Westinghouse Arts Academy ready to cut loose with 'Footloose'

Mallory Mousseau Grantz admits it took quite a while to pick and finalize a musical for the Westinghouse Arts Academy. But when the decision was made, it’s become quite apparent ever since that “Footloose” was an apt choice.

Mousseau Grantz, the director and music director, believes the skill set of her talented cast meshes well with the play, lending an entertaining performance. It’s set for April 12-14.

“We have a ton of girls who can belt really loud, and a lot of boys who have a lot of versatility. And we’re also really known for our dance department. It’s a huge dance show, so we wanted to focus on our dancers and use that,” Mousseau Grantz said.

“Footloose” is based on the 1984 movie of the same name, which starred Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer. Colton Edwards, who plays the male lead, Ren, described the play as “very fast-paced” and “a show you won’t get bored watching.”

Edwards, along with his castmates, were already familiar with movie. As such, it’s been exciting challenge for them to put their own spin on and modernize a pop culture staple.

“It was cool to watch the movie when I was little and just see the characters come to life in the show,” said Reagan Defazio, who plays Ariel, the female lead.

Edwards will alternate the role as Ren with his twin brother, Trent, while Defazio will alternate as Ariel with Emma Frank. Four other roles are doubled-cast. The story follows Ren, a dancing-inclined Chicago teenager who moves to a small towndue to his family’s financial struggles.

Ren learns that dancing is banned in his new hometown of Bomont, a rule that was largely enacted because of the Rev. Shaw Moore, played by Daniel Wintersgill. Along the way, Ren has to learn how to navigate a new town, while Ariel and her father, the reverend, navigate their outward and inward personal struggles.

Due to Ren’s aptitude for dancing, the play naturally sports challenging choreography. The dancing and singing is supported by the school’s band, which Trent Edwards said is “insane” and “electric.”

“Our school doesn’t go easy on the choreography. The choreography is difficult. It’s very exciting. It’s very impressive to see it come together,” said Trent Edwards.

Along the way of preparing for the musical, many of the cast members have found some common ground with the play and their characters. The bubbly Edwards twins, who competed together on ‘America’s Got Talent’ two years ago, are talkative and active, always singing and dancing, much like Ren.

As a whole, though, much of the cast can relate to the challenge of moving to a new place and navigating the situation. Since Westinghouse Arts Academy has only been open for two years, many of the students moved from one high school to there, taking on an arc similar to Ren.

“We’ve all just grown together as a family, and as the show progresses, the entire town grows together and grows closer bonds to each other too,” Defazio said.

Details: westinghousearts.ticketleap.com