Footloose (Fall 2008)

Fall 2008: Footloose

Stage Adaptation by: Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie, Based on the Original Screenplay by: Dean Pitchford, Music and Lyrics by: Tom Snow and Dean Pitchford
Additional Music by: Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins, and Jim Steinman

Based on the hit film of 1984, Footloose follows a Chicago boy Ren who moves with his mother to the small town of Beaumont. Filled with the spiritual life of music and dancing Rent finds himself at odds with the local minister Reverend Moore and the repressive atmosphere of the community, which has kept a ban on dancing. Ren eventually falls for the Reverend’s daughter, Ariel, who is unfazed by her father’s strict control, and with her Ren rallies up their classmates to throw a dance several miles away from the town. Eventually the Reverend finds and the town council decides to vote on the matter of the dance. At first the motion is defeated, but after much persuasion and reflection the Reverend announces a change of heart and allows all the young people to have a prom dance, where everyone has a chance to dance for the first time in many years.

Ren McCormack

Ethel McCormack

Reverend Shaw Moore

Vi Moore

Ariel Moore

Lulu Warnicker

Wes Warnicker

Coach Darla Dunbar

Eleanor

Rusty

Urleen

Wendy Jo

Chuck Cranston

Lyle

Travis

Chaz

Willard Hewitt

Principal Rachel Balls

Betty Blast

Jeter

Bickle

Garvin

Cowboy Bob

Cowgirl

Suzie

Amanda

Wayne Dell

Sarah Mercer

Jason Carpenter

Leah Davis

Laura Wandres

Meg Raymond

Jordan Lofaro

Katie Dodds

Jessie Wright

Emily Keller

Carissa Potente

Leah Gold

Max Krembs

Michael Heiligenstein

Richie MacLeod

Jordan Lofaro

Matt Savarese

Brittany Peterson

Rachel MacLeod

Kaity Houk

John Atiyeh

Daniel Grimes

Jacob Lyon on Thursday and Saturday night

Richie MacLeod on Friday and Sunday night

Julia Addis-Lieser

Chelsea Bailey

Brigitte Suijk

Cast

Pit

Keyboard 1

Keyboard 2

Guitar

Bass

Drumset

Tenor Sax

Flute 1

Flute 2

Violin

Mike Anderson

Chris Beale

Erik Larsen

Jeff Williams

Tyler Badgely

Rachel Brown-Glazner

Andrea Guzman

Maggie MacNamara

Dian Huang

Tech Staff

Assistant Technical Director

Master Carpenter

Assistant Carpenter

Lighting Designer

Assistant Lighting Designer

Master Electrician

Asst Electrician

Sound Designer

Asst Sound Designer

Sound Manager

Props

Makeup

Painting

Head Costumer

Asst Costumer

Run Crew Chief

Stage Manager

Techie

Erin Moran

Rebecca Carter

Andrew Jehl

Matt Swan

Sara Pek

Robert Eshleman

Alex Fey

Paul Percheid

Jon Denton

Matt Miller

Liz Peek

Sarah Reynolds

Alison Schroer

Emma Colls

Melissa Chang

Virginia Berg

Tina Tang

Pearl Ho

Sharon Lawler

Alli Baker

Janet Luo

Rachel Cantor

Stephanie Yoon

Katie Ulmer

Annie Locke Scherer

Lindsay Ferris

Kirsten Kiwior

Darby Kidwell

Olivia Hutton

Ryan Logue

Arianna Filipour

Seton Easby-Smith

Director

Assistant Director

Vocal Director

Head Choreographer

Assistant Choreographer

Music Director

James Villarrubia

Lisa Harbin

Logan McClellan

Caitlin Morton

Alex Patton

Caitlin Alexander

Leigh Rossi

Genevieve Heckel

Erin McDonald

Lynne Kolodinsky

Artistic Staff

Production Staff

Producer

Assistant Producer

Business Manager

Assistant Business Manager

Technical Director

Alumni Chair

Fundraising Chair

Publicity Chair

Social Chair

Historian

Brendt Harris

Claire Hart

Kate Resta

Erin McDonald

Katherine Pfister

Laura Beauchesne

Erin Moran

Bryce Griffler

Logan McClellan

Casey Stein

Lauren Davis

Sam Rabinovitz

Leigh Rossi

Rachel Dorsey

Jeff Luppino-Esposito

Corbin Puryear

Katie Wall

Director's Notes

Welcome to First Year Players Present Footloose! First, let me say “thank you” for coming. It’s been the great audiences and the supportive University community that have kept this organization alive for so long. You are now a part of a great tradition here at UVA.

