Everybody cut Footloose

ST Martins Lutheran College’s Secondary Musical, Footloose, lit up the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre on August 14 and 15, with two nights of singing, dancing, and heartfelt storytelling.

Directed by drama teacher Andy Ahrens, the production showcased the talents of more than 50 students, with performers supported by a dedicated orchestra and backstage crew.

Together, they brought the iconic 1980s musical to life for enthusiastic audiences.

“A musical has a lot of moving parts – sets, props, costumes, orchestra, cast, scene changes, makeup and a whole lot more,” Andy said. “Preparation begins almost a year in advance, and students commit six months of rehearsals for just two nights on stage. It’s a huge challenge, but it’s always worth it.”

Rehearsals began at the start of the year, with students meeting on weeknights, Sundays, and lunchtimes to master complex choreography and music.

“Our orchestra had some really challenging music to tackle,” Andy said. “But the students were on top of it quickly, and our conductor, Rod Ennis, added extra instruments so more of our students could join in.”

The show’s lead roles were played by Year 12 students Lauren Agnew (Ariel) and Christopher Mossford-Macgregor (Ren).

They were joined by a talented supporting cast including Paegan Collins (Rusty), Asha Baker (Urleen), Eleanor Doyle (Wendy-Jo), Jacob Halleday (Willard), and Joshua Tilley (Reverend Shaw Moore).

These lead actors, together with the wider ensemble, brought depth and energy to the story of love, loss, and belonging in the town of Bomont.

Andy reflected on the broader value of school musicals.

“Musicals teach students creativity and collaboration. They learn to follow schedules, use initiative, and most importantly, discover what it means to rely on each other – it’s all about group cohesion. Everyone needs to do their part for it to come together on the night.”

As his seventh secondary musical at St Martins, Andy also spoke about the joy of working with young performers.

“Directing a musical is different from teaching drama. I’ve learned to trust the actors,” he said. “Sometimes they come up with interpretations even better than mine. Helping students believe in themselves is half the job.”

The production follows in the footsteps of previous St Martins musicals including Shrek the Musical and The Addams Family, continuing a proud tradition that combines community support with student creativity and dedication.

For the cast and crew, Footloose was a celebration of teamwork, resilience, and the transformative power of the arts.