By SHARON EBERSON
Billy Hartung and a few of his Broadway friends are set to help Pittsburghers kick off your Sunday shoes, lose your blues, and everybody, cut footloose.
It’s been 25 years since the musical Footloose made its Broadway debut, with Hartung in the cast, sparking a reunion at Heinz Hall on March 2, 2024, for the “One Night Only Gala,” to support the nonprofit Center for Theater Arts in Mt. Lebanon.
In recent years, Hartung pals such as Norm Lewis, Hugh Panaro and Rema Webb have joined him in the annual performance and fundraiser for the center, where Hartung is the executive director of the performing arts instructional center, with a mission that includes “providing all students, including those with special needs, opportunities to improve their self-image and self-confidence through artistic expression.”
Among those joining Hartung – who played Chuck Cranston – is the original Ren McCormack, Jeremy Kushnier, who made his debut in that show and shared a dressing room with Hartung. The former castmates have daughters born on the same day, cementing their longtime friendship.
Kushnier, you may recall, was Pittsburgh Public Theater’s Iago in a 2015 production of Othello. On Broadway, he played Tommy DeVito in Jersey Boys, among other starring roles. Another participant, Angela Brydon, was 15 when she made her debut in the ensemble of Footloose. She went on to roles in Wicked and On the Town before leaving showbiz when her son was diagnosed with autism.
As an advocate for people of all abilities, she shares a bond with Hartung, who has a son with Down’s syndrome.
Dancer, choreographer and Emmy Award-winner AC Ciulla (“So You Think You Can Dance”), the Tony-nominated choreographer of Footloose, also will be on hand. Culla recently choreographed Billy Porter‘s music video “Children” and collaborated with Porter on his reimagination of The Life for Encores at New York’s City Center.
Other Broadway vets who have cut loose together will be using their voices to support this program for kids of all ability levels with video messages: Jennifer Laura Thompson (original Ariel), Dean Pitchford (original screenwriter / book writer of the musical), Dee Hoty (original Vi Moore) and many more.
The event, presented by the Michael J. Kara Family, will include performances by Center for the Performing Arts students and alumni, who have participated in productions of Footloose, including this month at Mt. Lebanon High School.
Tickets and details: pittsburghsymphony.org/production/93529/one-night-only
Leave a Reply