August 2, 2024 By Roy Harris
Today and Saturday bring the first two thrilling performances of “Footloose”—Hingham Civic Music Theatre’s latest production—to Sanborn Auditorium of Hingham’s Town Hall, 210 Central St. Curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. for the two shows.
With a cast of 30 for this dance-and-song-filled show, accompanied by a six-piece orchestra, Hingham’s “Footloose” will also rock Sanborn Saturday, Aug. 10, at 7:30, with a closing 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday the 11th. Seats for all performances are available at hcmt.org.
The Hingham show features Randolph’s Trevor Nataupsky as Ren McCormack, a music-crazed high-schooler, who has moved to a new town and school. In the new town, Bomont, town elders have banned rock-and-roll music. The kids, of course, are eager for rock ‘n’ roll, and in newcomer Ren they find a young rebel who just could bring the music back.
In the way stands Rev. Shaw Moore, played by Brockton’s Steve Shannon, and other town elders who have been shocked into opposing the music by a fatal car accident that had claimed the lives of some local kids.
Most of the high-schoolers, of course, ache to restore dancing—an ache that swells when Ren’s example takes root with youngsters like Rev. Moore’s daughter Ariel, played by Carly Williams of Marion, much to the dismay of her current, eager boyfriend Chuck, played by D. Joseph of Quincy.
Among the show’s musical numbers—composed for the 1998 Broadway hit by Tom Snow, with lyrics by Dean Pitchford, and Kenny Loggins as an additional lyricist–are “Almost Paradise,” “Holding Out for a Hero,” “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” “I Can’t Stand Still,” “Somebody’s Eyes” and “Dancing Is Not a Crime.” Additional music was by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar and Jim Steinman.
Direction for the show has been by Nathan Fogg-DeSisto, Samantha Brior-Jones Sullivan and Laura Gunning, with music direction by Kelley DePasqua, who also playskeyboard.
Originally, the production’s sole director had been Fogg-Desisto, who very recently had a successful heart and kidney transplant.
Hingham Civic Music Theatre is helping his friends and family raise funds for his continuing medical expenses, and recently created a system for supporters to make a Venmo donation (haveaheartfornathan.xo / @Samantha-Brior-Jones)
HCMT hopes that many people will come out to see the show and—as the title song says—“cut footloose”!
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Roy Harris lives in the World’s End neighborhood of Hingham, and was a performer in many past Hingham Civic Music Theatre productions.