Check out the Footloose Photo Album HERE
Every December, the award-winning Frenship Theatre Department dazzles audiences with a Broadway-quality musical, showcasing the extraordinary talent of Frenship High School students. This highly anticipated production is the department’s biggest project of the year, bringing together students, staff, and the community for a truly spectacular performance.
This year, the Frenship Theatre Department welcomed new director Tre John as they took audiences on a journey to the strict town of Bomont with Footloose, the musical. The students delivered captivating performances with energetic numbers and big choreography, telling the classic story of Ren McCormack, who rallies his peers to bring life back to the community and fight for their right to dance.
John came to Frenship with 25 years of teaching and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre from Southwest Texas State University. He brings a wealth of experience from schools across the Dallas - Fort Worth area, including Southlake, Keller, Northwest, Irving, and Sealy.
Over the summer, John met with Amy Moss, the FHS choir director, to discuss several options for the fall semester musical. Moss noted that this group of students had exceptional pop voices, leading John to select Footloose.
This musical was a perfect fit for the students, belting notes blew audiences away, and impressive dance numbers created a contagious energy. John stated that he was incredibly proud of the students for their performances.
“There were parts in almost every song that gave me chills when someone would hit a note,” said John. "The whole group would come together to produce a beautiful harmony that mesmerized everyone. There were so many moments that just hit.”
John explained that Footloose isn’t produced often, but this group of Frenship students certainly put on one unforgettable production.
“I think this production captured the spirit of grace and the importance of human connection in dealing with tragedy and growing as individuals,” said John. “This was my hope from the very first reading of the script.”
John’s debut direction with the Frenship Theatre Department was a smashing success. The production came to life through a collaborative effort from several fine arts departments, including Dance, Choir, Band, and, of course, Theatre.
Friends, families, and the community filled the seats of the FHS Performing Arts Center to witness the remarkable performance. John stated that the atmosphere in the room was electric as the cast closed the show with an energetic finale and received standing ovations each night.
“The thing I like most is to watch the kids interact with teachers and friends after the show,” said John. “It's fun to get to see their faces beaming after getting to show off to the people in their lives who don't always know what they can do.”
With such an incredible performance, the Frenship Theatre Department has set the stage for future productions. Audiences' next chance to see the group will be on February 27, when they perform Fiddler on the Roof in the FHS Lab Theatre.