Written by orange• February 24, 2025• 7:33 pm• Costa Mesa, Musical, Review, Uncategorized, Vanguard Uni

Footloose @ Vanguard University – Review

photo credit: Vanguard University

Written by Patrick Chavis

Footloose is now playing at the Lyceum Theatre in Costa Mesa from February 21 – March 9, 2025.

Vanguard boasts a youthful cast, with these actors exuding much of the necessary style and grace, making for some gorgeous moments. However, vocal issues and attention to detail hampered the performance. At its best, it was a fun venture into the fictional world of Bomont, Texas.

Story:

Footloose is the story of a young hip kid from Chicago named Ren McCormack(Leilua Kruse), who moves to the small fictional town of Bomont, Texas. It is a place so dull and restrictive that even dancing is outlawed by the extra-powerful Reverend Shaw Moore (Alex Norman). As Ren gets closer to the townspeople of Bomont and the Pastor’s daughter, Ariel Moore (Leilani Munck), more than sparks fly in Bomont, Texas, and so do feet and bodies as Ren attempts to change the law and hold a dance. Will Ren succeed and bring a little rhythm back to Bomont? This and more in Footloose.

Vanguard’s production of Footloose is entertaining, and while the story intentionally comes off a little silly, it is banning dancing. Really! Since its arrival in the 80s, its message about freedom, the consequences of freedom, and the terrible things that can happen when a society prioritizes safety or perceived safety so much that we forget who we are. That society could cut off something as joyful as dancing, well then what else? We need to stand up and let our voices be heard, and that’s what happens on the small scale in Footloose.

Set Design/Lighting:

It’s Footloose, a dance story, and scenic designer Jim Huffman’s smart move of keeping the stage open for dancing was a good approach to this production. The dance floor covered in blue and fuchsia lighting practically screams the 80s.

Acting/Singing:

When singing together as an ensemble, this group of actors sounded incredible, and the acting performances were even better. Vocal performances, especially with pitch, were an issue in some cases. The uncreative and hard-to-see projection visuals that acted as significant centerpieces didn’t help elevate the material.

After a few drinks, everyone looks like Kevin Bacon, but I think Leilua Kruse, who plays Ren, does resemble him a little. Kruse has some great moves and shows off his gymnastic-like dance style by flipping and cartwheeling all over the stage. I enjoyed Kruse’s very laid-back attitude and approach to the character. The acting from Kruse was on point. There is a pleasant soul-foul voice in there, though a little more projection would have made it even better.

Highlights:

If this were just a show about the character of Rusty, it would have been impossible not to recommend this production. Kendra Barnhart’s spunk and charisma in this role were off the charts. Barnhart has an excellent voice and used it exceptionally well with her other co-stars, Faith Horne (Wendy Jo) and Urleen (Julia Flores), in this modern choreographed version of Somebody’s Eyes. A very creative use of recent technology was used to ground the song in the present. An experience that could be enjoyed in any theater.

Another highlight of the show, Holding Out for a Hero, was an energetic performance led by Leilani Munck (Ariel Moore), whose vocals are full and rich. Munck did not have a bad moment throughout the entire show. She understood the role and played it incredibly well. The singers from Somebody’s Eyes I mentioned before, Faith Horne, Julia Flores, and Kendra Barnhart, are more than capable as they accompany this warm and electric tune.

Last but not least, Let’s Make Believe We’re in Love might bring a tear to your eyes. Julia Flores beautifully sang and performed it.

The audience interaction included around the end of the show makes the show feel like one big party. With so many hit songs from the ’80s, it would be hard not to find a song you can groove with. It’s a fun time, and as usual, the acoustics in the Lyceum Theatre sound wonderful.