(BEACH HAVEN, NJ) -- Surflight Theatre is presenting the musical, Footloose from July 9-28, 2024. Based on the classic 80s film, the play follows big-city teenager, Ren, relocates from Chicago to the small rural town of Bomont, where its inhabitants have imposed an unjust ban on Rock 'n' Roll and dancing. Photographer John Posada was on hand to take photos.

Feeling trapped and confused, Ren tries to fit in; however, he will soon find himself neck-deep in trouble when beautiful Ariel Moore, the preacher’s daughter, catches his eye. Now, to convince the city council to lift the ban on dancing, Ren has no choice but to fight prejudice and the community’s fire-and-brimstone preacher through dance. But is Ren fighting a losing battle?

Todd Turner (with credits including Everett in Swing the Musical and Albert in Newsies) plays Ren McCormack, Lanie Walsh (with credits including Featured Dancer in TEXAS Outdoor Musical, Phantom and Columbia u/s in The Rocky Horror Show) as Ariel Moore, and Don Daniels (last seen as Luther Billis in South Pacific and the Old Man in Surflight’s A Christmas Story, along with other credits including Ziggy in the 1st National Tour of Young Frankenstein and the National Tour of Big River) as Reverend Shaw Moore.

The show also features Noah Lyon as Willard (Shakespeare in last season's Something Rotten among many others) Jack Supan as Chuck Cranston, Lisa Carlson as Vi Moore, Alison Nusbaum as Ethel McCormack, Lexie Brown as Rusty,  Mike Brennan as Coach Roger Dunbar, Deanna Doyle as Betty Blast, Vincent Law as Principal Harry Clark/Cowboy Bob, Gabriela Moncivais as Urleen, Alyssa Minuto as Wendy Jo. Others in the cast include Surflight’s Resident Company and newcomers: Ben Halperin, Makayla LaBode, Olivia Linton, Gina Marcinkowski, Sean McCrystal, Michael Paciello, Anthony Recine, Sage Spiker, Emily Steindl, and Teagan Tillman.

Performances take place July 9-13, July 16-20, July 23-27 at 8:00pm; and July 11, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28 at 2:00pm.  Tickets are available for purchase online.  Surflight Theatre is located at 201 Engleside Avenue in Beach Haven, New Jersey. 

Footloose was nominated for 4 Tony Awards, including Best Original Score. An iconic song list includes: Footloose, Holding Out for a Hero, Let’s Hear It for the Boy, and many others.

With the Footloose Movie 40th Anniversary this year as well as it being the 25th anniversary of the Broadway Musical, it is exciting to be bringing this show back to Surflight. It holds a special place in the history of Surflight as it was the first show performed in the comeback season of 2017 with the return of Producing Artistic Director Steve Steiner!

Paula Hammons Sloan directs and choreographs. Along with a background in mathematics and accounting and serving as General Manager of Surflight Theatre, her work as Director/Choreographer and Master Teacher has been recognized nationally for over 40 years. Ms. Sloan has directed or choreographed numerous National tours including: 42nd Street, Singin’ in the Rain, Music Man, Cabaret, Bye Bye Birdie, Little Women, Urban Cowboy, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Copacabana, Funny Girl, George M, Titanic, My One and Only, Crazy for You and The Unsinkable Molly Brown.

Ms, Sloan has mounted several productions at the Tropicana Resort and Casino, Resorts in Atlantic City and El Dorado Casino in Reno. She directed and choreographed Miracle on 34th Street (Jersey Shore Entertainment) on the West Coast, at the Tropicana Resort and Casino and on tour. She was choreographer for Jekyll and Hyde and Singin’ in the Rain for the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino Broadway Series in Atlantic City which also played for an extended run at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood Florida.  Ms. Sloan has directed and/or choreographed regionally including, The Laguna Playhouse, Kansas City Starlight, Casa Manana, West Virginia Public Theatre, Surflight Theatre, Gateway Playhouse, Plan B Productions, Theatre Under the Stars, the Houston Symphony, the Houston Thanksgiving Day Parade and opening ceremonies of the 100th Anniversary Convention of Girl Scouts. She was Resident Choreographer for Galveston Summer Musicals for over 45 productions and her former tap company, Texas Tap Ensemble, toured Nationally and Internationally for several years. 

The show also features Musical Direction by Nicholas Kaminski, Scenic Design by Christopher Strangfeld, Costume Design by Carla Gant assisted by Amanda Chiaro, Sound Design by Ian Wehrle, Lighting Design by Anthony Marinaro, Props Design  by Maria Laird.

Here are more photos from the production.

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John Posada is a New Jersey based photographer specializing in photographing live theatre and music performances. For more than 15 years, John has photographed live events where he mastered the techniques of timing and capturing fast moving action under challenging lighting conditions. Currently, John has spent the last 3 years concentrating on photographing almost 200 theatre productions for over 70 different theatres. Click here for John's website.