Arts & Entertainment

"Footloose" Musical to be Presented by St. John Vianney Players

An adaptation of the hugely popular 1984 film, where the city boy comes to a town where rock and roll is outlawed.

Dancing is NOT a crime!  

The students at Saint John Vianney High School will prove this when they take to the stage to perform the fast-paced classic story of teenage rebellion, "Footloose," in five performances, beginning April 2.

Ren McCormack, the dancing, quick-witted spitfire from Chicago, will be portrayed by SJV's Christian Potterton of Marlboro. Potterton, who will be attending Berklee College of Music in Boston in the fall, has played a variety of roles on and off the stage at SJV.  Most recently he played Lysander in the November production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and served as the Music Director for the October production of Godspell.  

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Michael Birardi of Old Bridge will portray Rev. Shaw Moore, the Bomont preacher determined to keep dancing out of his town.  He was previously seen as Jesus in the October production of Godspell and keeps busy behind the scenes designing, focusing and programming the lights for all the shows at SJV. He will attend Penn State in the fall as a Technical Theater and Design major.  

Lea Ostner of Matawan lights up the stage as Ariel Moore and Alexa Rose Burger of Old Bridge fights to keep her family from falling apart as Vi Moore.  

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Joining them in the spotlight are Gennine Damanski of Freehold Township, as Rusty, and Kevin O’Leary of the Port Monmouth section of Middletown, as Willard Hewitt.

The supporting players are: Samantha Delaney of Freehold Township playing Ethel McCormack; Danielle Fallon of Monroe Township, as Wendy Jo; Kristen Draeger of Marlboro as Urleen; Matthew Steuerer of Aberdeen as Jeter; Stephen Harnett of Hazlet as Garvin; Brian Medich of Hazlet as Chuck Cranston; TJ Bent of Middletown as Travis; and Brianna Liguori of Middletown, as Lyla.

The cast is rounded out by Laura Donovan, Deirdre Donovan, Jenny Armstrong, Julia Purcell, Brielle Winters, Samantha Barrett, Jenna Frain, Marissa Busso, Alicia McEnearney, Kaitlin Olsen, Shannon Otten, Caileigh Nerney, Isabella Textores,  Katherine Cambareri, Christian Viaje, Owen McCann, Laura Nicoletti, Nicole Horton, Mary Catherine Rocca, Gabriella Klopsis, Danielle Radeke, Victoria Cervone, Amanda Correa, Caitlin Meindl, Alexa Rutigliano and Michael Marchese.

The cast is supported by the pit band, featuring Dalton on guitar, faculty member Jeffrey Johnson of Keyport on bass, alumna Megan Moran of Old Bridge on piano, freshman Haley Blanchard of Matawan on drums, freshman Andrea Acosta of Old Bridge on keyboard and sophomore Jenna Kirby of Marlboro on saxophone.  They are also supported by a technical crew including sound engineer Nicholas Shevchenko and a stage crew led by Michael Marchese and Fe Reyes.

Director and faculty member Rachel Ryan of Tinton Falls, Music Director, faculty member Joseph Dalton of Forked River, and Assistant Directors Paul and Lori Renick of Highlands are excited to present this upbeat and popular musical.  

They are assisted by Student Directors and seniors Michael Birardi of Old Bridge and Christian Potterton of Marlboro, Choreographer Danielle Fallon, a senior from Monroe Township and Assistant Choreographer Brielle Winters, a sophomore from Old Bridge.

FOOTLOOSE

When: Performance dates are April 2, 8, and 9 at 8 p.m.; April 3 and 10 at 2 p.m.

Tickets: Tickets are $10.  Reservations are encouraged but not required and can be made by emailing ryan@sjvhs.com.  

Where: The Theater at Saint John Vianney is located in the High School at 540A Line Road in Holmdel, NJ 07733.  

More Information: Questions can be addressed through email or by calling the school at (732) 739-0800.


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