Kansas City, MO —
Cinefiles may be experiencing a bit of déjà vu this season if they’ve attended a show at Starlight. After all, four of the five Broadway musicals being presented at the venerable KC venue are adaptations of hit movies. The current example is “Footloose,” the 1998 Broadway musical based on the popular 1984 film.
The production is this year’s locally mounted show featuring Broadway veterans, familiar local actors and 27 area teens who are a part of Starlight’s Blue Star All Star ensemble.
The Blue Star Awards program is modeled on Broadway’s Tony Awards, providing a pat on the back to young people who have done exceptional work on local high school stages. Over forty local schools participate in this program.
“Footloose” tells the story of a Chicago teenager named Ren McCormack (Max Clayton) who loves to dance. He moves to a small town where he’s shocked to discover that dancing is illegal. There he falls for a girl named Ariel (Taylor Louderman) who happens to be the daughter of the local preacher (George Dvorsky), the main proponent of the dancing ban.
Naturally, the kids do their darndest to get the local ordinance revoked.
The movie introduced a lot of hit songs, including “Almost Paradise,” “Holding Out for a Hero,” “Let’s Hear it for the Boy,” “The Girl Gets Around,” and the title tune. All are included in the stage version, with additional songs by Tom Snow and Dean Pitchford.
Unfortunately, the new tunes don’t have the snap that the toe-tapping originals provided. Too often, these new numbers bring the show to a grinding halt.
And, sadly, the pluckiness that characterized the original movie is somehow missing in the stage version. It’s as if the story’s interesting edges had been polished down to a smooth, homogenous banality.
Luckily, the show has a talented cast that, under the guidance of director Mark Madama, choreographer Michele Lynch and musical director Anthony Edwards, gives the plodding show a vital shot of adrenaline.
While Clayton doesn’t project the presence of the brooding outsider, he’s a capable singer and dancer. Louderman fares better as the reverend’s rowdy kid, demonstrating a strong pop soprano on “Holding Out for a Hero.”
Faithful local theatergoers will be happy to see some familiar faces in the supporting cast, including Charles Fugate, Melinda MacDonald, Ken Remmert, Tim Scott, Licia Watson and John-Michael Zuerlein.
The Blue Star All Star Ensemble members are Alec Armer, Justin Armer, Joann Armstrong, Elizabeth Bennett, Jacob Bjornlie, Joy Donnelly, Madison Fairfield, Andrea Fantauzzi, Alison Gray, Emmy Hadley, Grace Haverty, Madelaine Heigele, Lily Kaufmann, Austin Kelly, Mitch McCroskey, Korrie Murphy, Haley Nelson, Khalil Amon Odums, Reagan Ogle, Callie Rodina, Daniel Verscheldon, Morgan Walker, Haley Wolff, Terrace Wyatt Jr., Grayson Yockey, Gwyneth Yockey and Dashawn Young.
While “Footloose” won’t exactly leave you feeling fancy free, the production’s lively tunes and the cast’s youthful vigor make for painless night under the stars.
“Footloose” runs through August 11th at Starlight Theatre, 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, Mo. Information is available by calling 816-363.STAR (7827) or by visiting www.kcstarlight.com.
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