When it comes to theatrical entertainment, usually the movie follows the play. But in the case of Footloose, a musical set in the 1980s about a teenaged boy who moves to a small Illinois town with his mother after his father has left them and rebels against the town’s ban on dancing – itself a response to a local tragedy – the movie came first, memorably starring Kevin Bacon. The Broadway play went on to become a hit, and now it’s being performed by the New York Conservatory for the Arts (NYCA) Theatre Company at its cabaret theatre in Hurley, located at 120 Schildknecht Road. You can catch the final weekend of performances, which start at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, January 20 and 21 and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 22. Tickets cost $18 general admission, $15 for seniors and students.
The large cast consists of both older teens who have earned their theatre chops performing with NYCA in the Woodstock Playhouse – which NYCA rescued and renovated last year – and seasoned adult actors. The youth participation lends a robust energy to the musical, which NYCA co-director Doug Farrell describes as “upbeat and contemporary,” with tunes that you won’t forget. (He noted that the recent remake of the movie has been slowed down and infused with a country sound; the NYCA production adheres to the original film.) The reparations that are made in the town and in the boy’s life as the narrative unfolds reveal a deeper message about how loss experienced by the contemporary family can be redeemed and healed, Farrell said, noting that the production is more than just a series of great songs and dance moves.
Call (845) 339-4340 for tickets or visit the NYCA Cabaret Theatre Tuesday through Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m., when the box office is open. For more information about NYCA, visit www.nyca.org.
Join the family! 
