New WWT Actors Freshen Up ‘Footloose’
June 14, 2017 at 6:09 p.m.
New WWT Actors Freshen Up ‘Footloose’
By David [email protected]
“It’s so much fun, but it’s also a lot of work. Nothing like I’ve ever done before, theater-wise. It’s a really good time,” Kurtz said.
She said Wagon Wheel is such a unique experience and it’s just “go, go, go” all the time. “I’ve learned from just being here time management and just preparing. That’s something I’m definitely taking away from this experience.”
With a compact schedule, While Wagon Wheel actors perform one show while rehearsing the next.
Copley said, “I’ve never done summer stock before, so this is definitely a brand new experience overall. Doing two shows at once – it’s so hard putting up a show in two weeks – but it’s so rewarding at the same time.”
He said he was glad Wagon Wheel was his first summer stock experience because he’s learning different things than what he’s learned in school. “It’s just a different community, a different cast, a different experience. Everything is priceless here,” he said.
Kurtz, a University of Michigan junior from Georgia, plays Ariel in the Wagon Wheel’s 2017 production of “Footloose,” on stage through June 24. She played the role of Hannah in Wagon Wheel’s first show of this summer season, “Newsies.” Copley, who grew up in Michigan and attends University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, is Ren in “Footloose.” He was Romeo in “Newsies.”
In the musical “Footloose,” based on the hit 1984 movie of the same name, Ren McCormack moves from Chicago to a small Midwestern town with his mom where dancing and rock music are outlawed. He struggles to fit in and faces an uphill battle to change the community. With help from a new friend, Willard Hewitt, and the rebellious Ariel, who Ren quickly falls for, he makes headway. But Ariel’s influential father is the Rev. Shaw Moore and he stands in Ren’s way of dancing and getting the girl.
The 1984 movie starred Kevin Bacon, while the 2011 remake had Kenny Wormald as Ren. Wagon Wheel last brought “Footloose” to the stage in 2008 with Adrian Aguilar as Ren and Annie Fitch as Ariel. Aguilar went on to appear in the original Broadway production of “Rocky,” while Fitch appeared in the national tour of “Shrek, the Musical.”
Kurtz and Copley said they know the show has a lot of history.
“There’s definitely huge shoes to fill, but it’s just fun finding yourself in these characters and making it new every time you do the show. I’m not copying Kevin Bacon or whoever revived it, I’m just living as Matt inside Ren and finding myself in each little moment in each scene that I can. It’s been an awesome experience so far. It doesn’t feel like I’m remaking the show. It feels like brand new to me,” Copley explained.
Kurtz agreed, saying, “They’re such iconic characters and it’s such a well-known story. It’s all about definitely finding yourself in these characters and that’s what makes it new and exciting and fun.”
Kurtz said she first saw a production of “Footloose” in high school at another school where she had friends. “It was so good, and I loved the musical from the first time I saw it,” she said.
Copley’s introduction to “Footloose” was the 2011 remake. He thought it was “really cool” with a lot of fun and energy in it. Then in 2016, he saw a production of the musical in Ohio. “The show itself is so different than the movie, all the different musical numbers and everything involved. There’s a whole new energy to the stage show than the movie,” he said.
Regardless of which version one watches, “Footloose” has several themes.
“I think community ... the story is based on a town. A tragedy has happened and it’s like how the community has come together. And it’s also a broken community, and also family ties into that and it centers around multiple broken families, and everyone ends up coming together in the end and I think that’s a big theme of the show,” Kurtz said.
Copley said the themes of the show included repairing relationships and moving on.
“I’m not going to spoil the ending for the people that haven’t seen the show, but there’s a huge scene at the end of the show that just kind of resolves this issue that’s been pressing this whole show about moving on past certain things in your life that you can’t let go of. And I think that’s a huge lesson in life that not a lot of shows tackle very well or very often,” he said.
Both actors also agreed “Footloose” is also about rebellion and standing up for what you believe.
“Definitely. Especially in these times now, it’s a lot of sticking your ground, knowing what you believe in and sticking to it no matter what other people believe,” Copley said.
