Closing

It's amazing to think that just twenty-four hours ago, we were in the middle of act two, with Chuck accosting Ariel, Willard singing about his Mama, Bomont heading to a town council meeting, and ultimately the town being able to throw a dance.  One might even say a kick-ass party that knocked Bomont right off its tractor.

Even more amazing to think that one week ago, we were in the midst of a technical rehearsal, moving benches, checking mics, and gearing up to open the show.

The last ten weeks have been extraordinary.  Truly extraordinary.  Putting together a musical is such a gigantic collaboration, where so many departments and dozens of people have to all work together towards the same goal to get the curtain up on opening night.  The amazing work of the cast, the band, the crew, the front of house staff, the designers, the production team, and everyone at the Arts and Culture Centre made our show happen.

And this is a very special group of people, a very special company.  So much excitement, so much energy, so much talent, and so much generosity from everyone involved with the show made it a truly wonderful, engaging, exciting, and unique production.  It's not everyday and not every musical that you get to work with such an amazing group.

The sun has set on Bomont for now, and we've cut footloose for the last time.  But I know I'm taking great memories with me from this experience.  I really hope you all are, too.

A day at Coastal Dance...

I recently visited Coastal Dance Company, home to our fantastic choreographer, as well as three of ours dancers, Katie, Olivia, and Kathryn.  It was a strange day at Coastal...see below...

Live from the Sound Check!

Here is a long-delayed video of clips taken during our sound check last week.  You all sound so good on this music, it had to be recorded.  We should definitely make an album.  Definitely.

Enjoy!

Pictures from Dress Rehearsal!

Our beloved Cowboy Bob (or as Brian, our Lighting Designer calls him, "Rockin' Dude") took some fantastic pictures during the dress rehearsal last night.  Check them out below!  And there are even more on Kyle's facebook profile!

                                                               











                                                             

1...2...3...JUMP! Continuing to get the word out!

Some members of the cast made their way out to Kenmount Road and the Academy Canada parking lot after rehearsal Saturday to take some pictures at the fabulous Footloose billboard.  Of course, we had to take one (or several) with a high school musical jump.  This was so successful that we have to go back and do it again, with as many members of the Footloose family as possible.  Details to come!  Check out some of the pictures below.

Also, check out the link to our promo video below.  Share it with all your friends!

 

Just four days now!
Footloose at the Arts and Culture Centre from Kathryn Lear on Vimeo.

And here is the link to the video on the Vimeo page.

Even more pictures...

One more post of pictures of where we are.  I know, I know, you already have three posts full of pictures of Oklahoma, oil derricks, small town diners, and neighborhood churches.  But, this is the last one!  Probably.

Enjoy!

MORE famous people! Something to do tonight...

Our beloved Rusty (also know as Rustoleum) is a member of the Quintessential Vocal Ensemble.  Well that choir, which this year celebrates its twentieth anniversary, has a concert this very evening at the Basilica.  Our own Susan Quinn conducts the concert, which features not only this amazing choir, but also a group of incredibly talented instrumentalists from across the city, including our very own Grant Etchegary.  Tonight is a chance to see some members of our Footloose Family, performing some fantastic music in a beautiful setting.  Details at the links below, or ask Kristin at rehearsal for more information.

http://www.qve.ca/schedule/choral-works!-master-series-no-3.aspx

Facebook event for Lux Aeterna

Still More Dancing! Finale Dance Video Part Three

Another installment in the series of dance tutorial videos for our finale.  Instead of making one really, really long video, it's in three sections.  Check them out! (I'll keep updating this post until I've got it all loaded up.)

The first video contains the section in the middle of the song where we sing "I got this feeling that time ain't holding me down" at measure 70.  This comes right before the police dance.



And here is a video for the Silly Sixties and Cha-Cha section of the song.  Reverend Moore, Madame Mayor, Coach Dunbar, Principal Clark, and all the town elders, getting into the act!



Here is a video for the final section of the finale, the Big Finish!  It's slowed-down and explained, with and without music, and a couple of different angles.  Get excited!



Here is the place holder video for the final section of the song.  This is the big finish, from three different angles.



If you want a look at the opening section of choreography for the finale, check out the links below, which will take you to the youtube videos for that section.

Finale Video 1
Finale Video 2

And remember, this is the last thing the audience is going to see from us, so let's make it sharp, clean, and energized!

More Dancing! Finale Dance Video Part Two

The finale is the last number in the show, and we really want the audience dancing up the aisles at the end of the show when they leave the theater.  So let's try and make this song really sharp, really crisp, and ridiculously fun.  Here is another dance tutorial video for the finale, with the sequence slowed down and the pas de bourree explained.  Mostly because I didn't understand what a pas de bourree is.  And honestly, to me, it still sounds like something you eat for brunch.

