What's the Buzz? MSMT Kicks Off Its Sunday Shoes with a Dazzling “Footloose"
Jared Morneau Photography
MSMT Kicks Off Its Sunday Shoes with a Dazzling “Footloose” — Directed by the Legendary E. Faye Butler
Maine State Music Theatre continues its high-energy 2025 summer season with the electrifying Broadway smash Footloose, running July 16 – August 2 at the Pickard Theater on the Bowdoin College campus, and it’s anything but your average revival.
At the helm is E. Faye Butler, the powerhouse director whose legendary production of The Color Purple at MSMT is still whispered about in reverent tones, many calling it the finest show staged in Brunswick in the last 40 years. With Footloose, Butler once again proves herself a master of emotional depth, precision pacing, and joyful, pulse-pounding storytelling. Her vision turns what could be a nostalgic throwback into an exhilarating celebration of youth, rebellion, and the healing power of dance.
Based on the hit 1984 film and packed with unforgettable ‘80s anthems, Footloose is the ultimate feel-good musical. With showstopping dance numbers, a driving rock score, and a story about finding joy, love, and liberation through music, the production is a full-bodied burst of energy and heart.
J. Antonio Rodriguez makes a magnetic MSMT debut as Ren McCormack, delivering both emotional nuance and high-voltage dance moves. His chemistry with Maya Jerome Thomas, whose Ariel Moore is a blend of defiance and vulnerability, sparks like fire on a vinyl dance floor. Thomas, fresh from Broadway’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, commands the stage with grace and gravitas beyond her years.
Veteran performers bring serious heft to the show’s emotional core. Gregg Goodbrod returns as Rev. Shaw Moore with a performance both thunderous and tender, while MSMT treasure Charis Leos shines with trademark humor and heart in her dual roles. And Kristina Leopold is luminous as Vi Moore, bringing quiet strength and poignancy to every note.
Special shoutout to Oliver Prose as Willard Hewitt, whose comedic timing and physical antics had the audience in stitches, and to Eli Mayer, whose Chuck Cranston is the perfect cocktail of danger and swagger.
The dancing? Electric. Tyler Hanes’ choreography pulses with athleticism, sass, and precision, driving the action with jaw-dropping ensemble work that leaves the audience breathless. The stage is alive with youthful energy, each number a kaleidoscope of rhythm and rebellion.
Jane Alois Stein’s costumes are a feast of retro glam and small-town charm, from acid-wash jeans to preacher’s collars, each look adding flair and character without missing a beat. The scenic design by Chuck Kading and lighting by Jeff Koger complete the immersive, dynamic world.With music direction by Jason Wetzel, the iconic score sounds better than ever, with powerhouse vocals and tight harmonies that shake the rafters (and maybe a few souls) at the Pickard Theater.
Footloose is more than just a night of catchy songs and killer choreography, it’s a joyful reminder that movement can heal, community can change, and sometimes, you’ve just got to dance it out.
The featured cast includes Rachel Alvarez-Robinson, Lauryn Adams, Stemarciae Bain, Corey Barrow, Greta Cardoza, Brooklyn Bronson, Lani Corson, Bryan Fortunato, Morgan Gillott, David Girolmo, Payton Hines, Matthew Irani, Kelly Lomonte, Darren Lorenzo, Sabina Martin, Jack Sippel, Dylan Stukenberg, Todd Turner, Jake Urban, Nolan Um, and Nazarria Workman.
Footloose is directed by E. Faye Butler, choreographed by Tyler Hanes, and music directed by Jason Wetzel. The creative team includes scenic designer Chuck Kading, costume designer Jane Alois Stein, lighting designer Jeff Koger, sound designer Shannon Slaton, video & projections designer Jerran Kowalski, and wig designer Kevin S. Foster II. Amy Bertacini serves as Production Stage Manager.
Footloose features a stage adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie, based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford. Music is by Tom Snow with lyrics by Dean Pitchford, and additional music by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins, and Jim Steinman.
Footloose is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals (www.concordtheatricals.com).
Don’t miss this spectacular revival by the one and only E. Faye Butler and the team at MSMT. Your summer just got a whole lot more fun..
All photos By Jared Morneau Photography
Jared Morneau Photography
Jared Morneau Photography
Jared Morneau Photography
Charis Leo, once again brining down the house in 2 roles this time
Jared Morneau Photography
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What's the Buzz? About the Author
Eleanor Cade Busby: Unpublished, Unfiltered, and Unrepentant
Eleanor Cade Busby is an unpublished award-winning writer, photographer, blogger, and chronic user of the Oxford comma. She simply adores writing about herself in the third person, and therefore considers this bio a personal highlight of her literary career.
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Writing from Midcoast Maine, where the air is salty, the coffee is strong, and the opinions come with footnotes.
A preacher’s kid who made it her mission to lovingly obliterate every single stereotype about “the minister’s daughter,” Busby grew up all over New England collecting stories, theater programs, and at least three kinds of student loan debt. She attended Goddard College, the Rhode Island Conservatory of Music, and the School of Life—majoring in everything she could wedge into her skull without a crowbar.
She has had her own office (with an actual door!) and a red stapler that was not to be touched, thank you very much. She has worked in social services for decades, won both national and local awards, and was recently named a co-recipient of the PEN/Toni and James C. Goodale Freedom of Expression Courage Award—along with one million of her closest friends—for being loud in the best way possible.
Busby has directed more plays than she can count, acted in more than she should probably admit, and written a few too—including some that were performed on purpose. She’s done everything in theater except hang the lights, because she has a strict “no ladders” clause in her personal safety policy.
Her work has appeared in publications ranging from earnest local weeklies to CRACKED magazine, which pretty much sums up her range. She believes if it isn’t funny or relevant, it probably belongs in a compost heap, not her blog.
Eleanor lives in Midcoast Maine with a cat who believes in early-morning blood sacrifice (hers), and she writes "What's the Buzz?" to chronicle what’s happening, what might be happening, and what absolutely should be happening, according to her and no one else.
Suggestions for topics and comments are always welcome at eleanorcadebusby@hotmail.com
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