FOOTLOOSE: THE MUSICAL to Burst Back Onto the Stage at Storyhouse Chester

Following an acclaimed 2016 UK Tour, worldwide smash hit musical Footloose: The Musical will burst back onto the stage in 2017, opening the inaugural touring season at Storyhouse, Chester's brand new £37m theatre, cinema and library, from 5 September for one week only.

Based on the 1984 screen sensation starring Kevin Bacon, Footloose: The Musical tells the story of city boy Ren, who has to move to a rural backwater in America where dancing is banned. All hell breaks out as Ren breaks loose and soon has the whole town up on its feet. Featuring classic 80s hits including Holding Out for a Hero, Almost Paradise, Let's Hear it for the Boy and the unforgettable title track, Footloose: The Musical is set to take the world by storm once again in this brand new production, bursting with youthful spirit, dazzling dance and electrifying music.

When the film was released in 1984, it became the highest-grossing February release in US film history. The soundtrack album ended the year-long reign of Michael Jackson's Thriller at number one and went on top album charts all over the world, eventually selling in excess of 17 million copies. Footloose was nominated for a Golden Globe, and both the title song and Let's Hear It for the Boy received Academy Award nominations. Footloose: The Musical first opened on Broadway in 1998 where it ran for 709 performances, with a London production following in 2006, opening at the Novello Theatre following a UK Tour.

The cast features Maureen Nolan as Vi Moore. Maureen has been singing with her sisters since she was nine years old, when they became one of Europe's first girl bands, The Nolans. Best known for their smash hit single I'm in the Mood for Dancing, The Nolans enjoyed phenomenal record sales worldwide, and worked with some of the world's most respected artists including Frank Sinatra. On stage, Maureen has played Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers in the West End and on tour to critical acclaim. She was the fourth Nolan sister to play the role, earning them entry into the Guinness Book of World Records. Other credits include Sadie in Girl's Behind, Jill in Mum's the Word and Sarah in The Naked Truth.

The cast also includes Joshua Dowen (Cool Rider, West End) as Ren McCormack, the role immortalised on screen by Kevin Bacon, Hannah Price(reprising her performance from the 2016 tour) as Ariel Moore, Reuven Gershon (Let It Be, West End and Broadway) as Reverend Shaw, Lindsay Goodhand (Crazy For You, Watermill Theatre) as Ethel McCormack, Laura Sillett (Grease, International Tour) as Rusty, Connor Going (The Pirates of Penzance, Sh*tfaced Shakesepare) as Chuck, Emma Fraser (The Vaudevillians, Les Enfants Terribles) as Wendy Jo, Gracie Lai (Avenue Q, UK Tour) as Urleen, Laurence Libor (American Idiot, West End) as Willard, Tomas Wolstenhome (Once, West End) as Bickle, Dominic Gee Burch as Jeter and Alex Marshall (Buddy, UK Tour) as Wes. The cast also includes Luke Dowling, Grace Lancaster, Jamie Ross and Lauren Storer.

Footloose: The Musical has music by Tom Snow and lyrics by Dean Pitchford, and is adapted for the stage by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie. It is based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford. It is directed by Racky Plews (American Idiot, West End) with choreography by Matthew Cole, design by Sara Perks and musical supervision by Mark Crossland. It is produced by David Hutchinson and Phillip Rowntree for Sell A Door Theatre Company, Tristan Baker and Charlie Parsons for Runaway Entertainment, Jason Haigh-Ellery and Stephen McGill Productions. It is presented by arrangement with R&H Theatricals Europe.

Tickets start from £20.50, Storyhouse has a dynamic pricing policy on the majority of shows, ensuring that the earlier you book your tickets, guarantees the best seats at the lowest price.

For more about the show, visit www.footloose-musical.com or follow on Twitter @FootlooseTour.

IF YOU GO:

FOOTLOOSE - The Musical

Storyhouse Chester

Tuesday 5 - Saturday 9 September 2017

Eves: 7.30pm | Mats: Wed & Sat 2.30pm

Tickets: From £20.50 (Dynamic Pricing: Book early to receive best seat and the lowest price)

HOW TO BOOK

Online: Visit www.storyhouse.com

By Phone: Call 0844 815 7202

In person: Ticket Kiosks At Storyhouse, Hunter Street, Chester, CH1 2AR or Chester Visitor Information Centre.

Storyhouse is a new public attraction - a theatre, library and cinema, home to a year-round programme of home-made and touring theatre, film along with a host of activities across its considerable public spaces.

Designed by Bennetts Associates and featuring an 800/500 seat-theatre; a 100-seat cinema; a 150-seat flexible Studio Theatre; library spaces; digital production and broadcast facilities; a café bar and restaurant. Storyhouse is carved from the Grade II listed art deco 1936 Odeon cinema and a brand-new state of the art glass extension. Storyhouse is predicted to receive 600,000 visits per year, it brings cinema and theatre back to Chester city centre after a decade long absence. Cheshire West and Chester council has committed an inspirational £32.5 million to fund the creation of Storyhouse.

Photo Credit: Matt Martin

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