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Kick off your Sunday shoes

Union Fine Arts stage musical adaptation of ‘Footloose’

The cast of Union High School’s “Footloose” including junior Joe Bistline (back row, fourth from right) in the lead male role of Ren McCormack and senior Cora Klein (center, pink jacket) in the supporting role of Urleen perform as part of the musical’s opening, signature number in Matt Auditorium in La Porte City on Saturday, March 12. Photo by Soren M. Peterson
Senior Cora Klein (center) belts out a spirited solo during Union High School’s staging of the musical “Footloose” in Matt Auditorium in La Porte City on Saturday, March 12. Photo by Soren M. Peterson
More than a dozen members of the cast of Union High School’s “Footloose” perform as part of the musical’s opening, signature number in Matt Auditorium in La Porte City on Saturday, March 12. Photo by Soren M. Peterson
The cast of Union High School’s “Footloose” including (front row, l-r) Joe Bistline, Laura Rempe, Asher Beermann, and Cora Klein dance during the musical’s opening, signature number in Matt Auditorium in La Porte City on Saturday, March 12. Photo by Soren M. Peterson
Members of the cast of Union High School’s “Footloose” listen intently to junior Sam Klein (not pictured) in the role of Reverend Shaw Moore during the musical number “On Any Sunday” in Matt Auditorium in La Porte City on Saturday, March 12. Photo by Soren M. Peterson
Junior Matthew Carlson (left) in the supporting role of Willard Hewitt gapes as junior Joe Bistline (right) in the lead role of Ren McCormack cuts loose during the “Footloose” number “I Can’t Stand Still” on Saturday, March 12, in Matt Auditorium in La Porte City. Photo by Soren M. Peterson
From left to right, Union students Elle Hookham, Sarah Michael, Laura Rempe (sitting atop booth), Cora Klein, and Matthew Carlson perform during Union High School’s staging of the musical “Footloose” in Matt Auditorium in La Porte City on Saturday, March 12. Photo by Soren M. Peterson
Union senior Elle Hookham in the lead role of Ariel Moore belts out the audience favorite, torch rock song “Holding Out for a Hero” during Union High School’s staging of the musical “Footloose” in Matt Auditorium in La Porte City on Saturday, March 12. Photo by Soren M. Peterson
Union senior Elle Hookham in the lead role of Ariel Moore belts out the audience favorite, torch rock song “Holding Out for a Hero” while the trio of Sarah Michael, Laura Rempe, and Cora Klein – in the roles of high school students Rusty, Wendy Jo, and Urleen respectively – provide harmonizing backup during Union High School’s staging of the musical “Footloose” in Matt Auditorium in La Porte City on Saturday, March 12. Photo by Soren M. Peterson
From left to right, Union students Joe Bistline, Elle Hookham, Sarah Michael, Laura Rempe (sitting atop booth), and Cora Klein perform during Union High School’s staging of the musical “Footloose” in Matt Auditorium in La Porte City on Saturday, March 12. Photo by Soren M. Peterson
Elle Hookham (left) in the leading role of Ariel Moore watches as Joe Bistline (center) in the leading role of Ren McCormack attempts to shake the hand of the much shorter Austin Martin in the role of ‘bad boy’ Chuck Cranston. The scene elicited copious amounts of laughter from the audience during Union High School’s staging of the musical “Footloose” in Matt Auditorium in La Porte City on Saturday, March 12. Photo by Soren M. Peterson
Elle Hookham (left) and Joe Bistline (right) perform as leads Ariel Moore and Ren McCormack, respectively, during Union High School’s staging of the musical “Footloose” in Matt Auditorium in La Porte City on Saturday, March 12. Photo by Soren M. Peterson
Elle Hookham (left) and Joe Bistline (right) perform as leads Ariel Moore and Ren McCormack, respectively, during Union High School’s staging of the musical “Footloose” in Matt Auditorium in La Porte City on Saturday, March 12. Photo by Soren M. Peterson
Elle Hookham (right) and Joe Bistline (left) perform as leads Ariel Moore and Ren McCormack, respectively, during Union High School’s staging of the musical “Footloose” in Matt Auditorium in La Porte City on Saturday, March 12. Photo by Soren M. Peterson
Members of the cast of Union High School’s “Footloose” including junior Sam Klein (third from left) in the supporting role of Reverend Shaw Moore perform the musical number “I’m Free/Heaven Help Me” just before intermission in Matt Auditorium in La Porte City on Saturday, March 12. Photo by Soren M. Peterson
Members of the cast of Union High School’s “Footloose” including Elle Hookham (far left), Carlie Spore (center), Sam Klein (front row, second from right), and Joe Bistline (far right) perform the musical number “I’m Free/Heaven Help Me” just before intermission in Matt Auditorium in La Porte City on Saturday, March 12. Photo by Soren M. Peterson

Union High School students cut up the dance floor at Matt Auditorium last week during the school’s spring musical performance of “Footloose.” The show featured junior Joe Bistline (Ren McCormack) and Elle Hookham (Ariel Moore) as the leads in the musical adaptation of Herbert Ross’ 1984 box office hit film of the same name.

The musical follows the plight of high schooler Ren as he moves with his single mother Ethel McCormack – played by senior Carlie Spore – from the big city of Chicago to the fictional small town of Bomont in the rural South, a town which has outlawed dancing.

After arriving in Bomont, Ren quickly meets and falls in love with Ariel, the daughter of the town’s controlling Reverend Shaw Moore – played by junior Sam Klein – who has engineered the anti-dancing ordinance.

Bistline and Hookham both rendered electrifying performances in their roles Friday and Saturday nights, while seniors Sarah Michael, Cora Klein, and Laura Rempe – in the roles of high school students Rusty, Urleen, and Wendy Jo, respectively – also gave standout performances as Ariel’s best friends.

Union Activities Director Michael Bruns tweeted following opening night on Friday, March 11, “Incredible performance tonight by our spring musical cast with Footloose! If you have not seen it, I highly recommend getting a ticket for tomorrow night’s show. Very impressed.”

The Union theater department is once again participating in the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards program put on by Des Moines Area Performing Arts. Through the program, musicals like Union’s performance of “Footloose” are seen and reviewed throughout the year by a professional adjudicator who provides feedback to the students and directors on everything from acting performances to behind the scenes work on set and lighting design.

The program culminates at the end of the school year with a series of awards and a showcase performance at the Des Moines Civic Center.

Last year, Union’s performance of “Into the Woods” garnered nine statewide awards through the program and was featured on Iowa PBS as part of the Awards Showcase in Des Moines.