Footloose: Min Version

Footloose

Cast of Characters

Ren - Lead role who is a little dangerous! Must be a strong dancer, singer & is very charming.

Ariel – The Reverends daughter who seeks adventure! Strong dancer & Singer.

Willard – Comedic role that is a little bit of a hillbilly.

Rusty – Female comedic role who must have a strong belt.

Reverend Shaw – Loud speaking role, no dance or singing required. Authority figure.

Ethel – Ren’s Mother

Garvin – Ren’s Best Friend from Chicago

Vi – Shaw’s Wife.

Principal / Coach – Character of authority, no singing or dancing required.

Wendy Jo – Funny & singer.

Urleen/Natasha – Funny & singer.

Eleanor – City Council member

Chuck – Ariel’s Boyfriend

Cowboy Bob – Enough said! 2

Song Synopsis

Act I

Footloose Opening …………………………..………..Full Company

I Can’t Stand Still………………………………...……Ren & Willard

Somebody’s Eyes………………....Rusty, Urleen, Wendy Jo ,Shasta

 Holding Out For A Hero …………….Ariel, Rusty, Urleen, Wendy Jo & girls

I’m Free / Heaven Help…...………………..Ren, & Bomont Friends

Act II

Let’s Here It For The Boy……………………..…Rusty & Company

.

Mama Says……………………………………..……...Willard & Boys

Dancing Is Not A Crime……………….…………...….Ren and Boys

Footloose (Finale)……………………………..……….Full Company

ACT ONE

SCENE ONE: City of Chicago

Footloose [opening] –Full Company

NATASHA

Hey Ren is there any dancing in Bomont?

REN

Oh sure, I bet there’s tons of clubs and places to cut-loose.

NATASHA

Seriously though Ren, like, what’re you gonna do about Alexis?

REN

Alexis?

NATASHA

Your girlfriend?! 5

REN

(Hasn’t given it much thought till now) Well, I guess she’ll have to come visit me…

NATASHA

In Bomont?!  Good luck dude.

SCENE TWO: Church Chapel of Bomont (Musical underscore)

REVEREND SHAW

Welcome to Bomont! Good morning!

PARISHIONERS

Good morning Reverend!

REVEREND SHAW

As I came to church this morning, I was reminded of a line from our great poet, Walt Whitman, who

wrote, “I hear America singing.” And I thought, “Aren’t we the song that we sing? Don’t we lift our

voices to tell the world who we are? And what we And believe?” So I ask you this morning – What

song are you singing?

CONGREGATION

Amen! Sing it Reverend!

REVEREND SHAW

Now if Walt Whitman were alive today, what song would he hear America singing? When I turn on

the television, all I hear is the music of rock and roll and endless chant of relaxed morals. And I ask

myself, “Why does our Lord allow this?” We know God has the power to turn all those records and

books and videos into one big fiery cinder like…..that! But He doesn’t. And Why? Because God is

testing us. Everyday our Lord presents us with one simple challenge – Listen to the music in your

soul. Now on a different note we welcome this morning to our parish two new souls who just

arrived form Chicago. Ethel McCormack and her son…Ron, is it?

REN

Ren.

REVEREND SHAW

Huh? Speak up! Let me the Lord hear your voice!

REN

Ren. Ren McCormack.

REVEREND SHAW

“Ren.” Interesting name. Is that short for something?

CONGREGATION

Amen! Sing it Reverend! 6

REN

No.

REVEREND SHAW

Well we invite you into our church family. My wife Vi and our daughter Ariel will introduce you to

members of the congregation. Welcome to Bomont!

(Church congregation moves off stage with background music while scene changes into high school halls, the

school bell rings to start the scene)

SCENE THREE: Bomont High School hallway

WILLARD

Hey! You’re the new guy from Chicago, ain’tcha?

REN

Perhaps.

WILLARD

Smart - alec, huh?

REN

Let me ask you something, Will. What do you do around here for a good time? Do you guys have

any clubs?

WILLARD

Nope.

REN

What about movie theaters?

WILLARD

Nope.

REN

What about any malls?

WILLARD

Nope.

