For Immediate Release: May 15, 2006
Media Contact: Jessica Sentak/Bryan Lesnick, The Academy Theatre, 609.291.9000

The Academy Theatre presents one of the most explosive movie musicals to hit the stage in recent history Footloose. Footloose will run from June 9th to June 24th at The Academy Theatre, located at 146 Route 130 in Bordentown, New Jersey. The show stars Tim Chambers, Alexandra Haas, Tyler Horn, Maureen E. Lynch, Jaimie McMillin, Brigid Peoples and a host of amazing regional adolescents. Tickets range from $20 to $25 and are available by contacting The Academy Theatre Box Office at (609) 291-9000 or online courtesy of www.TicketLeap.com. More information is also available by visiting www.theacademytheatre.com.

Footloose, not only features intense dance choreography but also paints a picture of an entire generation through its music. Writers Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Loggins and Jim Steinman are representatives of an entire era of the 1980’s when they brought to life many of their own songs to popularity in their respective groups. In this collaboration however, their collective talents explode into lightning quick dance songs and powerful ballads. The result? Footloose becomes the definition of a decade through its dance, its music, and cry against authority.

Cast & Crew

Darryl S. Thompson, Jr. (Director): This will be Darryl’s first time at the helm for The Academy Theatre but is in no way a stranger to the company. Darryl Assistant Directed The Sound of Music with Rob Del Colle at The Academy last season and has graced its stage in a variety of roles including Nunsense… Amen!, Hair, and most recently in Smokey Joe’s Café –all to rave reviews. In addition he has performed with various community theater and musical groups between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Darryl was an active member of the Mid-Atlantic Grammy Jazz Ensemble and the Burlington Gospel Chorus. He has performed with the DTM Project, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and toured the east coast as an instrumentalist with the 60's rock'n'roll group "The Dovells". In addition to this work, Thompson has written and debuted his own original musical, Never a Day Without Sunshine with Step II productions in 2002.

Louis F. Goldberg (Musical Director): Louis happily returns to The Academy Theatre, having conducted Smokey Joe’s Café, A Chorus Line and Little Shop of Horrors. Louis has conducted more than 300 musical productions and has toured the United States and Europe with productions of Man Of La Mancha and Cabaret. Recent projects include a four-month stint Off-Broadway at the York Theatre playing the role of Ted Shapiro in Red Hot Mama: The Sophie Tucker Songbook, a role he played initially at the Denver Center For The Performing Arts, and has also played at the Players’ Club in NYC, the Plush Room in San Francisco and at Santa Fe Stages. In Philadelphia, Louis has conducted St. Louis Woman and Peter Pan and Wendy at the Prince Music Theater, Dirty Blonde at the Wilma Theatre, and Evita at the Walnut St. Theatre. As a pianist, Louis was a 1985 Stravinsky Award Finalist and won Silver and Bronze medals in the International Piano Recording Competition. He has been the Musical Director for productions at the Cleveland Playhouse, Cincinnati Playhouse In The Park, Florida Repertory Theatre, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and Syracuse Stage. Louis has served on the Musical Theatre faculties of Syracuse University, the University of Oklahoma and the University of the Arts.

In addition to the regional professionals that will be taking the stage, Footloose, more than any other show previously, will feature many regional adolescent professionals. These teenagers are not only talented enough to be called professionals, they are triple threats in every sense of the word: dancing, singing, and acting their way to stardom. Here are just a few:

Stephanie Cowan – hails from Northern Jersey and has a professional resume longer than most adults twice her age. At 14 years old, Stephanie has made a full-time occupation out of performance; singing, dancing, acting and still finds the time to attend high school. Stephanie has been seen at The Crossroads South Theatre, Stagedoor Manor, Tempest/Jersey City Museum, Villagers Theatre and even the McCarter Theatre. She has been seen in over 5 films and has performed as a solo vocalist at the Red Bank Blues & Jazz Fest. Footloose marks her 15th appearance on the professional stage.

Jacob S. Porter – a native of Richboro, Pennsylvania, Jacob first came onto the scene in 2001 when he played the young Tommy in The Who’s Tommy National Tour. Between tours and throughout his time in NYC, Jacob starred in The Kids for Kids Project, the new play Stoker and The Adventures of Zak. This will not be the first time that Jacob will be working with Darryl Thompson, having worked with him in Step 2’s production of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Jacob has been seen regionally at The Bucks County Playhouse and his own middle school.

Not only are these three talents among the cast of Footloose, but a larger ensemble of great teens accompany them. Locally speaking, four teens from Northern Burlington High School and two from Steinert will take the stage along with Freshman from Temple University and students from the College of New Jersey making this a collection of young talent that is unmatched.

Footloose’s opening night (June 9) will offer an opportunity to meet and speak with all the performers and the producers of the show. This event will also include special offers on this season, invitations for local media groups and organizations, and free wine and hors d’oeuvres.

Footloose has, at this time, a limited run of only eight performances. The show runs from June 9 to June 24, 2006. Performances take place each Friday at 8 p.m. and each Saturday with performances at 8 p.m. Saturdays June 17 and June 24 will also have performances at 2 p.m. Tickets may be reserved by calling the box office at 609-291-9000 or under The Academy Theatre’s listing through www.TicketLeap.com. Ticket cost is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. To see a seating chart or for more information on The Academy Theatre, check our website at www.theacademytheatre.com.

For more information regarding The Academy Theatre, this press release, or to arrange for interviews call Bryan Lesnick at 609-291-9000 or by emailing theacademytheatre@yahoo.com.

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