The Courier May 2015 | Volume 22, Issue 10
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a division of Independent School District 15 Community Education | St. Francis, Minnesota Serving the communities of Athens Township, Andover, Bethel, East Bethel, Linwood Township, Nowthen, Oak Grove, St. Francis and Stanford Township
www.the-courier.org | news@isd15.org
St. Francis High School cuts loose with spring musical Footloose Glenn Morehouse Olson SFHS Theatre Department Advisor
The iconic 80s movie musical Footloose bursts onto the St. Francis High School (SFHS) stage this month with all the powerful songs, energized dancing and great story line of the original movie. Footloose is based on a true story of a town in Oklahoma that outlawed dancing for 100 years. In 1980, teenagers confronted the town council and fought to have the ban lifted in order to have a dance. “Footloose,” “Almost Paradise,” “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” and “Holding Out for a Hero” are just a few of the songs audiences will enjoy in this energized show that celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people and guiding them with a warm heart and an open mind. “We know there was a modern version made of the film recently, but we’re really trying to take our audiences back to the 80s,” said the musical’s director Glenn Morehouse Olson. “Get ready, because big hair and bright colors are back.” In addition, the SFHS thespian troupe is using the opportunity to continue the community outreach and advocacy work they have done with recent shows. They are working with Hope4Youth in Anoka and invite patrons to bring donations of shoes, socks and other clothing items to benefit the drop-in center, which serves homeless youth in Anoka County. “There are a number of young people in our community who do not have the luxury of being ‘footloose’—some of them don’t even own a pair of shoes, much less get to dance in them,” said Morehouse Olson. People who bring in items for Hope4Youth will receive a $2 discount at the door on adult tickets. The most urgent needs are men’s and women’s tennis shoes, men’s boxer briefs (medium, large, extra large), men’s white undershirts, men’s jeans (size 28, 30, 31), men’s shorts, women’s underwear, women’s leggings, women’s colored socks and women’s pajamas (small, medium, large), as
St. Francis High School senior Max Mauch-Morff as Ren rehearses “I’m Free” in the spring musical, Footloose. Get ready to kick off your Sunday shoes when one of the most explosive movie musicals in recent memory bursts onto the live stage with exhilarating results. To the rockin’ rhythm of its Oscar and Tony-nominated top 40 score 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. Purchase tickets at seatyourself.biz/stfrancishs. submitted photo well as non-perishable food items. To learn more about Hope4Youth, visit Hope4YouthMN.org. Footloose opens 7:00 p.m. April 30 and returns to the stage 7:00 p.m. May 1 and 2 and 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 3. Tickets for Footloose are $8 for adults, $6 for students and seniors at seatyourself.biz/stfrancishs. St. Francis High School Performing Arts Center is located at 3325 Bridge Street in St. Francis. “We have around 80 kids involved from onstage to technical staff to pit orchestra members. They’re looking forward to kicking off their Sunday shoes with a full house,” said Morehouse Olson.
What’s Inside Schools in Action.................................................. 2 School Board Highlights................................11 Community Education....................................13 Community & Business...................................16 Sports & Outdoors.............................................29 Meetings, Events & Benefits.........................33 Life...............................................................................34
Reverend Shaw Moore (junior Clayton Baker) lectures his daughter, Ariel (senior Natalie Hanson) in the St. Francis High School spring musical, Footloose. Students in the Theatre Department are dedicated to using theater as a means of social change. As part of community outreach, students are supporting a shoe (and other essentials) drive for Hope4Youth in Anoka. There are many homeless teens who are not “footloose” and students want to raise awareness. Audiences are encouraged to bring donation items to a performance. submitted photo