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By Doug Janz
Johnson City Press Tempo Writer
djanz@johnsoncitypress.com
The Jonesborough Repertory Theatre is a cozy venue, and when Milligan College asked about bringing a production of “Footloose” to the stage, it meant a little work on the place. The musical, based on the successful 1984 movie, has 29 cast members, a 10-piece band and a good-sized crew — bigger than the theatre is used to accommodating.
JRT President Brian Ponder said the theatre staff jumped on the idea, using the opportunity to remodel by creating an orchestra pit and upgrading the lighting, sound and rigging. Without making it a bigger building, it’s now able to house a bigger show.
“We knew it was a challenge,” Ponder said, “but also a chance for us to go another step to another level. We’re splitting the cost with Milligan on the upgrades, so it’s a chance to get more bang for our buck. We’re not charging them rent to use the place so Milligan gets something out of it. It’s a win-win situation.”
The new look is unveiled today when the show opens at 8 p.m. It promises to be an eye-popper, with action, dancing and song by a cast almost completely made up of Milligan theatre students and staff members.
“We’ve got well over 50 people making this happen,” said Richard Major, professor of theatre at Milligan and director of the show. “This is a very technically challenging production.
“It’s become like a well-oiled machine. Because of the space, we’ve had to choreograph everything, literally, and Pam Hurley has done a fine job with the choreographing. No one is taking anything from this production for granted. I think it’s forced us all to be a little more enterprising and think outside the box.”
The show plays again Thursday at 8 p.m. Ponder said the Friday and Saturday night shows are sold out, but the first two nights plus a 2 p.m. Saturday show still have seats.
This is one of several productions Milligan has done at theatres around the area. Without a true theatre of its own, the drama department has collaborated with East Tennessee State as well as JRT, and did a version of “Pirates of Penzance” at the VA Theatre that was even bigger than “Footloose.”
“When Richard Major contacted us about the possibility of a collaborative thing,” Ponder said, “we were happy to have them. We just want the space at JRT to be used to its maximum potential and to make it available as much as they want to use it.
“They had plans for a new theatre but the funding dried up and they’re temporarily on hold. So in the meantime, we’re allowing them to use this place as much as they need, as long as they need it.”
Major said the cast has adjusted well to the cozy confines and the attitudes have been great.
“Part of the fun is that this material relates really well to young people, and they’ve had a great time getting ready. It’s a very talented group of people,” he said. “And for the older roles, instead of filling them with students, we’ve gotten people who are the appropriate age to play the parts, including faculty, staff and even an administrator.”
Vanessa Baisden is the only JRT veteran in the cast. Major calls her part “one of those rare cases where you listen to the Broadway recording and listen to Vanesa, and she’s better than the original.”
Milligan College will also do a production of “Midsummer Night’s Dream” in April at Jonesborough Repertory Theatre.
Admission is $10. Call the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center at 753-1010 for reservations or more information. Dinner/theatre packages are available with the Bistro 105 and The Speak Easy Restaurant. Patrons can call the restaurant for their dinner/theatre reservation. Packages include dinner and theatre tickets. Other supportive restaurants are Dogwood Lane (10 percent discount with ticket) and Cranberry Thistle (free drink with ticket).