REN

What about…..

WILLARD

Nope, nope, and nope. We got a bowl-A0Rama down by the interstate.

REN

Wow. I really admire you. I could never do what you guys do around here. 7

WILLARD

Yeah? What’s that?

REN

Nothing!

I can’t stand still - Ren

WILLARD

I can see that. Around here we walk. You’re gonna last about five minutes in this town.

PRINCIPAL

Young man! Young man! What do you think you’re doing?

REN

What? I was just showing him some steps.

PRINCIPAL

There is absolutely no dancing of any kind allowed at any time anywhere within the town limits of

Bomont. EVER! (Principal exits).

WILLARD

It’s against the law.

REN

Dancing? Get out!

RUSTY

Bomont is not like Chicago. It must be so cool to live in a city where you can walk down the street

and get mugged by people you don’t even know.

 I Can’t Stand Still 8

REN

Yeah, I miss that. I thought living in a small town was going to be perfect, like on big happy family.

WENDY JO

Let me tell you about that family. (Music cue) There are tongues wagging every time you make a

move.

URLEEN

There are fingers pointing every time you turn around.

WENDY JO

There’s heads shaking the minute you cross the line.

RUSTY

And there are eyes everywhere.

Somebody’s Eyes

REN

Thanks for the advice. But it’s not going to get to me.

URLEEN

It gets to everybody. 10

REN

You don’t know me.

URLEEN

You don’t know Bomont.

(School Bell rings and students transition into the cafeteria)

SCENE FOUR: Bomont High School Cafeteria

ARIEL

It’s so rad, watching a guy like Ren fly in the face of authority. Isn’t it?

GIRLS

Uh-huh, totally, he is so awesome!

WENDY JO

There are just no guys around anymore; I mean I don’t want that much.

URLEEN

I just want to find a guy who’d make the first move.

RUSTY

If I could only find a guy who, when he went to kiss me goodnight – he’d take the toothpick out of

his mouth.

WENDY JO

If I could only find a guy.

Holding out for a Hero

(Girls and cafeteria exit and gym class enters the stage, the coach can be

calling out drills through transition.)

SCENE FIVE: Bomont High School GYM

COACH

McCormack! You’re late for gym class, give me twenty five.

CHUCK

“McCormack! You’re late for gym class.”

COACH

McCormack, it seems that when you’re not making trouble, it finds you anyway.

REN

You’re joking!

COACH

You’re right. Make it fifty.

WILLARD

Coach!

COACH

Willard. You can give me fifty as well. As a matter of fact, you can all give me fifty. Courtesy of Mr.

McCormack…just do it! One, two…I can’t hear you!

ALL

Three, four, five, six….

COACH

Only forty-six to go! (Coach exits)

ALL

Five, six…

CHUCK

Is he gone? 13

ALL

Seven, eight…

GARVIN

Yeah. Hey, Ren thanks a lot.

REN

Sorry, everybody. This whole town is so wound up.

GARVIN

Amen!

REN

You guys have no place to blow off any steam.

CHUCK

You said it!

REN

At least in Chicago we could go out dancing at night.

WILLARD

Maybe we oughta take the Coach dancing?

REN

Willard you are so…(he gets an idea)! (Music cue)

WILLARD

What? What are you thinking?

REN

That’s it!

WILLARD

What?

REN

We’re gonna throw a dance! We’re gonna throw a party that’s gonna knock Bomont right off its

tractor.

CHUCK

Now you’re just asking for a fight.

REN

Bring it on!

GARVIN

Are you ready to take on Reverend Shaw? 14

REN

I’ll take on anybody!

CHUCK

What about the Town Council?

REN

I’ll fight City Hall! If there’s one thing worth fighting for its

freedom!

I’m Free/Heaven Help Me

ACT TWO

SCENE ONE: 100 miles away from Bomont, across the state line at a dance club.

(Country music plays, Billy Ray, Garth Brooks, etc.)

REN

C’mon, let’s go in!!

ARIEL

Ren! Where have you brought us?

REN

It’s called the Bar-B-Qie! The billboards say that it’s the finest little dance palace in the tir-county

area.

