Charlotte Valley and Stamford Students Unite for Energetic Footloose Musical

STAMFORD - CARLJ933@oneonta.edu

A combined cast of more than a dozen students from Charlotte Valley and Stamford Central Schools put on a high-spirited performance of the musical “Footloose” this past weekend. Three shows total were performed on the evenings of November 14 and 15 and the afternoon of November 16 in the newly renovated auditorium at Charlotte Valley Central School.

Five years have passed since a musical was staged at Charlotte Valley Central School. By combining forces with nearby Stamford, the two drama clubs were able to combine enough students to fully stage a play. 

“Footloose” marked the first performance in the revived auditorium space. The musical about teenagers in a small town who attempt to overturn a dancing ban is based on the hit 1984 film. It debuted on Broadway in 1988 and has remained a popular choice for high school musical productions ever since. 

This performance was the product of much time and dedication on the part of the young thespians. The cast members explained how they commuted back-and-forth between Davenport and Stamford to attend rehearsals. And many of the participants were also juggling other extracurriculars, including athletics. Late nights and sports games did not stop these students from putting on an amazing performance, however. 

Around 100 people filled the auditorium seats for the matinee performance on Sunday afternoon. Friends and family came out to support the student actors in their last performance of the three-day engagement. Seniors Caleb Marino and Kiera Knox were both celebrated at the finale. 

Senior Caleb Marino played the role of Shaw Moore, the Reverend played by John Lithgow in the original film. It was Marino’s first time doing a musical. In an interview on Sunday, senior Marino explained that he decided to join the Charlotte Valley Central School drama club because he used to dance when he was younger. He also participates in numerous clubs at school, including being president of the Music Honor Society. 

With graduation approaching in the spring, Marino expressed that he is interested in possibly pursuing musical theater after high school. When asked what colleges he is looking at, Marino said “possibly Hartwick or [SUNY] Potsdam because I want to go for music education.”

The casting of the show was impressive. All the students took their roles very seriously and always stayed in character. The choreography was thoroughly planned, and each dance was executed nicely. Students up on stage looked like they were having the time of their lives while dancing and singing with each other. It was great to witness, especially knowing all the hard work that was done behind the scenes. 

Local businesses such as Searle’s Garage (Davenport), Starbucks (Oneonta), and Mohican Flowers (Cooperstown) supported the play through donations and ads in the event program. Before the performance and during the intermission, the Music Honor Society ran a bake sale and sold flowers to help raise money for the two drama clubs.

At the end of the Sunday matinee performance, the cast gathered the directors and crew to thank them with flowers. Then the seniors were spotlighted. And finally, the entire cast was lined up in front of the stage for family and friends to come and give them hugs and flowers. 

Laughter and loud cheers were had as proud families greeted their kids, grandkids, and siblings. The performers were getting overwhelmed with loads of flowers, needing to set them down on the stage. Much of the audience waited around to say their thanks and goodbyes as they filed out.

The Charlotte Valley and Stamford cast members voiced very loudly that they hope to do another show next year, eager to keep this year’s energy and enthusiasm going. 

This story was created by student reporters through the OnNY Community Media Service, a program of SUNY Oneonta and the SUNY Institute for Local News.

                Grace Russel who was cast as Arial Moore
The two main leads, Bentley Steiger who was casted as Ren MacCormack to the left and Grace Russel who was casted as Arial MooreThe scene in where the character Ren tries and fights for the law that prevents dancing to be removed Caleb Marino to the left who was casted as Shaw Moore and Bentley Steiger to the right who was casted as Ren McCormack