“Fighting for it,” Kurtz stated.
“No matter what other people may say or think,” Copley added.
“Footloose” tells its story through a lot of singing and especially dancing.
Copley said he realized he enjoyed singing when he was in middle school and he started singing with his school choir. He kept singing in the choir throughout high school, and then did theater.
“I never really started dancing until this year at college,” he admitted.
“He’s fabulous,” Kurtz acknowledged for him.
“We’ll see how it looks on stage,” Copley said, laughing.
Kurtz said she was probably about 7 years old and on a cruise when she signed up for a talent show on a whim. She heard another little girl sing “The Rainbow Connection,” the Academy Award nominated song from the 1979 film “The Muppet Movie” sung by Kermit the Frog, and Kurtz decided she wanted to sing. The other little girl won the talent show and Kurtz’s mom got her singing lessons.
She had already taken dance classes since she was younger, and eventually she started taking acting lessons.
As for their favorite songs from “Footloose,” Copley said his was “I Can’t Stand Still.”
“It’s my first show that I’ve ever done that I’ve had my own singing and dancing number all to myself, so that in itself is a brand new experience. I run out of breath so frequently, and I’ve learned a lot – how to manage my voice, how to manage my breath, how to manage my dancing while doing all these things. It’s just such a fun number. It’s hard to beat that energy throughout the show,” he explained of the number that was added to the stage version.
Kurtz said she loves singing the duet between Ren and Ariel, “Almost Paradise.”
“It’s such a pretty song. It’s such a classic song. Everyone knows it, and everyone loves it, and I love it. I love singing it, too. It’s fun,” she said.
Copley agreed the duet is a highlight of the show.
“Definitely come! It’s such a fun show and it has such great energy to it. The whole cast is incredible. Everyone is just amazing. The talent is insane,” Kurtz said.
“I would say, even if you have seen the show multiple times before, this show is unlike any other production. It is our own Wagon Wheel 2017 production and it’s going to be a brand new experience for everyone,” Copley said.
More information on Wagon Wheel and purchasing tickets can be found online at wagonwheelcenter.org.
A video of the full interview with the actors can be found on the Times-Union website at www.timesuniononline.com.
“It’s so much fun, but it’s also a lot of work. Nothing like I’ve ever done before, theater-wise. It’s a really good time,” Kurtz said.
She said Wagon Wheel is such a unique experience and it’s just “go, go, go” all the time. “I’ve learned from just being here time management and just preparing. That’s something I’m definitely taking away from this experience.”
With a compact schedule, While Wagon Wheel actors perform one show while rehearsing the next.
Copley said, “I’ve never done summer stock before, so this is definitely a brand new experience overall. Doing two shows at once – it’s so hard putting up a show in two weeks – but it’s so rewarding at the same time.”
He said he was glad Wagon Wheel was his first summer stock experience because he’s learning different things than what he’s learned in school. “It’s just a different community, a different cast, a different experience. Everything is priceless here,” he said.
Kurtz, a University of Michigan junior from Georgia, plays Ariel in the Wagon Wheel’s 2017 production of “Footloose,” on stage through June 24. She played the role of Hannah in Wagon Wheel’s first show of this summer season, “Newsies.” Copley, who grew up in Michigan and attends University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, is Ren in “Footloose.” He was Romeo in “Newsies.”
In the musical “Footloose,” based on the hit 1984 movie of the same name, Ren McCormack moves from Chicago to a small Midwestern town with his mom where dancing and rock music are outlawed. He struggles to fit in and faces an uphill battle to change the community. With help from a new friend, Willard Hewitt, and the rebellious Ariel, who Ren quickly falls for, he makes headway. But Ariel’s influential father is the Rev. Shaw Moore and he stands in Ren’s way of dancing and getting the girl.
The 1984 movie starred Kevin Bacon, while the 2011 remake had Kenny Wormald as Ren. Wagon Wheel last brought “Footloose” to the stage in 2008 with Adrian Aguilar as Ren and Annie Fitch as Ariel. Aguilar went on to appear in the original Broadway production of “Rocky,” while Fitch appeared in the national tour of “Shrek, the Musical.”
