Photo courtesy of the Warren Players The Warren Players have been busy getting ready to present ‘Footloose’ starting tonight at the Struthers Library Theatre.
The Warren Players are excited to present the musical “Footloose” starting tonight at the Struthers Library Theatre.
This show will truly be a family affair.
Parent and child.
Husband and wife.
Brother and sister.
Photo courtesy of the Warren Players The Warren Players have been busy getting ready to present ‘Footloose’ starting tonight at the Struthers Library Theatre.
Grandmother and granddaughter.
“I think for this show, because it is a summer show more families were able to be involved,” Co-Director Jen Bailey said. “We have kids home from college, there are fewer organized sports, dancers schedules are more flexible in the summer and kids/teachers are out of school in the summer.”
This theme of multiple family members isn’t entirely unique to this production, though. “There are many families that have one family member that loves to act and other family members will volunteer to help in productions,” she said. “We have many family members that support the actors by helping with sets, props, decoration, stage crew, make up, costumes, ushering, cast party or planning.
“There’s so many aspects that you can get involved in in the Theatre. Once we get families involved, it’s a bit addicting. Once they get the Theatre bug, it’s usually contagious.”
There are 10 families involved in this week’s production — whether cast or production — that have family alongside them this weekend.
Photo provided to the Times Observer Ten families have more than one person involved in the Warren Players production of ‘Footloose’ which starts tonight at the Struthers Library Theatre. That includes, from left, Corey and Jen Bailey; Sam and Chris Smith (son/mom); Michael and Madison Hanks (father/daughter); Allan and Lilly Branthoover (father/daughter); Cindy Dziendziel and Ella Solberg (grandmother/granddaughter); Jadenne and Julie Fofana (daughter/mother); Izzy and Joy McMonigal (daughter/mother); Katie Courson, Anna Courson and Jennifer Hoffman (mother/daughter/cousin); Logan and Sydney Johnson (brother/sister) and Doug and Melissa McCracken.
And it’s the opportunities and relationships that the theatre can bring that make experiences like this weekend so special. One member of the cast got involved initially to support his kids but ultimately met his wife.
“My initial entry into theater was to support the efforts of my kids, Bryce and Kaitlyn,” Doug McCracken said. “I helped with set building and working backstage. I also had the joy of watching them from the wings.”
He auditioned for the Players’ production of “Titanic” to be in a show with Kaity before she graduated. “It was during this show that I also met my wife, Melissa,” he said. “This is the fifth show we have done together. It is a joy to have a shared love for theater with my wife and kids.”
For Julie Fofana, it’s the ability to share her own love of theatre with her daughter, Jadenne.
Jadenne first auditioned in 2018 and pushed Julie to do the same. “What a blast it was to be in a show with her,” Julie said. “Learning her friends better, having the opportunity to hang out with them and seeing their interactions was a huge blessing to my heart.
“Ever since then our connection has grown between mother and daughter as well.”
Allan Branthoover is part of the production with his daughter, Lilly.
“Lilly graduated this year from high school and is off to college next month. So we get to spend a little more time together before she leaves,” he said. “So spending time together now is precious.”
It was Lilly that also got Allan into the Players – they played father and daughter in his first show.
“All in all, we have done about 10 shows together and they have all been amazing,” he said. “This year’s show might be a little emotional as it could be her last show for a while. But being that we are able to share the stage one more time means more to me than you can even imagine.”
It won’t come as a surprise that a production takes a lot of time so sharing the production with family brings other, more practical benefits.
“Plays and musicals take up a lot of your nights as well as focus,” Joy McMonigal said. “Sharing the experience with family is one more way to spend quality time together, making memories.”
She said she can remember the theater experiences she had with her parents at the Old Water Street Theater when she was younger.
“It is so much fun to continue that legacy with my own daughter,” she said.
For the parents, it has given them perspective on their children they might not have otherwise seen.
“There is nothing like watching your kids find their passion,” Katie Courson said. “For Anna Courson that has been the theatre and in ‘Footloose,’ I’ve had a front row seat.”
She knows that time moves fast so she’s grateful to “take any extra time with her sharing a common interest.”
Courson is also in the production with her cousin, Jennifer Hoffman. “With the craziness of schedules that kids and work bring, we typically see each other once a week for a couple of hours,” Hoffman said. “‘Footloose’ allowed us to spend a lot more time together! It was nice to get to take walks while her daughter, Anna, was at rehearsal.”
For the directors, these connections are a welcome addition. “I think having the interpersonal connections in the show is beneficial,” Bailey said. “We have parents that are at the show, at rehearsal with their children instead of doing other things and the kids missing out on that family time.
“It creates an atmosphere of families working together and they’re not missing out on spending time together because they are still together at rehearsal…. This cast has been amazing to work with, and I think the families create an even stronger bond.
This show marks the conclusion of the Players’ 92nd season.
“Footloose” was first a 1984 movie that was adapted to the stage.
The production is co-directed by Bailey and Molly Dies Geer. Vocal directing is led by McMonigal while choreography is coordinated by Geer, Brea Poston and Hannah Augenstein.
“It’s about a small down connection that gets tested by change,” Dies Geer said. “The journey, growth, and strength is not only heart-warming but inspiring. This day and age we all need a moment where we can escape from “real life” and be part of a story that will leave us inspired, in awe, and thoroughly entertained.
“This is truly a show that will have you toe-tapping, singing along, and warm your heart,” she added. “Our local talent, for our little small town, is absolutely amazing – both onstage and behind the scenes.”
Performances will take the stage at the Struthers Library Theatre Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7 and Sunday at 2 p.m.
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