WVPT to present musical ‘Footloose’ next week in Morgantown
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia Public Theatre (WVPT) will present “Footloose,” the musical adaptation of the 1984 box office hit movie, Tuesday through Sunday, July 2-7. “Footloose” is directed by Larry Thelen, choreographed by Rachel Bress with musical direction by Camille Villapando.
“Footloose” tells the story of a big city kid, Ren, who moves to a puritanical small town, where the Rev.
Shaw Moore has forbidden rock and roll and public dancing. The musical includes such 1980s pop hits as “Almost Paradise,” “Holding Out For a Hero” and the title song “Footloose.”
Additional music for the production was written by Kenny Loggins, Sammy Hager, Eric Carmen and Jim Steinman.
“Footloose” opened on Broadway on Oct. 22, 1998, and ran for two years. It received four Tony Award nominations in 1999.
Matt Hamel stars as Ren in the production. Matt Hamel, a native of West Palm Beach, Fla., is joining the cast after having portrayed Ren in the National Touring Production of “Footloose.”
He also worked on the National Tour of “My Fair Lady” and has worked regionally in such shows as “Cabaret,” “Into the Woods” and “Singin’ in the Rain.” He can also be seen on the fourth and fifth season of the HBO hit, “Sex and the City.” Also joining the cast is Lance Olds, who will be portraying Willard in WVPT’s production. Olds was seen recently in the First National Tour of “Footloose.”
Director Larry Thelen was last in Morgantown as the director of WVPT’s production of “Camelot.” His directing credits include “Evita,” “Man of La Mancha” and “The Wizard of Oz.”
There are still Three Show Mini-Series subscriptions available, as well as single tickets, with discounts for students and seniors. For tickets, call 304-599-6785 or 1-877-999-9878 outside the 304 area code or visit the WVPT box office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
The WVPT box office is located inside the Red Gate at the West Virginia University (WVU) Coliseum. WVPT performs in an air-conditioned, wheelchair accessible European Theatre Festival structure located adjacent to the WVU Coliseum. Information can also be obtained from the WVPT Web site at www. wvpublictheatre.org.