RUSTY

Then what are we waiting for?!

WILLARD

Oh, my Gosh!

REN

Look at this! What could Bomont have against dancing? Isn’t this worth fighting for?

RUSTY

Wow! Who’d have guessed that a mere hundred miles outside of Bomont you could find this much

culture?

WILLARD

Yeah.

ARIEL

And this much fun!

REN

Come on. Let’s go break a law.

RUSTY

Willard! You wanna dance?

WILLARD

First thing I wanna do is find us a place to sit down.

RUSTY

Now, c’mon. Let’s dance!

WILLARD

You ladies want a soda? 17

RUSTY

Willard! I did not come a hundred miles for a Dr. Pepper!

WILLARD

Okay. That’s a no.

RUSTY

I wanna dance! I wanna dance!

WILLARD

I can’t dance! I can’t dance!

RUSTY

Whaaaaaaat?!

WILLARD

(Louder) I can’t dance! (The music comes to a screeching holt and all eyes are on Willard)

COWBOY BOB

D’ja hear that? Your boyfriend says he can’t dance!

COWBOY BUD

Hey fellas! Whaddaya say we dunk his head in the pig troff ! (Music Cue)

REN

Now, c’mon! Give the guy a break.

RUSTY

Yeah, we might be new in town but you gotta give us a chance. My guy can dance he just doesn’t

know it yet.

Let’s Hear it for the Boy

SCENE TWO: Bomont High School Hallway

WILLARD

Hold it! Hold it! You’re going to be speaking to the Town Council, so don’t mumble. Now do that

last part on more time.

REN

“Citizens of Bomont, a town is only as small as the minds of the people who live there. So think big!

And party on!” 19

GUYS

You are out of your mind! Man, that’s terrible!

WILLARD

Ren, we’re not saying the speech is bad. It’s just that its’ no good.

REN

Then what am I supposed to say? I’ve re-written it nine times.

WILLARD

Here’s the thing: you’re gonna be facing Reverend Shaw and some of the stubbornness people in this

town.

GARVIN

You’ve already got plenty of people boiling mad.

GARVIN

Yeah! Folks are picking sides.

CHUCK

And they’re not picking yours!

WILLARD

Hang in there! You just gotta re-think your approach. Now, Mama says….

GUYS

Oh, man….Not Mama…..Gimme a break!

WILLARD

Now hold on!

GARVIN

You can’t back down, Ren!

Mama Says

REN

Then maybe your Mama oughta give my speech.

WILLARD

Oh, heck no! Everybody knows Mama’s crazy. Th point is, though, she’s got some really good ideas.

ARIEL

Hey Ren, come here…

REN

See you guys later. Hey Ariel, what’s up?

ARIEL

I want to give you something.

REN

What, what is it?

ARIEL

Oh nothing, I was just gonna tell you, oh never mind it’s stupid.

REN

No, really, Ariel, just tell me. 22

ARIEL

I’ve been thinking a lot lately and since you’ve been here…its just, well, you make me forget

everything that’s wrong with my life.

REN

There are some things I’d like to forget to.

ARIEL

Like…?

REN

This battle I’m causing in Bomont! And I still don’t know what I’m gonna say to the Town Council.

ARIEL

Oh, that reminds me…the reason I came was to give you this. You’ll need it.

REN

The Holy Bible?

ARIEL

I marked all the pages.

REN

Whoa! This is great! How did you know where to find all these passages?

ARIEL

Are you kidding?

REN

Thank you.

(they run off and exit together, as the Town Council enters)

SCENE THREE: Town Council Meeting

ELEANOR

Thank you, Lulu. Now let’s consider new business. Before we begin, I want to remind all our young

people who have joined us this evening that this meeting is convened to consider official town

business. The floor is now open. Yes?

REN

My name is Ren McCormack and…uh…On behalf of most of the senior class of Bomont High, I move

that local ordinance four- sixteen – the law against public dancing within the Bomont town limits – be

abolished.

WILLARD

And I, Willard Hewitt of 385 Cloverdale Road, would like to second that motion. Thank you.23

REVEREND SHAW

Eleanor, may I have the floor, please?

