By Khalida Sarwari
The West Valley Light Opera will seek to revive the big hair and neon memories of the 1980s with its month-long run of “Footloose, the Musical” at the Saratoga Civic Theater starting July 2.
The musical is based on a 1984 musical drama directed by Herbert Ross about an upbeat Chicago teen, Ren McCormack, who moves to a small conservative town where dancing and rock music have been banned. The story follows Ren’s efforts to convince the town elders and his peers to allow dancing. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards and inspired a 1998 musical adaptation that was staged on London’s West End and Broadway, among other places.
Some of the more memorable songs from the show include “Holding Out for a Hero,” “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” “Dancing is Not a Crime,” “I’m Free/Heaven Help Me,” “Almost Paradise,” and the title hit “Footloose.”
Directed by Kimberly Mohne Hill and featuring an assembly of Bay Area talent ages 18 to 68, the cast of about 30 is led by Tyler Savin as Ren (originally played by Kevin Bacon), Joe Candeias who portrays the Rev. Shaw Moore and Sarah Traina and Vaughn Mayer, who play the roles of Ariel Moore and Willard Hewitt. Many of the performers are local high school and college students.
Vaughn Mayer, a 21-year-old West Valley College theater student from San Jose, plays Willard, Ren’s best friend.
“I hate to say this, but Willard is basically kind of a hick,” Mayer said. “He wears a cowboy hat, he has scruffy hair. Ren is trying to get the town to get to throw a town dance when dancing is illegal. Willard, being his best friend, supports him, but Willard can’t dance. So part of Willard’s personal story is standing up to the town, learning how to dance and getting out of his comfort zone.”
Mayer has more than a few things in common with his character. For one, he said he too went into the role not knowing how to dance very well, but after putting in weeks of hard work with choreographer Jillian Toby-Cummings, his skills improved and he could lend some credibility to his role. Mayer is also good friends with Savin, who plays his best friend on stage.
Fellow castmate Sarah, 17, plays Ariel, the reverend’s rebellious daughter who’s dating Chuck Cranston (played by Chris Brady), but eventually leaves him for Ren.
“Ariel is the misunderstood lead of the show,” said Sarah. “Her father is Reverend Moore, who sort of holds power over the town and their family.”
She said she had to find the “balance between being upset with my father, but also finding a way to forgive him and simultaneously fall in love with [Ren] while simultaneously falling out of love with someone else.”
Sarah, an incoming senior at Saratoga High School, said she decided to audition for the role because she was “looking to have a fun summer experience.” Performing in theater since the third grade, she has been in only one other leading role in a musical, playing the scarecrow in the Los Altos Youth Theatre and Los Altos Stage Company’s production of “Wizard of Oz.” The Ariel Moore character in “Footloose” has been a dream role of hers, she said.
“It’s been kind of a party to work on,” Sarah said.
Formed in 1964, West Valley Light Opera is a local nonprofit that offers theatrical productions under the guidance of experienced play directors. The company performs three Broadway-type musicals each season at the Saratoga Civic Theater. Its last show, “Dames at Sea,” was presented in March and April.
“Footloose” opens with a gala reception at 8 p.m. on July 2 and runs through July 30 at the Saratoga Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Ave., Saratoga. Tickets for the gala reception, which include a buffet and champagne, are $36. Tickets for all other shows range from $20 to $34 and can be purchased online at wvlo.org or at the door. The Friday and Saturday shows begin at 8 p.m., while the Sunday performances start at 2:30 p.m.
For more information, call 408.358.1896.
Link:
Saratoga: No holding back the dancin’ in ‘Footloose, the Musical’
