FOOTLOOSE THE MUSICAL at the Arkansas Repertory Theater

Everyone FOOTLOOSE and head to the Arkansas Repertory Theatre in Little Rock, because from now through July 28th, this foot-stomping, rule-breaking musical will have you dancing and singing along to all those childhood songs you remember—okay, assuming you grew up in the ’80s. Directed by Anna Kimmell, this cast captures the spirit of the original film while bringing a fresh energy to the stage. You won’t want to miss it.

Based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford with music by Tom Snow, the storyline of FOOTLOOSE THE MUSICAL closely follows the storyline of the 1984 film. Ren McCormack (Spencer LaRue) is a charismatic Chicago teenager who is forced to move to Bomont with his mother, Ethel (Tawanna Campbell), after his father abandons them. The town is suspicious of this outsider, and when he learns that dancing is illegal, he decides to fight the law. With the help of Ariel Moore (Victoria Pekel), the daughter of Reverend Shaw Moore (Michael A. Shepperd), he rallies the town to his side. Along the way, he befriends Rusty (Emily Royer), Ariel’s best friend, Willard Hewitt (Ray Robinson), and a handful of others who support Ren in his conquest. Can he do it? Can they celebrate freedom of expression through music and dance? See the musical and find out!

This ensemble breathes new life into beloved songs like “Footloose,” “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” and “Almost Paradise.” They’re so much fun to watch. You can’t help but smile the entire show. I tried not to sing along and irritate my fellow audience members, but it was hard not to bawl during “Holding Out for a Hero” and get dramatic during “Somebody’s Eyes.” Okay, it’s possible I know every song on that soundtrack, except for the added musical numbers that aren’t in the film.

Now let’s move on to my actors. Victoria Pekel and Spencer LaRue have a lot of hot chemistry as the main lovers. Their voices blend well and they deal with their characters’ teenage angst through intricate dance moves and bond by yelling at a train. LaRue has a twinkle in his eye that makes it hard to follow anyone else when he’s on stage, which is a lot.

Ray Robinson is another one that made me laugh. He has a quirky charm that brings Willard to life, and I love how he and Emily Royer play off each other. Royer also has great facial expressions. Her comic articulation is commendable, and she has a powerful voice to match.

Michael A Shepperd as Rev. Moore is captivating. I saw Shepperd before at CLYDE’S, and he brings the same passion as the preacher holding on to the memory of his son who died with his friends in a car crash. As an added bonus, I said hello to him briefly outside the theater as he hid from the karaoke party.

And since I said it, after every Saturday night performance of FOOTLOOSE, the fun continues in the Lobby Bar for Totally 80s Karaoke! The parties are free and open to the public. My host was the beautiful Queen Anthony James Gerard. I love her! She is so much fun and amazing and led the crowd on a fantastic night that brought out all the best songs from the 80s. There is one more party night with Savvy Sinclair, so if you missed the last two parties, go next Saturday.

Arkansas Rep would like to thank our production sponsors Cindy & Chip Murphy, the Stella Boyle Smith Trust, Mitchell Williams Law Firm, and McLarty Automotive for their generous support of the show. We all know that these productions cannot be presented through ticket sales alone, so we are all very grateful that companies value what theaters do.

For more information about FOOTLOOSE and other Arkansas Rep shows, visit their website at https://www.therep.org.