Longford's St Mel's Musical Society set to get Footloose

“A fantastic nights entertainment,” is the brief recommendation Alan Greaney gives St Mel's Musical Society's 2023 production.

Alan is in a good place to judge, even if allegations of bias could be levelled against him. The Galway man has taken up the post of Director for “Footloose the Musical”.

There are a lot of “new” features of this show; new venue, a new director and some new names in the cast. “Footloose” is a remake of the iconic 1984 film of the same name. It's the story of Chicago teen Ren McCormack who, along with his mother, has moved to the small town of Bomont.

It celebrates the exhilaration of youth, the wisdom of listening to one another, and the power of forgiveness. The show includes iconic 80's songs, 'Let's hear it for the boy', 'Holding out for a Hero' and of course the unforgettable title track 'Footloose'.

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Over the years St Mel's Musical Society have enjoyed working with leading directors, both home grown and imported. Alan is no stranger to the stage. He is a well known singer and performer and his directorial talents have been acknowledged at top level.

As a director Alan oversaw the award winning production of ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ with 9 Arch Musical Society in Galway. Alan has had the honour of being nominated five times for an Association of Irish Musical Societies (AIMS) Award as Director, for Singing, and for Acting – winning the Award for Best Actor in 2019 (Sullivan section) as Gomez Addams in ‘The Addams Family’ for Ennis Musical Society.

So he knows his stuff: “It's shaping up really well,” Alan tells the Leader about the final preparations for the show, “We are just putting on the finishing touches. We have nearly done, all we can do without putting it on the stage.”

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This week is the fine tuning time, when the performers will be put through their paces to ensure that the audience get what they pay for: ““We will have a few runs on the stage this week in St Mel's. That is something we are really looking forward to,” Alan tells.

The Society have moved the 2023 production away from Backstage Theatre, a venue synonymous with the shows: “It's a challenge to the cast. It's also a challenge to the society. It's a decision not taken lightly, but it creates a lot of opportunities for the cast and the show. There is a broader scope to do more in a blank space,” the director explains.

The demands on the director are significant. Bringing the many facets of a musical to stage is a complex business: “There are loads of challenges. My job is to convey the story. My biggest challenge is to take all the different strands and knit them together seamlessly. Thankfully we have a great team.”

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The team oversee the many working parts of the show; from the set design, to lighting to costumes. The roles of Niamh O’Brien as choreographer, and Musical Director Vince Tully are pivotal for the success of “Footloose”.

“Vince on music is fantastic,” Alan commends, “I have never met a man more organised. This is Niamh's first year choreographing with the Society, I have to say her choreography is so impressive. It's so evocative of the time, it is dynamic and entertaining. It will blow people away.”

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The visual style of St Mel's Musical Society annual productions are the stuff of legend. The commitment to detail never fails to impress audiences: “The set that Brendan O'Neill, Gerry O'Neill, Eddie Kiernan and Robert Belton are putting together is just incredible. They are some of the most amenable lads you will ever meet. Anything I have asked for the answer is always “Yes”.”

Alan says all systems are go for the raising of the curtain: “The toughest part of my job is this week when we knit everything together so it is just one unit.”

“Footloose” runs from Tuesday, April 11 to Saturday, April 15. Curtain at 8pm nightly, with a matinee show on Saturday, April 15 at 2pm. Tickets are available at the box office - Call 0899730175
Online at www.gr8events .ie/stmelsfootloose