MOUNT CARROLL – Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP), the premier professional summer theatre of northwest Illinois, continues their blockbuster summer season with Footloose, scheduled to open June 13. Gary Determan talked with Artistic Director Tommy Ranieri. If you missed the interview on the air, you can listen to the audio player below.
Footloose tells the story of Ren McCormack, a teenager from Chicago who moves to a small town where dancing and rock music have been banned. When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, he is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school. But he’s not prepared for the rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing instituted by the local preacher, who is determined to exercise control over the town’s youth. The heartfelt story that emerges pins a father longing for the son he lost against a young man aching for the father who walked out on him.
Based on the 1984 Kevin Bacon movie of the same name, Footloose features much of the film’s original score. Songs include “Footloose,” “Holding Out for a Hero,” “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” and “Almost Paradise,” as well as several new tunes written expressly for the stage.
Footloose features a stage adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford who also penned the lyrics. Music is by Tom Snow with additional music by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins and Jim Steinman.
TLP’s production of Footloose is directed by longtime TLP Artistic Director, James Beaudry. Beaudry returns to TLP for his eighteenth season including eight as Artistic Director. He is joined on the creative team by Music Director Matt Surico, Choreographer Maddie Rodrigue, Scenic Designer and TLP Alumn Spencer Donovan, Costume Designer Bob Kuhn and Lighting Designer Sam Biondolillo. Props are designed by Gabe Seplow and sound design by Michael Donahue. Meg Rosenberg will assume the role of Production Stage Manager.
The cast features Steve McCoy as Rev. Shaw Moore, Emily Jewell as his wife Vi, Ahmeer Bethea as Ren McCormick, Malaika Wanjiku as Rusty, and Cody Jolly as Cowboy Bob. Also in the cast are TLP Resident Company members K. Bernice, Brie McClellan, Nancy Teerlinck, Kristofer Holz, Morgan Milone, Malaika Wanjiku, Caroline Lynch Desmarais, Gabriela Hernandez, Sitare Sadeghi, Anya Katherine Jones, Emma Theriot, Ahmeer Bethea, Sawyer Coffin, Jack Catena, Joshua Credle. Matthew Hommel, and Lucas Diego Marinetto. Local actors John Chase, Morelia Vargas and Avery Moran round out the cast.
To the rockin’ rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated Top 40 score, augmented with dynamic new songs, Footloose celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people while guiding them with a warm heart and open mind.
Information and tickets for all Timber Lake events are available online at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org or by calling the Box Office at (815) 244-2035. The Box Office is open from 10:00 until 5:00 and through intermission on performance days.
