Ivoryton Playhouse 'Kicks Off Its Sunday Shoes' with FOOTLOOSE, Now thru 7/28

One of the most explosive movie musicals in recent memory bursts onto the Ivoryton Playhouse stage tonight, July 3rd. The movie was released in 1984 and the soundtrack reached #1 on the Billboard charts and sold over 17 million copies worldwide. Its journey to Broadway began in 1996 when director Walter Bobbie collaborated on a stage adaptation with Dean Pitchford and Tom Snow. FOOTLOOSE finally previewed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., in the summer of 1998, and opened on Broadway on October 22nd. The next day, the show broke the box office record for the Richard Rodgers Theatre, where it continued to thrill audiences into July, 2000.

When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school. What he isn't prepared for are the rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing instituted by the local preacher, determined to exercise the control over the town's youth that he cannot command in his own home. When the reverend's rebellious daughter sets her sights on Ren, her roughneck boyfriend tries to sabotage Ren's reputation, with many of the locals eager to believe the worst about the new kid.

The heartfelt story that emerges is of a father longing for the son he lost and of a young man aching for the father who walked out on him. To the rockin' rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated top 40 score and augmented with dynamic new songs for the stage musical, FOOTLOOSE celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people, guiding them with a warm heart and an open mind.

The Playhouse is excited to welcome Richard Amelius, Artistic Director of Delaware River Theatre Collective, as director of this production and Michael Morris, Director of Music at the Hartt School, as musical director. Mike brings with him some very talentEd Hartt School alumni including Patrick H. Dunn* (last seen here in GODSPELL in 2009), Zoe Kassay and Cody Ryan. The set design is by Cully Long, costumes by Kari Crowther and lighting design by Marcus Abbott.

Music by Tom Snow | Lyrics by Dean Pitchford | Stage Adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie | Based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford | Additional Music by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins and Jim Steinman

FOOTLOOSE opens in Ivoryton on July 3rd and runs through July 28th . Performance times are Wednesday and Sunday matinees at 2pm. Evening performances are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Tickets are $40 for adults, $35 for seniors, $20 for students and $15 for children and are available by calling The Playhouse box office at 860-767-7318 or by visiting our website at www.ivorytonplayhouse.org (Group rates are available by calling the box office for information.) The Playhouse is located at 103 Main Street in Ivoryton.

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