playbill vip

I was fourteen when I went to the theater to see the movie version of Footloose.  All I wanted to do after that was dance like Kevin Bacon.  Sadly, the closest I have come is directing this show.  But, I am so proud of this group of dancers. 

Footloose is, at its face value, just a fun show!  The energy, the music, the characters - they are all so endearing.  At its heart, though, is a deeper message that resonates over the decades and moves audiences today just as the movie did back in 1984.  A generational gap, a church and community divided, a law created from hurt, and a family torn because of a strict list of "don'ts."  It is a set up for disaster.  What I love most about this show is that it is love (not just dancing) that brings them all together, mends wounds, and restores joy.  Oh that we could experience something like that in our day.

I think my favorite moment in the show is when Ren goes to speak to Rev. Moore outside of their home at night.  That, to me, is the most touching moment, as two generations who have both experienced loss come together over a common "aloneness."  And then, the two of them together create the change for which they both deeply long.  

So much of this show has been student-led.  From the set design to the set construction, from the costuming to the choreography, the theatre students here at Grovetown have worked diligently to make this all happen.  They deserve the recognition and applause for this endeavor.

Thank you for your presence at our show, and thank you for your support of educational theatre. 

Enjoy the show!

Dan McGill, Director