah Morgan, William Grassi, Rhonda Bradshaw, Rene Scholes, Emily Smith, Anita White, Rhonda White, Robbie Cummings, Darrin Kelley and John Laflen, townspeople.
There are several show-stopping musical numbers in the show, including the title song “Footloose,” a duet of “Almost Paradise” with Kelsey Parks and Alex McNay and “Mamma Says” by Rico McKay.
Susan Laushman is music director of the show, and also pianist and conductor of the pit orchestra. Other orchestra members are Kaylin Moser, keyboard II and percussion; Kurt Kornosky, reeds; Robert Terry, electric guitar; Wes Smith, bass; and Bob Laushman, drums.
Maggie Stephens does an impressive job with the choreography. Dan Williams served as technical designer, and Denise Williams as lighting designer. Anita White designed the program and posters. Todd Hoover was costume designer, and Christy Rhuems designed hairstyles.
Brette Minton served as assistant director, with Emily Folk as stage manager and Kyle Schwenker as house manager. Linda Dunekack and Nancy Close were in charge of ticketing. Serving on the lighting crew were Rashawn Davis and Duncan Willis, with Tiffany Payne and Kam Konak on the sound crew. On props were Jacob Fleck and Charlotte Tomlinson. Catherine Geiger is on the make-up crew, with Emma Bailey and Kelley-Cheyenne Shropshhire on the costume crew. On the running crew are Contril Stewart, Ben Carrington, Gene Frevele, Koy Kutz and Trevor Maiseroulle.
