Everybody Cut Footloose!

Dudes and dudettes!

Remember the 80s, man? (Now there's a deep reference! Bonus points if you even recognized that it was a reference) To be fair, I have had to dust off my knowledge of John Hughes movies/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lingo to get into the proper mindset. As a child of the early 80s, I remember the bit of the 80s that spilled over into the 90s, and what I could piece together from Family Ties and Night Court reruns. Now that's not enough to write a convincing article, and, as a master craftsman, I strive to make everything I write for you the most believable schlock possible. So I have asked for some help from the experts on the 80s, the staff of KVTA's Footloose: Youth Edition! That's not to say they're the experts solely because they are so much older than me. But it is telling that it is much more likely that they spent more money on hairspray and leg warmers than I did!

See what I mean?

In case you lived under a rock in 1984, or were just a twinkle in your father's (or grandfather's!) eye, Footloose was a blockbuster film on the leading edge of the wave of teen dance movies. It showcased the struggle between generations and cultures, finding your place in a larger community, and the need for self-expression. As with many popular 80s properties, it was adapted to stage. If you have ever listened to my rants about theatre in general, you'll know that one of my pet peeves is the adaptation of movies into stage shows, especially into musicals. However, Footloose is one of a few movies that is uniquely apt for a blockbuster stage performance. The amount of dance and songs in the original version translate easily to musical theatre.

This is a different type of story than what KVTA's Young Peoples Theatre usually tells. Often times, children's shows are an adaptation of a familiar children's book or movie, often with themes that are easily understood by the young cast. The story of Footloose carries a much heavier weight. Grief hangs heavy over the entire story. The entire town has lost its freedom, passion, and innocence along with its youth. I can't think of any other youth shows that would even dare tackle such an adult theme. But before you think this may be too adult a theme for young children, try to imagine a child who hasn't been impacted by the actions of adults. Every child has a person in their life who has been the victim of alcohol or drug abuse, depression, crime, or any number of horrific things that we, as adults, treat as routine in our life. This production may even act as the spark for healthy conversations.

Would you just look at these troublemakers!

The conflict between generations is a constant theme in youth shows. Which makes sense. I mean, who is more argumentative than your kids! Usually this theme is explored through a journey of understanding and clarity by the protagonist. However, in Footloose, there is constant, direct conflict between the generations, which leads to heavy, emotional scenes that are incredibly challenging for young actors. I explore this theme every day. Although you may find it hard to believe, I do have the occasional (re: daily) conflict with at least one of my five daughters. And while they do range from arguments about why toys are not allowed in the toilet to *gulp* boy trouble, I share these emotions with the characters. Now think about your kids: don't they have a good grip on the young side of this conflict? Won't the youth in this production be amazing at portraying the emotion felt by everyone in this town?

And, to prove my point, this is another in KVTA's series of 'conflicts with my dad' shows. While not as tear-jerking as the rest of this season's slate, the conflict between father and child drives the narrative again. Thanks again for these feelings, KVTA!

Now that Captain Bringdown has depressed his audience yet again, let's leave it to the staff to tell you what to really expect. All members of the staff are in new positions or have encountered unexpected challenges with this production. But they all agree that the energy and professionalism of the young cast has provided the encouragement they need. They also agree that while the themes we discussed earlier are still present in the stage production, you will be happy to know that this production is considerably more upbeat and energetic. The dance numbers are clutch! I also asked the staff which character they would most like to portray and while there was no consensus, not one person named either of the primary leads. When you go to see this show, watch the entire cast closely for their characterization. Who are you most like? Who would you have hung out with in high school? Who would you most like to portray on stage?

Which of these kids was you? Which one would you rather have been?

You'd be super lame if you missed KVTA's Footloose: Youth Edition, directed by Rhonda Stenzinger. Jet out to see the show on March 14-15 at Lincoln Cultural Center. Tickets are available at www.kvta.org. And, as the legit wise man Kenny Loggins once said, 'Kick off your Sunday (or, depending on what day you see the show, Saturday) shoes, and 'Everybody cut, everybody cut Footloose!'

You should have seen Dana James' hair in the 80s! What's that? Yes, of course he had a head full of hair!