Everybody cut Footloose

Published 11:59 pm Tuesday, August 4, 2009

For those in Covington County who are looking for something to do this weekend, the Lurleen B. Wallace Community College Music Department has a simple suggestion — “cut loose, footloose!”

The department will present the musical Footloose at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, at the LBWCC Dixon Center in Andalusia. The musical will feature a wide variety of both LBWCC students and local talent, as they dance, sing and act their way across the stage in a story that follows the 1984 Kevin Bacon movie.

“It pretty much follows the movie plot line,” said Callie Hatchett, choreographer. “It’s about a kid who moves from Chicago to a small town, where they have banned dancing. His role is to help the adults realize that dancing’s not that bad.”

Tickets for the musical are $10 for normal admission and $5 for students. They are available at the LBWCC business office until 4 p.m. Thursday, and will also be available at the door on performance nights.

Hatchett said the performance is a “big musical with lots of dancing numbers.”

“It’s a really upbeat, energetic show,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun for all, and I think it’s a good conclusion to the summer. I think it’s been years since anything with this much in-depth dancing has been put on by a local theater group.”

Dillon Worley plays Ren McCormack, the boy from Chicago who falls in love with the daughter of a dancing-despising preacher. Erin Chavers plays Ariel, the preacher’s daughter, while Tim Dowdy plays the Rev. Shaw Moore.

Hatchett said the cast has been working on this musical since the start of June, for three nights each week.

The rest of the cast is: Rachel Blocker (as Ethel McCormack), Sabrina Reynolds (Vi Moore), Inda Davis (Lulu), Roger LeCompte (Wes), Dale Gunn (Coach Dunbar), Haley Jackson (Eleanor Dunbar), Ebony Skanes (Rusty), Tally Morrow (Urleen), ErinJane Griffin (Wendy Jo), Jake Couch (Chuck Cranston), Cameron Morgan (Lyle), Caleb Hammett (Travis), Mallory Pouncey (Betty Blast), Sam Fairley (Willard), Ashley McDonald (Principal Clark), Dustin Bush (Bickle), Julie McDonald (Cowgirl Barbie), Kayla Elliot (Cowgirl), and additional ensemble members Jessica Walker, Heather Smith, Devin Williamson and Ava May.

Eric Lidh is the artistic director, Kathy Dowdy is the producer and Johnny Brewer is the conductor.