‘Footloose’ Comes to Rockaway!
By Dan Guarino
Kick off the Sunday shoes and cut loose! The Rockaway Theatre Company once again hits the stage dancing as its full-blown production of “Footloose” opens the summer at RTC’s John Gilleece Theater at Fort Tilden. The popular musical begins on opening night Friday, July 26, and runs for 11 energetic performances through Sunday, August 11.
Following up their successes with the satirical musical “Urinetown” and classic drama “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof,” RTC’s “Footloose” brings a spin all its own. As one rehearsal observer noted, “This show is fantastic! You can feel it has heart, soul, real characters and real emotion to it!”
Adapted from “Footloose,” the popular 1984 film starring Kevin Bacon, “Footloose: The Musical” opened on Broadway in 1998 and was nominated for four Tony Awards.
RTC’s “Footloose” director Nicola DePierro-Nellen explains its story follows Ren McCormack, played here by Ricky LaLuz Rivera, “a teen from Chicago who moves to a small town with his mom, experiencing the struggles that come with that.” He soon finds in this town that, due to a local tragedy, dancing has been banned by the Reverend Shaw, (David Risley). “As he forms a relationship with Shaw’s daughter, Ariel (Lori Elkerdawy), he finds out the reasons behind this ban and it ultimately becomes a story about love, loss, and fighting for what you believe in!”
“The obvious pull for me with ‘Footloose’,” says DePierro-Nellen, an experienced dancer, and choreographer, “was the dancing. I’ve spent a lifetime loving the songs and dancing from the movie! Beyond that, I was determined to participate in this first RTC season without our longtime leader, John Gillece. The summer show being ‘Footloose’ seemed such a wonderful tribute to his memory.”
Gilleece, an RTC founder and its long serving Artistic Director, passed away last fall, and is still greatly missed by its members. The RTC’s theater at Fort Tilden was renamed in his honor.
DePierro-Nellen, with RTC since 2001, has performed and/or choreographed numerous shows. Together with RTC’s Gabrielle Mangano, she co-directed last year’s stunning production of “Cabaret,” and the previous year worked with John Gilleece as co-director on the musical “Kiss Me, Kate,” his last production.
“The style of this show, ‘Footloose’, the themes, and this classic ‘summer musical’ was something that reminded me of my many summers spent here with John,” DePierro-Nellen said. “It was also particularly fitting because this year is the 40th anniversary of the film!”
Audiences may recognize many in the cast from previous RTC productions, including LaLuz Rivera who starred in “Hello, Dolly,” Elkerdawy in “Urinetown” and Risley in “Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.” They lead a nearly 40-strong cast, who, accompanied by a talented live band, bring an electric mix of singing, drama, comedy and dancing to the stage. They’re “a wonderful mix of our veteran members, wonderful new faces and some graduates of our Young People’s program!” according to DePierro-Nellen.
Not only are they well-choreographed and directed by DePierro-Nellen and assistant director/choreographer Erech Holder-Hetmeyer, but as led by musical director Richard Louis-Pierre, their singing is a standout. Whether solo, in small groups or as an entire cast, the cast’s vocals ring with layered harmonies and emotion.
Even working with the volunteer actors, crew and others varying schedules, and sometimes through 80-90 temperatures, all have put in nearly three months of rehearsal, starting with auditions in late April. “It was a unique year regarding timing and spacing, but I have so many dedicated, hardworking and talented members that we are ready to go!” DePierro-Nellen said.
About the production itself, musical director Louis-Pierre notes, “I love what this cast has done musically with this show. I am never a fan of hearing a previous recording of what I am going to hear live. I am always a fan of what a cast, what actors, are going to do.” He is, he says, very pleased with the results.
“Footloose’” music includes its title song, plus stand out numbers like “Somebody’s Eyes,” “Let’s Hear It For The Boy,” “Holding Out For A Hero,” and “I’m Free/Heaven Help Me.”
Choreographer/co-director Holder-Hetmeyer, who has also starred in many RTC productions and outside projects, says this show “has been a learning experience! But I’ve learned a lot from Nicola. She’s a very strong leader,” an example to follow for his own future as a director.
He adds, “This is a huge cast. Probably the biggest I’ve been in at RTC. But they’re all so talented. It’s been great working with them. It’s been great to give them direction and watch them grow.”
Spotlighting Holder-Hetmeyer’s work, DePierro-Nellen adds her “favorite part of the show is the opening of Act 2, where we see one of the main characters, Willard (Nick Galimi) face his ‘fear’ of dancing! Prompted by his friends and his date, he begrudgingly learns to move and groove to the song ‘Let’s Hear it For the Boy!’”
Together the music, dancing, acting, even set design and dazzling lighting, make for a stunning, engaging show, while behind the scenes a dedicated technical/set crew keeps things moving, often at a rapid scene-changing pace.
Stage managers Brendan Mullen and Siobhan Kalfur say “Footloose” has been a challenge but has been well worthwhile. “Oh, it’s a blessing!!,” Mullen notes. “It’s my first show stage managing. It’s such a fun show to work on. And be entertained by!”
Kalfur, who worked on RTC’s satirical hit “Urinetown-The Musical” this spring, agrees. “I am very grateful to be working on a ‘summer musical’ It’s a completely different beast. I am grateful to have this opportunity now.” Both are also pleased to be working together on “Footloose,” having originally started in RTC’s Young People’s Theatre Workshop. “Both of us came from the kids and teens workshops,” Kalfur says. “Those are our roots.”
As Depierro-Nellen reminds the energized cast during a rehearsal, “You’re here because you love this!”
To “Footloose’s” audience, she says, “I hope people will come to this show who know and love the movie, and leave feeling that nostalgia that I do. I also hope that it introduces these iconic characters, songs and dances to a whole new generation!”
For tickets go to www.rockawaytheatrecompnay.org.
Photos by Dan Guarino