Also posted below is the first finale dance tutorial video, which has the sequence at tempo and with music.

And while you're working on this dance, tell you what: those Sunday shoes?  Just kick 'em right off!



And the first Finale dance tutorial video:

"Still Rockin'" and Country Bars

At rehearsal, Courtney, our preacher's-daughter-by-day-Chuck's-girl-by-night-with-the-voice-of-an-angel Ariel, did us the favor of filming a couple of segments of the movement for "Still Rockin'".  So for folks who dance in that song and are wondering about the steps, they are posted below in a video.  The video features parts two and three of the movement. Thanks for Courtney for filming and Ellen and Brooke for demonstrating.

But first, before we get down to the nitty-gritty of learning those steps, let's talk about the Bar-B-Que, "the finest little dance palace in the tri-county area" (or at least that's what the billboards say).  It's a country bar, a bar with a live band, a bar where people love to get up and dance.  Along with the video of the choreography, check out these pictures for a little inspiration for the Bar-B-Que.

Enjoy!

Dancing, Dancing, Dancing!

We took some video yesterday morning to put together this little dance tutorial for the show's finale.  It features the choreography to the chorus of the song, four times from different angles.  Some of the clips are not quite the complete chorus, but this should give you a good look at what the choreography is and a great refresher for the steps.

Thanks to Melissa, Katie, Kathryn, and everyone at rehearsal for letting me make this video.  This finale, when the citizens of Bomont are finally allowed to dance, is, quoting from the introduction to the script, "not only a catharsis for the characters onstage but for your audience as well."  It's an "explosion of dance energy."  After one short rehearsal, it is already high energy and exciting to watch.  Let's get the steps really sharp and precise, and this is going to be a fantastic, thrilling ending to our show.

The Countdown is on...here's help getting ready!

Four weeks, friends.  Our show opens four weeks from today.  That may seem like a long a time, but, trust me, it's going to fly by.  We'll be getting into fittings, sound checks, spacing on the stage, and tech rehearsals in no time at all.

So now is a good time to make sure you know all those steps, all those notes, all those words, and all that blocking.  Here is a quick list of resources you have at the ready, all to help you give your best possible performance and make this the best possible production of Footloose.

-Rehearsal time-During rehearsals, feel free to ask questions if things aren't clear.  If you're not totally sure on a section of music, ask for help.  If a cue to enter doesn't exactly make sense, go ahead and ask for a clarification.  During our rehearsal hours, we're all devoted to the show, so please ask questions to make sure you feel good about your performance.

-Your friends-You've all been in the same rooms, rehearsing the same songs and dances and scenes, with the same people for over a month now.  If you're not sure about something, ask a cast mate if they know.  If you feel like there are a few notes or steps you're not getting, ask a friend to come to rehearsal ten minutes early with you to go over that section.  We've all got each others' backs.  All you need do is ask.

-Accompanease-Many of you have downloaded and are using this program.  Keep it up!  Those of you who haven't, now is a great time to check it out.  It allows you to change the tempo, to isolate your part, to hear only specific sections, and more.  Use this at home to make sure that you know those notes, so when you come into rehearsal, you're ready to go.  Here is the link to download.

-Dropbox-There is a shared folder on the website DropBox with music and the show plot, ready for you to download.  If you need an invite to join the folder, e-mail me and I'll set it up for you.  We'll continue to add resources that might be helpful into this folder.  The website for DropBox is at this link.

These are just a few things to help you review and refine your material, during rehearsal and on your own.  Let us know if we can help.  Four weeks to the big opening means four weeks of hard work, but all towards putting this fantastic musical.

Live from the Rehearsal Hall--Part 1

You may have noticed that from time to time I take pictures during rehearsal.  If you follow me on twitter, you've probably seen some of these pictures.  So here is a post, full of pictures taken from our rehearsals over the past few weeks.

And it's only part one.  More to come as our rehearsals continue!

 

 

 Chuck, Ariel, Crabbe, and Goyle (a.k.a. Travis and Lyle) working with the amazing and musical Susan Quinn on "The Girl Gets Around"

 

McCormack Family at the piano 

 A Father-Daughter game of cards
 

 Ren, Ariel, and their lovely duet 

 Betty Blast, kicking tail and taking names.

 Willard, Ariel, and Ren.  And a beautiful Victorian painting in the background.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some ducks I saw outside the Arts and Culture Centre.  I love ducks.