The final preparations are taking place for the Estevan Comprehensive School’s musical production of Footloose.
The cast, crew, pit band and others involved with the show have been in dress rehearsals so that they’re ready for the performances, which will take place in the evenings on Nov. 29 and 30, and the afternoons on Dec. 1 and 2.
Evanne Wilhelm, who is the co-director and producer for the project, said there have been some 14-hour days to get ready.
“The kids are excited,” said Wilhelm. “They’re hanging in. They’re not showing fatigue or anything.”
There are some great three-part harmonies that they have been working on for months, and she felt those harmonies sounded great during a dress rehearsal on Nov. 24.
The last dress rehearsal will take place on Nov. 25, and then there will be a performance for elementary schools on Nov. 28 that serves as a trial run.
“We’ll be running special effects, and running through everything one more time, with a little more of a forgiving audience,” said Wilhelm.
Arlene Lafrentz, a co-director and vocal coach, said the students sound great, but the directors and coaches think they can sound even better.
“Every time we see it, we ask them to do something just a little bit more to add to their characters to bring it to life.”
About 75 to 80 per cent of the tickets for Footloose have already been sold. All of the VIP tables have been purchased.
The tickets are available at Pharmasave, but will be moved to the school about two hours before each show.
Footloose boasts 45 students in the cast, 20 in the crew that works behind the scenes, 20 on the hair and makeup, and 15 volunteers who have been coaching and helping out along the way.
This week’s edition of the Mercury will have more on this story.
