By Steven Williams
The Ziegfeld Theater presents Footloose in Ogden at their fun, hometown theater. So it seems appropriate they would have a show about a small town, reacting to a tragic car accident, outlaws dancing in an effort to protect itself from the slippery slope of youthful exuberance. A young man moves to town after experiencing a loss of his own, and quickly discovers that his need for boundless expression has met some real legal boundaries. This is a modern David and Goliath set in the 1980s where the lines of good and evil are not so clearly drawn.
Perfect 80’s costuming, designed by Director Dee Tua’One, puts you right into the right time period frame of mind, and complements the story with a transportation to a time when extremes were the pop culture norm, and expression was built into every aspect of life. Neon colors, a horde of accessories, big hair and synthesizer driven rock music. I thought at the extreme fashions also helped to highlight these kids’ need for expressive outlet that they couldn’t get through dance.
My main summary of the experience of this classic title told via the Ziegfeld Theater is that the entire actor core put it all out there. Some were very strong vocally, and/or in dancing skill and/or acting talent; but all of them gave it 100%. This level of dedication turns an “ok” scene into a great scene, and a great scene into something magical. The live band was loud, in a good way, and seemingly flawless in their execution of the very recognizable 80s tracks.
Director Tua’One did an excellent job with pacing and mood. I felt the gravity in the situations these characters are facing. The set, designed by Caleb Parry, was clever and very versatile— they are able to transport the audience to different locations with seemingly minimal effort. Choreography by Kacee Neff was energetic and impressive. She seems to use each dancers’ talents perfectly to showcase their strengths. There were many impressive acrobatic moves, and many more downplayed charming moments as well. The iconic Footloose dancing scene didn’t disappoint. It featured the cast marvelously.
To my frustration, inconsistent and sometimes painful tech errors dominated the show. If “video killed the radio star”, then Ziegfeld’s tech almost killed Footloose. Actors had to figure out if their mic would work, or be considerably louder or muted compared to the other cast. This variability came right through the fourth wall like A-Ha did in “Take on Me”. The difference between the level of skill on and behind stage was totally radical.
Bryan Andrews (Bickle/ Dance Captain) is an amazing dancer. He does flips and moves that makes you think you are watching So You Think You Can Dance. Porter Birchum (Willard Hewitt) is literally laugh out loud funny the entire time. His journey in dance and love is as dynamic as it is pure comedy. Shelby Hovley (Ariel Moore) seems to know exactly what a repressed teenage girl sounds and acts like. She led this show with a very strong performance that is central to the story. Yoah Kristine (Ethel McCormack) is able to hold her own in a song when her mic doesn’t work and everyone else’s does. VERY strong and powerful singer. Her role as a single mother was beautifully and tastefully presented. Paul Nielson (Rev. Shaw Moore) is 100% believable as a stubborn spiritual leader that is just trying to do what he thinks is right, even when he isn’t. Nielsen could not have been better cast. I think he might not be an actor, but wandered onstage after a real sermon. Matthew Christian Prince (Chuck) does such a convincing job in his villainy that I sneered at him in real life after the show. I was still mad at him, even though I knew it was acting. Aathaven Tharmarajah (Ren McCormack) is a very talented actor. His performance shows that the character could not stop moving and therefore had no chance in a town without dance. Emily Woods (Rusty) was equal in power, comedy and performance to her counterpart Birchum. I found myself really hoping that they would find love in each other and almost that they should get their own spin-off show. That is a really good idea, and only Woods and Birchum can do the parts justice.
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I have hopes for this show that they will work out their audio issues. If they do, this would be a show I very highly recommend. The story is fun and familiar. Good triumphs, and the cast is one of the most dedicated and enthusiastic I have ever seen. It certainly rubs off, and it made me enthusiastic for Footloose.
The Ziegfeld Theater presents Footloose, Music by Tom Snow (among others), Lyrics by Dean Pitchford (with additional lyrics by Kenny Loggins), and Book by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie.
The Ziegfeld Theatre, 3934 S. Washington Blvd, Ogden, UT 84403
February 23-March 17, Friday-Saturdays 7:30 PM, Saturday 3/10 2:00PM, Monday 3/05 7:30PM
Tickets: $17-19
Contact: 855-ZIG-ARTS / 855-944-2787
Ziegfeld Theater Facebook Page
Footloose Facebook Event
Thank you for coming out to see our show. I am hoping that everyone that comes out enjoys it as much as the thespians here enjoy being in the production.