Sometimes You Gotta Dance!

In 1984, a film opened that would ultimately capture the feel of a decade and catapult its star, Kevin Bacon, to superstardom. Footloose, directed by Herbert Ross, was seen as a cross between James Dean's Rebel Without A Cause and the classic Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland musicals of the 40s and 50s.

The film is based on the true story of a small Oklahoma town's struggle against a 19th Century law that prohibited dancing within the city limits. The teenagers in town wanted a prom, but a local minister thought that dancing was a tool of the devil. This story of one person fighting against the system spoke to teens and adults alike, making Footloose one of the highest grossing films of 1984. Richard Corliss of Time Magazine, wrote that the film included "motifs on book burning, mid-life crisis, AWOL parents, fatal car crashes, drug enforcement and Bible Belt vigilantism," themes that spoke to a generation.

Even though Kevin Bacon is completely identified with the role, he was not the first choice for Ren McCormick. Producers originally considered Tom Cruise, but felt he was wrong physically. Rob Lowe auditioned but had to bow out due to a knee injury. Bacon ultimately secured the role, but not before he was asked to screen test in a fully filmed scene set to music. The role of Ariel, Reverend Moore's red-boot-wearing daughter, was offered to Lori Singer, who beat out Madonna. Rounding out the cast was Diane Wiest, John Lithgow, Chris Penn and a virtually unknown Sarah Jessica Parker.

Filmed entirely in Utah, Bacon researched his role by enrolling in Payson High School (where the school scenes were shot) as a transfer student, where he studied the kids in their natural habitat. For a week, he went to school like any other student and was treated in much the same way as his character in the film--as an outcast.

The soundtrack, featuring hits by Kenny Loggins, Ann Wilson, Sammy Hagar, Bonnie Tyler and Denise Williams was released the same year. Interestingly, none of the music, with the exception of the title track, was complete at the time of filming. All of the dance scenes were filmed with different music and the soundtrack was added during the editing process. The soundtrack went on to sell 9 million copies in the United States producing three top 10 hits.

The film takes a simple concept that could have come across as just another cheesy teen angst movie and combines it with great music to create one of the best-loved films of the genre. Its popularity helped spawn FOOTLOOSE the musical as well as, a film version of the musical, starring Zac Efron in 2010. Footloose has become a reflection of a generation that grew up in the 80s; it speaks to anyone who believes there is no sin in being young, having fun and getting to dance.



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There is More to Broadway Than Just Musicals

The word Broadway conjures up images of musicals like OKLAHOMA!, LES MISERABLES or RENT. All are different forms of the same genre and all share common characteristics. By definition, a musical has a book, music and lyrics, but in the last several years, another form of musical theater has shared the spotlight--the special theatrical event.

The special theatrical event contains some of the traits found in a more traditional Broadway-style musical. It has music, sometimes lyrics but most don't have a book. Examples include the musical review, shows that feature performers like Dame Edna, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and non-traditional shows like the Blue Man Group, BLAST! and STOMP. Each has taken its turn on the Great White Way and has played to sold-out houses across the country.

Theatrical events have been around for years, but have never achieved the same level of notoriety as more classic forms of the musical. In 2001, the Tony Awards ® created a special event category in response to criticism to CONTACT winning the best musical award in 2000. Considered a "dance play", CONTACT featured no cast vocals, used recorded music and songs and minimal dialog. The show lacked all the ingredients found in a standard Broadway production. The theater world was not ready to classify the show as a musical, so the Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing created a new award category, Best Special Theatrical Event.

The first winner in the new category was BLAST! in 2001. The show further stretched the boundaries of the genre by bringing the artistry and energy of the drumline to the stage. Since then, Broadway legends Elaine Stritch, Bea Arthur and Barbara Cook have shared the new category with Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam, Bill Maher and ventriloquist Jay Johnson giving credibility to this new genre.

The theater world has taken notice and now productions like CIRQUE DREAMS JUNGLE FANTASY, MOVIN' OUT and STOMP receive the well-deserved critical acclaim their traditional counterparts have enjoyed for decades.

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Can you use the word in a sentence?

In 1925, Frank Neuhauser correctly spelled the word "gladiolus." Since that first championship, the National Spelling Bee has become a large part of American culture. From Charlie Brown specials to The Simpsons, the "bee" has been spoofed and its participants characterized as over-zealous, over-achieving children who stop at nothing to succeed. The public has had an ongoing fascination with all things "bee" for more than 83 years. So, it seemed natural to a group of improv actors and writers in New York to create a show with the bee as a central "character."

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE is based on an original improvised play called C-R-E-P-U-S-C-U-L-E. The original work was created by Rebecca Feldman and performed by The Farm, a New York-based improv troupe. Writer and playwright, Wendy Wasserstein, saw the original and was so enamored by the show that she suggested that her friend, songwriter and lyricist William Finn, see it. He almost immediately contacted the shows creator and began transforming this work of improvisational comedy into a full-length musical.

The new musical was work-shopped from February through July of 2004 and moved Off-Broadway the following year to the Second Stage Theatre garnering box-office and critical success. The show moved to Broadway in 2005 and ran for more than 1000 performances!
The show features six adolescents who compete in a spelling bee, which takes place in the fictional Putnam Valley Middle School. The "kids" are all portrayed by adults who capture the awkwardness and craziness of being a teenager in the throes of puberty. While scripted, the show hasn't lost its improv roots. Each night, a few audience members are selected to make their musical theater debut as featured "spellers" on stage with the cast.

Over the years, many guest spellers have tried to beat the cast in the bee. In 2006, National Scripps Spelling Bee Champion, Katharine Close, survived 14 rounds and was the last audience member to be eliminated. The show has also had its share of celebrity spellers. Last year, Julie Andrews, who was on hand for a Broadway production promoting Kids Night on Broadway, was eliminated when she misspelled "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" during the competition.

THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE speaks to the best and the worst of what it means to be an adolescent. The characters share the need to win and run the gamut from the girl whose best friend is a dictionary, to the Boy Scout who hits puberty at the most inopportune moment. In this Tony ® Award-winning musical comedy, the audience will relive their teenage years...at a very safe distance.

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