Lakeland Announces Spring Production: Footloose the Musical

The following was submitted to White Lake Patch by Julie Mizer O'Brien, co-producer of Footloose.

Every Spring the students at and the International Academy West, present a musical that is fun for cast, crew and audiences alike. This year is no exception as we explore teenagers and parents trying to come to grips with each other's hopes and dreams and determination to do the right thing.

Footloose introduces us to Ren McCormack (Blaine Mizer) who, with his mother Ethel (Ashley Quenneville), moves to the small town of Bomont where they find that dancing and “rock and roll” are banned. Ren meets Ariel Moore (Megan Schultz) who’s father, the Reverend Shaw Moore (Ryan Goodman), is a force to be reckoned with, a conservative minister who is a big authority figure in the town. After a long sermon lambasting the evils of "rock and roll", Ren tries to enlist the help of his new friends Willard (Josh Sackleh), Rusty (Kaitlyn Russell), Urleen (Rachel Jackson), Wendy Jo (Olivia Neumann) even Ariel’s Mother Vi Moore (Riley Day) to convince the conservative town council to allow a dance to be held.

Other members of the cast include: Adriana Hatchard, Alayna Patten, Alexis Stefanick, Breana Shanburn, Briana Gantt, Cassidy Blackburn, Chantal Stoll, Christopher Daniels, Cristi Brewer, David Amburn, Haley Bateman, Hannah Day, Isabella Busby-Priest, Kara Flowers, Kayla Sinadinos, Kevin Walton, Makena Alvira, Maranda Davis, Marie Oleski, McKenzie Straub, Megan Kalanik, Samone Wilson, Samuel Newton, Sasha Wilson, Tom Jackson and Vanessa Graven-Wing.

The music is by Tom Snow (among others), the lyrics by Dean Pitchford (with additional lyrics by Kenny Loggins), and is presented by special arrangement with R&H Theatricals. Many of the songs will be so familiar to the audience; Somebody’s Watching, I Can’t Stand Still, The Girl Gets Around, Holding Out for a Hero, and of course the title song Footloose.

There are more than 60 students involved in this production, both cast and crew, with additional help from members of Lakeland Players Community Theatre and parents and family members of the cast and crew.

Footloose the Musical will be presented at Lakeland High Schools Center of Performing Arts, located at 1630 Bogie Lake Road, on March 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. and March 18 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10.00 and available at the door or online at www.lakelandhs.com (payschools). For more information call 248-318-9175.