Footloose takes the stage

Everybody cut footloose! PHS's yearly school musical is having its first showing tonight on November 21st at 6:30 p.m. This year, the show is Footloose.

The show's main characters include Ren McCormack (played by senior Leo Ortega) and Ariel Moore (played by senior KayDee Williams). Ariel's parents, Shaw (played by senior Colin Bell) and Vi Moore (played by senior Emma Hoffer), and also primary characters in the show.

Hoffer expressed her love for theater, stating that she has been involved in theater since her fourth year of elementary school.

"I did the musical and I got the lead role," she said.

"After that, I fell in love with theater. I did it until this year, I've done theater my whole life since then."

Hoffer was very excited talking about the show, and her own role especially. She described her favorite scene as act two scene two and explained that her reasoning was her solo and her opportunity to express harsh emotions.

"Shaw and I get into a little argument about where Ariel is, then Ariel walks in and explains where she was," she said.

"After that, I get to yell at Ariel, which is the best part."

Hoffer agreed that that scene served as catharsis for her character and herself, as she got to speak her mind in the role of an otherwise reserved, maternal and quiet character.

"That's definitely the reason," she said.

Hoffer also agreed that Vi, as a person, wants the best for all of her loved ones, and connected with the character, stating that Vi's way of thinking resonated with her.

"I also feel like she wants the right thing to happen but she's not sure what the right thing is," said Hoffer.

"I feel like we're very similar in our ways of trying to respect everyone's thoughts and abilities. Ren thinks that dancing should be a part of everything, and Shaw does not, so she tries to find the common ground. I am very much like that as a person."

Story by Aria Glover