It’s time to cut loose and kick off those Sunday shoes. Albert Lea High School’s fall musical, “Footloose,” opens Thursday.

Directed by Molly Grimmius and Diane Heaney, the show features about 50 students on the stage, in the pit and in the tech booth.

Grimmius chose the show because it offers many roles and thought it had a lot of draw.

“I loved the music and think it will appeal to the student body along with anyone who loved the movie in the ’80s,” said six-year director Grimmius.

The play, based off of the 1984 movie, is a story of a teenager named Ren McCormack, who moves from a big city to the small town of Beaumont and wants to have a dance. He runs into a problem, though, because the town has a law against dancing because of a tragic car accident in the past. Ren stirs up the town going head to head with the local minister and father of his love interest, Ariel.

Grimmius described the set, designed by John Fure, as being modern and painted black with lots of space and platforms for dancing. Lighting effects will add color to the simple set.

Choreographer Kaitlin Stein of Austin, a University of Minnesota graduate, was brought in to help the students with dancing.

Ren will be played by Preston Smith and Ariel will be played by Rika Boorsma.

The town’s pastor, Shaw, will be played by Zane Aumick.

“He just moved here last year so this is his first performance,” Grimmius said. “We’re glad to have him.”

The comic relief, Grimmius said, will come from the character Willard, played by Tyler Vandenheuvel.

“He sings a humorous song with a bunch of his friends that will probably be a highlight for a lot of people,” Grimmius said.

In the pit, there will be bass and electric guitars, drums and keyboard along with flutes and a saxophone.

“It’s kind of a rockin’ show,” Grimmius said.

Unlike some plays, finding costumes was a pretty easy task.

“A lot of the ’80s trends have come back or I told the kids to go ask their parents,” Grimmius said.

Grimmius said the show, while not inappropriate, is recommended for children 12 and older because of the high school setting.

“Live musicals are so much fun to attend as a family and offer such a different experience instead of a movie, so I hope the community can come out and support it,” Grimmius said.

The shows are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the high school auditorium.

Tickets, please

What: Albert Lea High School’s fall musical “Footloose”

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Where: Albert Lea High School auditorium

How much: Tickets are $5 for students, $7 for adults and can be purchased at the door.

 

Cast

Ren: Preston Smith

Ariel: Rika Boorsma

Shaw: Zane Aumick

Ethel: Isabel Ehrhardt

Vi: Solveig Lange

Chuck: Tanner Shaft

Rusty: Krystal Thompson

Willard: Tyler Vandenheuvel

Urleen: Emma Behling

Wendy Jo: Hanna DeVries

Garvin: Josh Englin

Jeter/Cowboy: Connor Larson

Cowgirl Betty: Anna Englin

Bickle: Schafer Overgaard

Lyle: Sam Ehrhardt

Travis: Travis Nemec

Lulu: Kallie Drescher

Wes: Jacob Jensen

Coach: Logan Petersen

Eleanor: Claire Ellis

Betty: Julia Otten

Principal: Matt Bera

 

Teens: Rickon Peterson, Ryan Nelson, Brayden Boettcher, Emily Ortiz, Katelyn Hendrickson, Carissa Fitzlaff, Danielle Quinn, Bailey Ford, Quinn Andersen, Tori Helgeson, Skyler Hanson, Anna Waltman, Taylor Martinez, Tianna Abrego and Heather Wirkus

 

Adults: Lawrence Pederson, Jeremy Sekora, Sam Ellis, Aaron Zogg, Syne Barr, Hannah Kingstrom, Savannah Simpson, Sara Sanderson and Natalie Weiland

 

Plus several singers and dancers.