Second, let me offer a few thoughts on the show itself. Footloose is a simple show – misleadingly simple. Regarded by many theatre companies as a “dance” show, most productions have devolved into dance reviews with a loose plot. Directors have cut entire scenes or characters in order to extend the dances. The most recent release of the show has the infamous “MEGAMIX”– a final medley of every major dance number --written specifically to extend the dancing so directors could cut the scenes down. Despite the show’s compelling and emotional undercurrents, many directors have chosen to gloss over these darker elements with shiny lights and pretty dance moves. I have not.

Ironically, I think that this common, “glossy” interpretation of the show only verifies its emotional poignancy. At its heart, Bomont is a small town with a heavy burden. They are trapped in grief and loss. They are not villains, but rather victims -- victims of a terrible tragedy. And like any real tragedy, the emotions are difficult to deal with. The townspeople of Bomont have shut out the world in an attempt to ignore the pain. Many directors of Footloose have similarly chosen to ignore these darker elements and shield the audience. Like a cheap veneer, the dancing is all you see.

I, on the other hand, have tried my best to remove the artistic veneer from this production. There’s still incredible dancing. There’s still mind-blowing singing. But this cast has worked hard to sand away the outer, shiny, candy coating on this show and resurrect its deeper, often-neglected roots.

With that in mind, I implore you to open up your heart to the characters in this show. Try to feel for them. Feel with them. Not only will you find something beautiful and profoundly human, but you will also appreciate the “dancing” in your own life so much more.
Finally, I must say a few thank you to a few special people. To the cast and staff, you have all been wonderful to work with. I cannot express how much you light up my world. To my parents, thank you for all your love and support. And to Malcolm, you will always be my bittersweet reason to dance.

With peace and love,
James Villarrubia
--James Villarrubia

Producer's Notes

First and foremost, I want to take this time to thank you all for coming out to First Year Players’ production of Footloose. The cast, crew, pit, artistic staff and production staff has worked extremely hard all semester to put this show together, and on behalf of all of us, and all of the members of FYP, we truly hope you enjoy the show this evening.

This show marks the second, and thus, final show of First Year Players that I will have the pleasure of producing, and the experiences that I have taken part in over the past year as Producer will be some of my fondest of my college years, and most likely my entire life. From the Selections Committee to the Final Bows, I wouldn’t trade any of the moments for anything. This organization has taught me so much about musicals, about theatre in general, and about life. The people and the sheer talent that is found within this organization are both astonishing. The idea that we are able to come together to put on a full staged musical each semester is both frightening and exhilarating. I have had the privilege to work with all of these wonderful people over the past year, and I have no doubt that this organization will continue to flourish and grow beyond the 51st show that is minutes away from beginning.

While this is my last show as producer, it is far from my last endeavor with this amazing organization. I have had the astounding opportunity to assume the position of Producer in the spring semester of last year as a 2nd year.
Typically, the person elected as Producer is a 3rd year within the organization, one that has been involved with the organization for a while, and knows its inner-workings quite well. I was entrusted with this chance a full year earlier than expected, and this allows me to stick around for a little bit longer to stay involved in the organization in other ways.

As the producer of a completely student-run musical theatre organization, early on you begin to realize that there is no possibility of completing the task alone. Over the past year, many people have had a valued hand in keeping this organization running as well as it has, and for that, I am extremely grateful. James Villarrubia, the director of this semester’s show, has been a mentor and a friend to me over the past year, and has taught me everything I know about running this organization. To succeed him as producer has been an honor, and I cannot thank him enough for everything. Kate Resta, the Business Manager of FYP, was one of the first people to believe in my abilities as Producer, and without her, it is highly likely that I wouldn’t be in this position today. And, of course, Katherine Pfister, who has done so much for this organization without batting an eye. She has given so much without asking for anything in return, and for that I thank her. I’m not going to go through every person that has had a profound effect on this show and organization, but it should be known that I truly appreciate each and every person’s contribution.

Thank you, and remember…
EVERYBODY CUT FOOTLOOSE!
Brendt Harris
Producer, 2008 Season
--Brendt Harris