Here’s a blast from the past that will have you tapping your feet and singing along in the ultimate ‘80s party. Footloose: The Musical has embarked on a national tour, wooing audiences in Brisbane and soon to open in Canberra, Newcastle and Perth.
The ‘80s phenomenon returns to the stage with an electric new cast led by Queensland’s Gabriel Tiller in the role of Ren, the rebellious kid who tells the town of Bomont that it’s time to dance. (No-one can forget Kevin Bacon who played the role in the iconic ‘80s movie.)
Tiller, who has performed in previous productions including Jersey Boys and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, leads an all-Australian cast in bringing the high-energy production to the stage. It’s the first time Australia has seen a professional production of Footloose in more than 20 years.
The tour follows a completely sold-out season in Melbourne, proving just how much Australian audiences love the show. Australians have embraced Footloose for decades and the new production is bigger, bolder, and more explosive than ever before.
Brittany Morton (Guys and Dolls, Love Actually: The Musical Parody) plays the Reverend’s rebellious daughter and romantic lead Ariel, while Stephen Hirst (Pride and Prejudice, Little Shop of Horrors) is the powerful Reverend Shaw Moore.
Beloved stars of TV and stage, Sophie Weiss and Rachael Beck, share the role of the Reverend’s wife and audience favourite, Vi Moore.
Maverick Newman (Hair The Musical, Friends! The Musical Parody) returns as the hilarious Willard, with the unstoppable Maddison Coleman returning as Rusty (Guys and Dolls, Urinetown).
Based on the 1984 movie, the four-time Tony Award nominated musical became a smash hit, capturing hearts with its story of youth, freedom, and the unifying power of music and dance. It continues to find new audiences with its enduring and relatable themes, not to mention its chart-topping soundtrack that defined a generation.
Audiences will be dancing in the aisles to numbers such as Holding Out for a Hero, Almost Paradise, Let’s Hear It For The Boy, and, imprinted in everyone’s memory, the title track Footloose.
Join Ren, the city kid turned rebel with a cause, as he shakes up a small town where music and dancing are outlawed. This feel-good musical promises to be so much fun and tickets are selling fast. Further cities are expected to be announced soon.
Book tickets and find more information here.
