Footloose last play at John L. Haar Theatre

Every BFA acting student taking part in the musical Footloose opening at MacEwan University’s John L. Haar Theatre on Feb. 8 is about to make history.

And that includes St. Albert actor Gabriel Gagnon.

Footloose is the last production the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communication is producing at the theatre before it moves its quarters to the downtown Edmonton campus.

At the new site on 104 Ave. and 110 St., arts students will inhabit a five-storey, 430,000 square foot building containing classrooms, labs, and an exhibit and performance space along with state-of-the-art technology.

For director Dave Horak, Footloose is crafted as a last homage to the theatre.

“Our set is going to be an open design. You will see the wings. You will see the entire theatre,” said Horak.

Footloose is the story of Ren McCormack, a teenage boy from Chicago who moves to the small town of Bomont in Middle America after his father abandons the family.

He quickly finds himself at odds with some of the town, including the Reverend Bomont who has outlawed dances.

Ren, who enjoys dancing as fun and a stress reliever, finds the edict unbelievable. With the help of Ariel, the reverend’s daughter, and Willard, a country hick and his best friend, Ren convinces the reverend to bring dancing back to the conservative town.

Kevin Bacon starred in the original 1984 film that made him an international star.

“The kids love the music and I grew up with the movie. They love the play because they get to play kids of their own age and they’ve brought their own enthusiasm,” said Horak.

Composer Tom Snow and lyricist Dean Pitchford grounded the musical in early ’80s rock ’n’ roll that emphasizes adolescent rebellion, idealism and the deep-rooted desire to enjoy every moment in life.

“Some of the songs have a Sondheim flavour. The music between the parents is quite soulful,” Horak said, noting that Can You Find It In Your Heart, a number sung by Mrs. Bomont demands emotional truth in spades to be successful.

At its core Footloose is an intergenerational story that has enjoyed repeated success on stage.

Horak’s vision is to overcome the musical’s challenges by quickly establishing the story’s heart.

“We needed to root it in reality. It was such a light piece of theatre that we had to root it or it would float away.”

Light or not, one of the play’s strengths is that the adults in Footloose, unlike Grease where anyone over 25 is sidelined as a stereotype, are fully formed characters with a central conflict.

“The parents have quite a bit of depth. Ariel’s dad is especially conflicted. He has very good reasons for not wanting a dance. There was a party. He’s dealing with the death of a child after a dance. He’s not being reactionary. He has a valid point of view. But the kids also have a valid point of view.”

It’s that very tension between two generations that gives the musical its power and that Horak, as an instructor, thrives on.

“Kids want change. It’s such a motivating thing. That’s something I identify with as a teacher – that pushback from the students. I recognize it and say, ‘Hey, that used to be me.’ I used to push up against authority. But it’s not just pushing buttons. It’s a forward momentum that has to happen. You can’t stand still.”