Photo credit: Jake DeBrusk

LEICESTER, Mass. — The popular story of teenagers fighting for their right to dance will be brought to Leicester High School with the theater department's production of Footloose, and LHS students are set to take the stage for four lively performances in March.

The musical was directed by Nancy Dutton, and stars Jim Brennan as Ren, a city kid who shakes things up after moving to the small town, and Renee Comeau as Ariel, the rebellious daughter of the local reverend, played by Tyler Keenan.

As the new film version came out in 2011 and students were familiar with the story, Dutton decided to take a chance by selecting the challenging musical for this year's school production.

"I listened to the music and I thought this might be a huge stretch. I didn't know if we would be able to sing and dance with this, but if they were willing to try as seniors then maybe we can do this."

Though faced with extensive choreography, students have been stepping up to the plate, and since October they have been putting in hours of rehearsal time after school while balancing academics and other activities along the way.

The large and talented cast of young actors have engaged with their roles to help bring their characters and the story to life on stage, and Keenan explained that their energy and excitement will be evident to the audience.

"Everyone who's here is so ecstatic to be here," he said. "It has really become a part of our lives."

While the majority of characters are in their teens, Keenan found it interesting to take on the role of an adult, and one of the story's primary antagonists. Motivated by grief, the reverend is the main opposition to the youthful revolt, and this gave Keenan the opportunity to see things from a new perspective.

"I think it's really interesting how there is this obvious divide between the generations, how the adults are of one opinion and the kids are 180 degrees against them. The play is predominantly teenagers, so to be on the other end of that, it was interesting to see the other side of things," he said. "He's a character who thinks he's doing all the right things for all the right reasons, but it actually takes a teenager to make him realize what he's done wrong."

Comeau also found it fun to play Ariel, whose character finds herself torn between two boys. 

"It's funny because the dynamics are really great, considering who the characters are. I'm really great friends with both Chuck, my boyfriend, and my new love interest Ren, so the chemistry works really well."

Of course, with dancing at the heart of the story, the show boasts a few big numbers, and the dedicated cast has been working hard during after-school rehearsals to learn all the choreography.

"We're just lucky to have the good choreographers we have, and a lot of the kids who take dance like to help out, so even if there have been challenges, I've been able to get through it," explained Brennan.

Jimmy Pickett, who plays the role of Bickle, says his favorite part of the musical is the performance of "Let's hear it for the boys."

"At one point, we go crazy during dancing, and it's the most fun part of the show."

Pickett added that none of this would have been possible without the direction of Dutton, and other cast members shared this sentiment. 

Dutton said she has been doing theater in Leicester for as long as she can remember.

"I grew up in New York City, so I spent a lot of time involved in its ambiance, which is theater and drama and Central Park in summer and music of all sorts," said Dutton.

The director said she loved seeing the students be able to take the stage and perform in front of an audience, "and be able to enjoy it and think and feel like the character they're supposed to be. It's like climbing into somebody else's shoes and truly walking around in them, as Harper Lee would say in To Kill A Mockingbird."

Despite the challenging production, every step of the way Dutton has pushed the students to put forward their best.

"They're rising to the occasion," she said. "You know, it's high school, it's not Broadway, but you want the kids to be thinking and feeling like professionals, because you want them to respect one another and you want them to work together."

Dutton continued: "Drama, and theater, is one of the most exclusive interdependent groups there is, in the sense that the lead is nothing without the supporting cast, and the supporting cast is nothing without the lead."

The director said the seniors have really been working hard, putting "110 percent into what they're doing, and trying to manage the underclassmen with me."

Dutton hopes that the community will be able to see and appreciate the efforts the kids have put into the production, which is sure to entertain.

Opening night is Tuesday March 6, with performances to follow on March  7, 9 and 10, all at 7:00 p.m. The ticket prices are $5.00 at the door, and are also available at the LHS office.

The show begins promptly at 7:00 in the Leicester High School Fine Arts Center.