The musical “Footloose” will be performed at West Hartford’s Conard High School on March 11, 12, 13, 18, and 19, 2022.

By Ronni Newton

“Tonight I gotta cut loose, footloose. Kick off your Sunday shoes …”

After the isolation many have faced over the past two years, it may be hard for anyone to stop themselves from singing along or leaping into the aisles to start dancing during the Conard Performing Arts’ production of “Footloose,” which opens Friday, March 11 and runs for two weekends.

In all its big-hair and neon-leg warmer mid-1980s glory, with music and clothing styles that will bring many of the performers’ parents back to their own high school days and a storyline appropriate for all ages, “Footloose” is the ideal show to celebrate a return to a full-scale musical production at Conard.

“It’s very exciting. Live theater is so important for a community, especially the Conard community,” said Declan Smith, a senior and musical theater veteran who plays the male lead, Ren McCormack.

Ren moves with his mother from Chicago to small-town conservative Bomont after his father abandons the family. He learns the town’s respected minister, Reverend Shaw Moore, also a powerful figure on the town council, worked to pass a law several years ago outlawing dancing after a tragedy. Moore’s own daughter, Ariel (played by senior Elizabeth Thibault), however, secretly rebels against her father’s rules.

No spoilers here for those who are not familiar with the plot, the relationship drama, and the ultimate resolution that leads to celebration.

“Performing live feels really great, to be honest,” said Nina McIntyre, a junior who plays Ariel’s friend, Rusty. “After all the time spent with everything being virtual, it feels very refreshing to entertain in front of a live audience again and to see and hear real reactions to the show we’re putting on,” she said.

“Rusty has given me some vocal challenges that I’ve never faced before. Playing her has really taught me to improve my own vocal technique in order to pull off some of the crazy things in the show I never thought my voice could do before. I’m really happy with what I’ve been able to accomplish through my time as this character,” McIntyre said.

“Live theater has an adrenaline rush and it can’t even compare to other types,” added senior Sophia Pegolo, who plays Urleen, also one of Ariel’s best friends. “It’s so exciting to have an audience to build off of and interact with. I’m thrilled to share this show with an audience and hopefully they’ve missed live theater as much as we have.”

She said she loves playing such a high energy character.

“One of the reasons we picked [Footloose] is because we wanted to celebrate being back on stage,” said choreographer Rae Sutherland.

The Conard musical production of “The Drowsy Chaperone” was aborted after its first weekend of performances in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021 Conard Performing Arts produced “Little Women” but although the actors were on stage the number of cast and crew was limited, masked at all times, and all audience viewing was via a recording of the show.

When West Hartford Public Schools moved to “mask optional” on Feb. 28, virtually all of the performers opted to go mask-less on stage.

“Footloose” has a large ensemble cast of dancers. In addition, Sutherland said, in 2021 only juniors and seniors were given the opportunity to try out for the show but this year it was open to everyone and there was a great turnout for auditions. “It was something students could let loose on. And the most diverse cast we’ve ever had,” Sutherland said.

Smith said the choreography is great and one of the best parts of the show. “This show is such a blast and getting to do it with such an amazing cast is thrilling.”

Smith said it’s unusual for him to play a character his own age. “I’m so used to playing older, more mature characters and getting to develop the physical and vocal habits of a teenager was very exciting but also new and definitely challenging. I also don’t often do much dancing in many of the shows I’ve performed in, so getting to play a role known for his dancing was very scary. Ren is a crazy triple threat role that’s completely tested all elements of my craft.”

The theme of the show definitely has parallels to the current high school environment, and Smith thinks it will resonate with the audience. “Dancing is indeed allowed at Conard. However, I think the idea of community spirit and coming together to celebrate life is something that every school needs more of right now. I also know that our prom has been altered over the past few years and this show truly shows us the importance of our school dances.”

“In modern teen culture it is common to want to follow a norm among other teens, but just like Ren, if you ignore the norm altogether to be yourself, you’ll find that things will be better,” McIntyre said.

“Our school has been facing a lot of new changes. Between COVID and other challenges, we’ve had to accept and adapt, just like the town of Bomont and its aversion to dancing,” added Pegolo.

Hunter Parker is directing her first musical at Conard this year after having moved across town from Hall High School following the retirement of longtime Conard theater teacher and musical director Corinne Kravetz.

“I selected the show this past summer, along with some members of my creative team, Parker said. When she was hired by then-Principal Julio Duarte, he encouraged her to select a family-friendly show with wide appeal, she said. “In thinking through titles, I decided that this would be a fun one for folks to see and Conard hasn’t produced a rock musical with this much dancing in years. And the fact that the main characters in this musical are grieving really resonated with me; their journey requires them to work through pain in order to find a way to celebrate life in the present, much like many of us have done over the past couple of years. We all can use some more joy in our lives and this show reminds us that we can come together as a community and find reasons to celebrate life together.”

McIntyre and Pegolo both said one of their favorite things about being involved with the show was being part of the group effort. “After facing the restrictions and challenges of COVID, working on this musical with so many great individuals has really been a shining light in this darkness. The community we’ve built is so awesome and coming to rehearsal gives me something to look forward every day,” Pegolo said.

“We’re beyond thrilled to welcome an audience back in the auditorium,” said Marisa Barry, a guidance counselor at Conard and co-producer of the show. “It’s not lost on us that opening night of our show is two years to the day that an announcement was made about the cancellation of the second weekend of The Drowsy Chaperone due to our last day of school before the shutdown being Friday, March 13. While neither Hunter or I were in our current roles with the show (and actually current school roles), we’re so happy to be a part of the return to the tradition of hosting an audience for the Conard High School musical.”

While the return to the stage is important for the actors, it’s also important for the rest of the community. “Instead of considering how meaningful it is for us to perform with an audience, it’s also a really big deal for the audience,” said Charlotte Willson, who plays Ren’s mother, Ethel McCormack. “So many people have missed live theater throughout the pandemic. Seeing a live performance is something that means so much to so many people, and I’m glad we can give that experience back to the community,” she said.

“Ethel is a funny, cool mom, but also struggles with her husband leaving. Finding a balance in scenes between both sides is a challenge. It’s a character where you really have to be constantly in character, and thinking how she’s thinking,” Willson said.

Willson said her favorite part about being involved with the show is the purpose it gives. “Every single person is Footloose is crucial to the process,” she said.

“Many people count on the musical each year to bring us together and celebrate the hard work so many people have put into the production. I am so excited to have a full live audience back and I can’t wait for everyone to see it,” Smith said.

“Footloose” will be performed in the auditorium at Conard High School, 110 Beechwood Road, West Hartford, on March 11, 12, 18, and 19 at 7 p.m. A Sunday matinee will be performed on March 13, at 2 p.m.

Tickets are available online, and if tickets remain walk-up purchases will be made at the door. All seating is reserved. Masks are optional for the audience but still recommended as an additional layer of protection.

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