By Staff Writer: Marissa VanDaelen

Howell High School drama students have just been cast into their roles for the well-known movie, Footloose. There will be added musical elements to the play but it will definitely be similar to the movie.

“It’s a little bit different from the movie since it’s a musical as well. There’s more singing but they are going to be very similar. However, this is supposed to be taken place in 2013, not 1984 but we’re going to have a lot of homages to the 1984 movie with Kevin Bacon,” junior Jonathan Miller says. Miller earned the lead role of Ren McCormack.

The play will be set in a small-farming town that Ren and his mother move to from Chicago. Ren is prepared for his adjustment to the new high school but he’s not prepared for local edicts, such as the ban on dancing introduced by the local preacher. As he tries to get rid of the ban on dancing, Ren encounters many people. The reverend’s rebellious daughter, Ariel Moore, sets her sights on Ren while her boyfriend tries to sabotage his reputation.

“I can relate a lot from a lot of the pain and rage that Ren has built up inside his heart and he just needs to figure out a way to overcome that, and I’m on the same page as him,” Miller says.

Among the other cast members are Tori Rogers playing Ariel Moore, Peter Heslip playing Reverend Shaw Moore, Annie Bock playing Vi Moore, Maggie Grace playing Ethel McCormack, Emilio Zapata playing Willard Hewitt, Aspen Pyle playing Rusty, Austin Boyd playing Chuck, and Keith Hutchins playing Cowboy Bob.

The play will be presented on November 22 and 23 at 7 p.m. and November 24 at 2 p.m. in the Howell High School auditorium.

“I know this is going to be a very exciting production because of the energy and enthusiasm of the cast. It’s the most modern show that HHS has ever done and we’re excited to bring an iconic movie to the stage,” drama teacher Amanda Malo says.