Rehearsal is not a chore but an enjoyable task for Josh Zagarae, a senior at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
He and his colleagues have been spending afternoons in the high school’s auditorium to prepare for the Bridgewater-Raritan Theatre Arts presentation of the Spring Musical—Footloose.
The highly anticipated event each school year when spring arrives will be performed in the Bridgewater-Raritan High School auditorium from Thursday, April 3 through Saturday, April 5.
The curtain will rise at 7 p.m. for the Thursday and Friday shows, while on that Saturday, two performances have been scheduled—a matinee at 2 p.m. and the final production at 7 p.m.
Tickets are priced at $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens.
Footloose is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals and its Stage Adaption by Dean Pritchard and Walter Bobbie.
Footloose is based on the original screenplay by Dean Pritchard and tells the story of Ren McCormack, who is portrayed by Josh Zagare, a teenager from Chicago who moves to a small town where he attempts to overturn a ban on dancing that is enforced by the efforts of a local minister.
While Josh plays the leading role, he does not see his acting as different from that of any other cast member.
“It is a unique position, but I am not on a pedestal,” he explained.
He is experienced in playing the leading character.
In the High School Musical, which was presented by the Bridgewater-Raritan Theatre Arts last May 2-4 at the high school, Josh portrayed the leading character, Troy Bolton.
“It is an eye-opening experience to play the lead role, but we are all a tight unit here,” said Josh, who plans to study music and theater when he attends Rider University in the fall. “There is a lot of practice that goes with it. I practice and dance at home as well.”
The camaraderie that spills over from the students acting on the stage and to the crew who work behind the stage is a testament to Heather Diaforli-Day, the high school’s Theater and Music Teacher who also carries the lead role as the Director of the Theatre Arts program.
Her dedication, coaching, and guidance during rehearsals result in a fine-tuned practice session that, as Josh attested, is a “good environment.”
Ms.Diaforli-Day praised the sound particpation that her students deliver each afternoon.
"Our students have an exceptional commitment to this show, and they are putting in tremendous effort each day after school. I am so proud of their collaborative efforts and artistry in telling this story.," Ms. Diaforli-Day said.
She added:
We can't wait to have an audience."
Neither can the energetic cast and crew.
“There is no other place I would rather be at than here,” Josh declared while standing in the auditorium during a practice on Tuesday afternoon, March 18.
A word of advice:
Be at the Bridgewater-Raritan High School auditorium on April 3, 4 or 5.
Here are the students and staff who will bring you the 2025 Spring Musical, Footloose
STUDENT CAST
Character: Student
Ren McCormack: Josh Zagare
Ethel McCormack: Ava Castillo
Reverend Shaw Moore: Oliver Shoaf
Vi Moore: Ella Ianiello
Ariel Moore: Jayleen Alvarado
Lulu Warnicker: Julianne Maloney
Wes Warnicker: Patrick Walsh
Coach Roger Dunbar: Nic Molinilla
Eleanor Dunbar/Betty Blast: May Niles
Rusty: Ava Hathaway
Urleen: Zabel Kermizian Caldwell (Dance Captain)
Wendy Jo: Aditi Dhara
Chuck Cranston: Max Dvorkin
Lyle: Devin Patel
Travis: Ella Ianiello
Chuck's other friends: Maya Little, Samantha DeWacker, Charlotte Falcon
Cop: Kamiya Martin
Willard Hewitt: Evan Andrews
Willard's other friends: Ava Skunakis, Ananya Nanivadekar
Principal Harry Clark: Vrisaan Raina
Jeter: Aaron Weinstein
Bickle: Sahib Bal
Garvin: John Csik
Cowgirl Bobbie: Maya Little
Cowgirl Bobbie's Band: Charlotte Falcon, Samantha DeWacker, Ava Skunakis
Cowgirl: Abigail Alonso (Dance Captain)
Ensembl: Ava Skunakis, Michaela Opalenik, Sofia Mathew, Paige D'Aloisio, Maryn Bennett (kid), Abigail Alonso, Kamiya Martin, Kesin Dixit, Sohum Shahri, Vicki Huang, Zoe Weinstein, Lydia Ruth, Sophie White, Ananya Nanivadekar, Alyssa Goncalves
STUDENT STAFF/CREW
Position: Student
Stage Manager: Mia Hassouna
Student Director: Tia Sharma
Student Ensemble Coaches: Julianne Maloney and May Niles
ASM: Sophia Kelleher
ASM/Student Lighting Operator: Casey Stella
ASM Intern/Student Sound Operator: Martime Silvestre
Student Lighting Operator: Casey Stella
Service Project/Community Outreach Student Coordinator: Rebecca Puszkin
Props Master: Violet Dunsavage
Makeup Team: Ava Mobus, Varsha Chirra, Ava Burns, Briana Popescu, Natalia Placek
Student Costume Coordinators: Kate Hinton & Sadie Grossman
Student Music Director: Prisha Gudimella
Dance Captains: Abby Alonso, Zabel Kermizin Caldwell
House Manager: LJ Aponte, Maryann Martinez
Publicity: Lauren Yang
Crew: Ryan Zahajkewycz, Campbell Maloney, Isabella Jean-Baptiste, Jordan Velasco, Addison Lewis, Sinjin Niles, Iva Penumudi, Amalia Marquardt, Jerziel Abellar, Chloe Herrera
STAFF
Position: Staff Member
Director: Heather Diaforli-Day
Choreographer: Kelly Cirone
Assistant Director: Olivia Matko
Set Designer and Coordinator: Sarah Nasson
Lighting and Sound Director: Daniel Schulze
Set Construction: Walt Cupit
Production Assistant: Tara Hueston
Pit Conductor: Dr. Thomas Bourgault