If you like “Footloose,” the movie, you are sure to like “Footloose,” the musical. The Gordon Central Theater League will present the work in theater format beginning this Thursday night, April 14, at 7 p.m.

Ren McCormick, played by student Austin Harris, is a city boy who is forced to move to the country after his father leaves his mother. Ren loves to dance, and doesn’t understand why dancing isn’t allowed in the small commu-nity he enters. At the same time, the teens in the community do not understand why dancing is important to Ren because dancing has always been forbidden for them.

Ariel Moore, played by award-winning drama student Chelsey McCleskey, latches onto Ren and they kindle a friendship. They come to discover that they have a lot in common: both are attempting to find the answers to the questions they have in life.

Ren is deals with leaving the city after his father’s abandonment and Ariel wonders why her father continually alienates her and why her family is falling apart after her brother’s death.

“We did this show nine years ago and we just loved it … that group of seniors was very special to us just as the group of seniors this year are a special group for us, as well,” said co-director Kim Watters.

Mike Earnest is the co-director, and has worked with Watters for 10 years now. The duo agreed early on that this would be a good fit for the Gordon Central cast.

“This show demands a lot of focus and gave us a chance to celebrate by showcasing the talents of our students,” explained Watters. “Footloose really shows why the program is going in the direction that it is going.”

A cast and crew of close to 70 students are posted on the Footloose playbill, allowing Watters and Earnest a talented list of students to work with.

“It is a great feeling when it is two minutes from when the rehearsal is supposed to be over and the kids say ‘Can we please do that number one more time?’ They aren’t ready to finish!” explained Watters.

There will be a showcase of all the Gordon Central Alumni who participated in the show in 2003. Any Alumni who were in the show can contact Kim Watters for a ticket to the show.

“We plan on giving them a cameo role in the last scene,” said Watters. “There will be a picture slideshow from 2003 before our show and we will present all the alumni during intermission. They need to understand that the work that they did years ago began to gain respect for us … Gaining respect is a process.”

“Footloose” runs April 14, 15, and 16 beginning at 7 p.m. and on April 17 at 2:30 p.m. Then, it will run April 22 and 23 at 7 p.m. All performances will take place in the practice gym at Gordon Central High School, located at 205 Warrior Path Drive.

Tickets are $7 for adults and for students, children and seniors. Advance purchase of tickets is recommended. Email Kim Watters at kwatters@gcbe.org to buy tickets in advance.