Stage North returns to NPCC with first musical in 4 years: Footloose the Musical
Stage North Theatre Society’s rendition of Footloose the Musical opened at the North Peace Cultural Centre this weekend – not only is it the group’s first show of the season, but it’s the first musical since 2019.
Musicals are normally a regular part of Stage North, with one being performed at least every couple of years, said Footloose director Emry Mika. This one is a big deal for the group, so Mika wanted to choose something fun, with a heartfelt meaning.
“It’s a show that everybody knows, because the movies were so big, so title recognition was big. It has fun songs – it’s a great show to work on, fun to dance to and sing,” Mika said. “Behind all the songs, is a really great story of connections, which I thought was really important right now.”
Because Footloose is a muscial, everybody sings and dances, she said. The cast of 43 ranges in age from 13 to 60, with a wide variety of experience on stage, especially in terms of dance.
“We have a couple of troupe level dancers within the program, ranging from that to people who have never done a musical before,” she said. “We started in early August, we have a dance captain and a lot of helpful cast members who have really been helping each other out, to get through a lot of the dances. They’ve been doing a great job of bringing them all together.”
Opening night was a great success, and Mika says Stage North appreciates the support of the community.
“They’re really coming out in droves to support us. We’re very grateful,” she said. “It’s a big group that’s been working hard and having fun – we’re excited to share it with Fort St. John.”
If you missed the show last night, there are five more opportunties to catch Footloose the Musical at the North Peace Cultural Centre. The second show starts tonight at 7:30 p.m., with more shows next weekend, November 2 – 4 at 7:30, with a matinee on Saturday, November 4 at 1 p.m. Tickets are available at the NPCC box office or online at https://npcc.bc.ca/ he box office is also open one hour before showtime.