Wednesday, July 10, 2002
|
Wednesday, July 10, 2002 |
|
Clayton Allince for Summer Theatre ready to cut loose, 'Footloose' By MICHAEL
BOYLAN
In the hit film "Footloose" Kevin Bacon's character, Ren McCormack, moves to a small town that outlaws dancing. Though he is an outsider he teaches the town to dance again. "Footloose" was a very popular film in the 1980s and its soundtrack is still considered to be one of the best of all time. The next logical step was to bring the music and the story to people live and "Footloose" became a Broadway musical. Now, it is being performed by Clayton Alliance for Summer Theater and several Fayette County teens will help bring the show to life. Peachtree City's Mitch Dean will play Ren McCormack, while Fayetteville's Tracy McBurnett will play his love interest, the preacher's daughter Ariel Moore. Tackling the role of the preacher, Shaw Moore, will be Sandy Creek's Joey Ellington. Other Fayette County residents involved in the production include Tia Bittner and Maggie Boyd. The cast has been rehearsing since June 3 and is ready to rock the house. Some of the songs featured in both the musical and the movie include "Almost Paradise," "Holding Out For a Hero" and, of course, the Kenny Loggins penned classic, "Footloose." "Footloose" is directed by Michael Vaughn who has deep roots in the local theater community. In 1999, he directed "Oliver!" and "Schoolhouse Rock, Live" for Clayton Alliance for Summer Theatre. He has also performed in several shows for Fayette Community Theatre, including their recent production of "The Boys Next Door." Vaughn has stared in four national tours with American Theater of Philadelphia and completed a four-month run of "The Phantom of the Opera" at the Broadway Palm Theater in Fort Meyers, Fla. After "Footloose" Vaughn will direct "Fiddler on the Roof," which runs the following weekend and then will star in "The Fantasticks," Clayton Alliance for Summer Theatre's professional production. He will return as writer, director and producer of the Atlanta Gospel Music Choice Awards in September and is forming a production company this fall. The show will be presented on the main stage of the Clayton County Performing Arts Center July 11, 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m. and July 14 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students and are available at the door or by calling 770-473-2950. |
