There’s always a special kind of magic created when a group of passionate young people come together to make a piece of art. Theatre Lab’s Footloose: The Musical captured this phenomenon and used it to enchant its audience completely. Directed by Tracy Lynn Olivera, the Theatre Lab’s Musical Theatre Institute for Teens 2024 production was a joyous celebration of music, dance, art, and the triumphs of being a young person.
Based on the classic ’80s film written by Dean Pitchford, this Footloose was adapted for the stage by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie. The show contains music by Tom Snow, and lyrics by Pitchford, with additional music from music legends Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins, and Jim Steinman. Set in the 1980s in Bomont, a fictional southern U.S. town, Footloose follows young Chicago transplant Ren McCormack (Micah Thomas) as he navigates the deeply religious town with an odd rule: dancing is illegal. Ren quickly meets Ariel More (Beatrice McNabb), the daughter of Reverend Shaw Moore (Evan Williams), an extremely influential pastor in the town and arbiter of the dancing ban. Together, Ren and Ariel, along with the other teens of Bomont, set out to prove that dancing is not a crime.
Micah Thomas as Ren McCormack shines. He displays the ease and charisma necessary for Ren in spades and has the audience firmly on his side from start to finish. In addition to his phenomenal acting, Thomas has wonderful singing and dancing chops, which shine especially in “I Can’t Stand Still.” Thomas also has fantastic chemistry with fellow standout Beatrice McNabb as Ariel Moore. Moore is a spunky and optimistic Ariel, lighting up the house in numbers such as “I Need a Hero.”
Other standouts include Jeremy Cronenberg as Willard Hewitt and Carrie Johnson as Rusty Pizzolo. Cronenberg provides impeccably timed comedic relief and crafts a lovably dorky Willard. Johnson, who was impressively on as an understudy, was undoubtedly a highlight of the production. Her energy was infectious, her connection with Cronenberg’s Willard was hilariously endearing, and her vocal chops stunned in numbers like “Let’s Hear It for the Boy.”
Additionally, Naia Albert’s Vi Moore performs a heartwrenchingly emotional “Can You Find It in Your Heart,” which is yet another highlight of the show. She captures an impressive emotional range paired with beautiful vocals, captivating the audience with her deeply empathetic performance.
Furthermore, the show excels in its ensemble moments. With creative and wonderfully inclusive choreography by Maya Nellum, the whole cast lifts each other up and exudes an infectious joyful energy. From the first number of “Footloose,” the ensemble enters and immediately electrifies the audience with their exuberant dancing and vocals.
Nellum utilizes enthusiastic line dancing in numbers such as “Holding Out for a Hero,” “Let’s Make Believe We’re in Love,” and “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” which pay homage to the original movie while also capturing the essence of the buoyant movement that these teens work so hard to reclaim the right to.
The iconic “Holding Out for a Hero” is especially fun, starting with moody and dramatic blockography before exploding into a boisterous celebration of dance and teenage femininity. “Hero” feels exactly like what it is like to be a melodramatic teenage girl full of emotion and verve, and it uplifts these young women in a beautiful and fun fashion.
These teens not only put on a fantastic production, but they did it in a commendable three-and-a-half weeks. Special recognition should be shown to the three understudies (Carrie Johnson as Rusty Pizzolo, Anise Colbert as Urleen, and assistant director Sayaka Yamamoto as Lulu Warnicker), who were revealed in director Tracy Lynn Olivera’s curtain speech to have only been assigned earlier in the week due to illness in the cast. They took over these roles with professionalism, grace, and top-tier performance quality.
Footloose proves itself time and time again to be a poignant and perfect pick to do with young adults. Not only does it contain age-appropriate roles and themes, but the uniquely teenage perspectives displayed in the musical are elevated and made delightfully truthful by the use of actual young people. The optimism, light, drive, and passion of the young cast provide a compelling argument for the show’s thesis of art being a necessary outlet for the youth.
Running Time: One Hour and 50 Minutes including one 15-minute intermission.
Footloose: The Musical played August 8 to 10, 2024, presented by The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts’ Musical Theatre Institute for Teens performing at Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St NE, Washington, DC.
Footloose: The Musical
Stage Adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie
Based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford
Music by Tom Snow
Lyrics by Dean Pitchford
Additional Music by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins, and Jim Steinman
Musical Direction by Lucia LaNave; Lighting Design by Marianne Meadows; Costume Design by Maria Bissex; Production Management/Sound Design by Angelo Merenda
Cast: Micah Thomas, Paola Winston-Vasquez, Beatrice McNabb, Evan Williams, Naia Albert, Jeremy Cronenberg, Maddie Belenoff, Carrie Johnson, Zephyr Winkler, Basleel Dinessa, Sev Conley, Porter Bertman, Anise Colbert, Santiago De Leon Pereira, Adroit Kamat, Helen Albert, Deacon Crenshaw, Kathryn Batitto, Michael Houle, Cameron Best, Sunny Call, Sofia Warfield, Anais Stackel, Naiah Weetjens, Annika Haney, Eliana Chajon, Amaya Biderman Gomez, Connor Hobbs, Annabelle Yeh