Kurtz and Copley said they know the show has a lot of history.
“There’s definitely huge shoes to fill, but it’s just fun finding yourself in these characters and making it new every time you do the show. I’m not copying Kevin Bacon or whoever revived it, I’m just living as Matt inside Ren and finding myself in each little moment in each scene that I can. It’s been an awesome experience so far. It doesn’t feel like I’m remaking the show. It feels like brand new to me,” Copley explained.
Kurtz agreed, saying, “They’re such iconic characters and it’s such a well-known story. It’s all about definitely finding yourself in these characters and that’s what makes it new and exciting and fun.”
Kurtz said she first saw a production of “Footloose” in high school at another school where she had friends. “It was so good, and I loved the musical from the first time I saw it,” she said.
Copley’s introduction to “Footloose” was the 2011 remake. He thought it was “really cool” with a lot of fun and energy in it. Then in 2016, he saw a production of the musical in Ohio. “The show itself is so different than the movie, all the different musical numbers and everything involved. There’s a whole new energy to the stage show than the movie,” he said.
Regardless of which version one watches, “Footloose” has several themes.
“I think community ... the story is based on a town. A tragedy has happened and it’s like how the community has come together. And it’s also a broken community, and also family ties into that and it centers around multiple broken families, and everyone ends up coming together in the end and I think that’s a big theme of the show,” Kurtz said.
Copley said the themes of the show included repairing relationships and moving on.
“I’m not going to spoil the ending for the people that haven’t seen the show, but there’s a huge scene at the end of the show that just kind of resolves this issue that’s been pressing this whole show about moving on past certain things in your life that you can’t let go of. And I think that’s a huge lesson in life that not a lot of shows tackle very well or very often,” he said.
Both actors also agreed “Footloose” is also about rebellion and standing up for what you believe.
“Definitely. Especially in these times now, it’s a lot of sticking your ground, knowing what you believe in and sticking to it no matter what other people believe,” Copley said.
“Fighting for it,” Kurtz stated.
“No matter what other people may say or think,” Copley added.
“Footloose” tells its story through a lot of singing and especially dancing.
Copley said he realized he enjoyed singing when he was in middle school and he started singing with his school choir. He kept singing in the choir throughout high school, and then did theater.
“I never really started dancing until this year at college,” he admitted.
“He’s fabulous,” Kurtz acknowledged for him.
“We’ll see how it looks on stage,” Copley said, laughing.
Kurtz said she was probably about 7 years old and on a cruise when she signed up for a talent show on a whim. She heard another little girl sing “The Rainbow Connection,” the Academy Award nominated song from the 1979 film “The Muppet Movie” sung by Kermit the Frog, and Kurtz decided she wanted to sing. The other little girl won the talent show and Kurtz’s mom got her singing lessons.
She had already taken dance classes since she was younger, and eventually she started taking acting lessons.
As for their favorite songs from “Footloose,” Copley said his was “I Can’t Stand Still.”
“It’s my first show that I’ve ever done that I’ve had my own singing and dancing number all to myself, so that in itself is a brand new experience. I run out of breath so frequently, and I’ve learned a lot – how to manage my voice, how to manage my breath, how to manage my dancing while doing all these things. It’s just such a fun number. It’s hard to beat that energy throughout the show,” he explained of the number that was added to the stage version.
Kurtz said she loves singing the duet between Ren and Ariel, “Almost Paradise.”
“It’s such a pretty song. It’s such a classic song. Everyone knows it, and everyone loves it, and I love it. I love singing it, too. It’s fun,” she said.
Copley agreed the duet is a highlight of the show.
“Definitely come! It’s such a fun show and it has such great energy to it. The whole cast is incredible. Everyone is just amazing. The talent is insane,” Kurtz said.
“I would say, even if you have seen the show multiple times before, this show is unlike any other production. It is our own Wagon Wheel 2017 production and it’s going to be a brand new experience for everyone,” Copley said.
More information on Wagon Wheel and purchasing tickets can be found online at wagonwheelcenter.org.
A video of the full interview with the actors can be found on the Times-Union website at www.timesuniononline.com.
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