FOOTLOOSE THE MUSICAL Opens at City Theatre Tonight

St. Petersburg City Theatre continues its 90th Mainstage Season, presented by Raymond James, with Footloose, The Musical. Opening night is tonight, January 23, 2015 and the production runs through February 8, 2015.

Friday & Saturday evenings at 8pm; Sunday matinees at 2pm. Lobby will open 1 hour prior to the show, with doors to the audience chamber opening 30 minutes prior to the show.

Tickets are $24 for adults; $10 for students with student I.D. Full price tickets ($24) may be purchased by phone or in person at our Box Office, or online at www.spcitytheatre.org. Group discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. Please call the Box Office in inquire about group discounts or student tickets at 727-866-1973.

Box Office number: 727-866-1973
Box Office hours are Monday through Friday, 10am-4pm.

FOOTLOOSE first burst onto the silver screen in 1984 and proved to be one of that year's most successful motion pictures. The soundtrack recording reached #1 on the Billboard charts, and went on to sell over 17 million copies worldwide, generating such Top Forty hits as the title song, "Let's Hear It For The Boy," (both of which received Academy Award nominations), "Almost Paradise," "Holding Out For A Hero," and "I'm Free (Heaven Helps the Man)." With a screenplay and lyrics by Oscar winner Dean Pitchford, the story focuses on young people, as does his previous, wildly successful movie musical, FAME. FOOTLOOSE debuted on Broadway in 1998 and has been seen around the world. In 2011, Paramount Pictures' re-make of FOOTLOOSE - with a screenplay by Dean Pitchford and the film's director Craig Brewer - brought this heartwarming story and electrifying music to a whole new generation.

FOOTLOOSE follows teenager Ren and his mother as they move from Chicago to a small mid-western farming town. While Ren is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school, he is surprised to learn about rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing instituted by the local preacher, Reverend Shaw. Shaw is determined to exercise control over the town's youth that he has trouble commanding in his own home. When the reverend's rebellious teenage daughter sets her sights on Ren, the underlying generational tensions begin to surface. The heartfelt story that emerges is of a father longing for the son he lost and of a young man aching for a father who walked out on him. To the rockin' rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated top 40 score (the soundtrack album reached number one on the Billboard charts and has sold over 15 million copies!) and augmented with dynamic new songs for the stage musical, FOOTLOOSE celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people, guiding them with a warm heart and an open mind.

FOOTLOOSE will be presented in two acts with one intermission.

Rodney Hamilton is directing and choreographing City Theatre's production of FOOTLOOSE. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, he began his dance training at the age of 10 with Carr Lane VPA, COCA, Alexandra School of Ballet and the Catherine Dunham workshop. In 1996 at the age of 14 Mr. Hamilton joined the adult dance chorus at the Muny of St. Louis. He graduated from Julliard School and joined Ballet Hispanico of New York where he was a principal dancer for 10 years. Mr. Hamilton also appeared in the national tour of HELLO, DOLLY! with Carol Channing. At City Theatre in 2014, Mr. Hamilton choreographed HELLO, DOLLY! and DRACULA, THE VAMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

Drew Eberhard and Shelly Johnson appear in City Theatre's FOOTLOOSE. Photo credit: Jessica Burchfield
About St. Petersburg City Theatre

St. Petersburg City Theatre is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Located in south St. Pete, City Theatre is celebrating its 90th season of providing quality entertainment, and is still setting the bar for live community theatre excellence. The theatre is committed to keeping theatre and theatre arts education alive and in the community. In addition to mainstage productions, City Theatre offers arts education year-round through its education programs and summer camps for ages 4-17. City Theatre's Mainstage Season Sponsor is Raymond James Financial.

Call the Box Office for Tickets and Information at 727-866-1973, Mon through Fri, 10am-4pm.

For more information, visit: www.spcitytheatre.org.

The theatre is located just off I-275 at 4025 31st. St. South, St. Petersburg, 33712.?