ELEANOR

Certainly, Reverend.

REVEREND SHAW

Mr. McCormack, perhaps you view the law as a personal obstacle. In fact, law is a public expression

of the standard, which a community sets for itself. Now, even if I did not believe that your enterprise

was fraught with spiritual peril – which I do – I am not naive about the activities that these events

foster: the consumption of alcohol, the use of drugs, and lewd behavior…

REN

Reverend Shaw, I understand what this town has been through…

REVEREND SHAW

I don’t think you do, son. Because if you did, you would never have encouraged your classmates to

re-open the wounds we have healed. Now, I don’t wish to be dogmatic. If there is anyone who can

convince me that there is no danger in your raucous party plans, I will certainly reconsider my stand.

But for now….no, I can’t condone it.

ELEANOR

Well I believe that Mr. McCormack has a right to be heard.

REN GUYS

Dancing is not a crime! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

Ever since the dawn of time if anything, everybody

Had the right to howl at the moon and to move all night. Aaoo! Move all night.

When folks were tribal back before the bible

They were liable to dance when the crops came in

Or they’d pull out all the stops when the earth

would spin or maybe - What?

They had a battle to win so they’d go thumping

On a tree trunk (thump, thump, thump, thump)

Grooving to the free funk Yeah!

And just like that in nothing flat there’d be hands clapping

Toes tapping, feet flapping, dogs yapping Hey!

I could a told you that would happen

They would dance They would dance

Every time they had a chance whatever the season

Or circumstance they found a reason to throw a party

In their pants, and they would dance Wow, they would dance

Yeah, dance Dance, they would dance

They would dance Dance, they would dance

Yeah, dance Dance they would dance

(Gravel hits 7x) We’re cool!

 Dancing Is Not A Crime 24

REN GUYS

So if you’ve heard about Adam And Abraham

You will remember this guy form the book of Samuel

David you know King David Dave

He made a science of knocking out giants The bigger they come, the harder they fall

He didn’t like math or geography

But check this out Check this out

He loved choreography

 Carful Ren there’s a law

Now what were you sayin’

 To Reverend Shaw?

Right here in black and white

Says he was leaping and dancing with all of his might Leaping and dancing

In front of his Lord but David wasn’t doing

It for some reward No, no, no, no!

It might sound odd but David thought it brought

Him closer to God so he would dance Hallelu!

Every time he had the chance

Whatever the season or circumstance Whatever the season or circumstance

He found a reason to throw a party in his pants In his pants

And he’d dance Hey!

He would dance He would dance

So dancing doesn’t always make you do nasties

Look at the book of Ecclesiasties Okay!

There’s a time to laugh, a time to weep Boo hoo!

There’s a time to plant, a time to reap

And there’s a time to dance And there’s a time to dance

It says it right here Right here!

Man doth dance And it was good

And if the bible tells me so

Then what have I got to fear Huh, got no fear, huh

We only want to kick up our heels

And betcha every on of you knows

How that feels I betcha do They do

Uh-huh. I betcha do They say they don’t but they know they do

People been dancing since God knows when

And that’s the way it should be again, let’s dance Hallelu!

Every time we get the chance Let’s dance!

Whatever the reason or circumstance

Find a reason to throw Find a reason

A party in your pants

And dance Dance

ALL

Whatever the season or reason it’s pleasin’ to dance! 25

REVEREND SHAW

I must say that was some presentation. I wasn’t expecting so much energy…so much conviction from

you Ren. I’m hesitant but pleased to say that as Reverend of this town, and head of the town council

we are going to let you, and the senior class of Bomont High have your dancing Party….but

remember no funny business…or rough housing.

ALL

YEAH! WEEE! So, fun, so…fun! Like I-am-so-hyper-right-now!

REN

Gee, thanks Reverend Shaw.

REVEREND SHAW

Well, son, you used the word of God in such an appropriate manner, I don’t see how anyone could’ve

turned you down. But promise me you’ll remember the words you said here today…and know that

I’ll be watching you.

REN

Yes, sir. Come on guys lets kick it!

Footloose Finale