After a fall filled with gothic shadows and sharp fangs in East’s production of “Dracula,” East’s mainstage is gearing up for a full blast of ’80s color and choreography with its spring musical “Footloose.” The production is set to run Feb. 27-28, March 1 and March 6-8, with promises of big vocals, bigger dance numbers and a story rooted in the journey to finding freedom in a society where dance is prohibited.
Similar to the fall play, the selection of “Footloose” was chosen by Mr. Peter Gambino, East’s theater director.
“[It has] a good story, a message, and some sort of entertainment value,” said Gambino. “[“Footloose”] is something that can include our orchestra, something that is going to challenge our vocalists, our actors, and something really fun to build. We’re looking for shows that give us a lot to work on in several areas. Something like Footloose does all those things.”
The ‘80s dramedy tells the story of a student who moves to a small rural town and begins at a new school, only to find out that the teens there are highly restricted from engaging in any form of dancing. The musical follows Ren McCormack, a rebellious teenager and dancer who influences others and makes friends in his new town.
“Footloose” will bring a spark this year with the creative and dedicated cast members performing.
“It’s a privilege of mine to be able to work with a lot of creative and dedicated students, who are also good role models for other students,” said Gambino. “They make it special, they make rehearsal fun, and their energy really elevates the show.”
The audition process begins with students filling out forms, inquiring about what sort of role they may enjoy portraying. This serves mainly to gauge interest and relative numbers in advance of the actual audition. Then, on audition day, students come to present what they’ve prepared (usually a monologue). All students receive a rating with the director’s thoughts on their ability to perform the character they are interested in. If students do particularly well, they receive a “callback,” and from there the cast is formed.
“In those callbacks, what we’re looking for are things like chemistry, like how you look, how you sort of feed off your castmates,” said Gambino. “We also look at sorts of things like how you might present on the stage next to somebody.”
Cast lists are posted shortly after the final callback date, and rehearsals begin shortly thereafter.
The musical will feature ‘80s rock-band styles of singing, which include big harmonies and powerful singing. This is organized and led by East’s choir director Ms. Heather Lockart.
“For this particular musical, we need good dancers, we need good singers, we need people who can do [it all],” said Lockart.
“Footloose” uses music to convey the powerful emotions of the plot and to properly accompany the dramatic, yet undeniably comedic, atmosphere of the play. This requires complete vocal retention and a responsible, committed choir.
Compared to the fall productions, the spring musical is unique in that a pit orchestra accompanies the actors in every performance. This year, it will feature heavy drums, guitar, and piano for background music.
“I have to make sure the balancing is a key ingredient,” said pit orchestra conductor Mr. James Palmer. “Making sure some instruments aren’t too loud so that we can hear the vocalist. Making sure the vocalist isn’t too soft, because we want to make sure that we can hear them over all the background music. Bringing those together requires a few different steps.”
Teamwork also plays a crucial role in “Footloose,” whether it be in coordinating choreography, pitching vocals, or syncing instruments. In “Footloose,” every role has significant importance.
“There are no small parts, there are only small actors,” said Mr. Gambino.
Each person on stage contributes to the world that the musical strives to present to the audience. To achieve this, all actors must be fully immersed in the characters they are portraying.
“Footloose” has many facets, making it undeniably more enticing, but also more meticulous, meaning a group effort is required to put on a successful show.
“Anytime you step on that stage, you can add to the legacy, and I think that is something [the students] enjoy,” said Mr. Gambino.
From the actors and singers to the pit orchestra and tech crew, each and every student involved plays a part in bringing the show to life. Audiences can expect to experience more than just a performance; they’ll experience the energy and passion that students poured into the production. So when the lights go up in February, come see how East’s theater department honors this story that celebrates both freedom and connection.
