Central Community Theatre Continues to Impress with “Footloose”

Article by Debbie Dougherty, Photos by Jacob Jolibois

            Nestled within the community of Central is a wonderful place to visit.  You can travel to Whoville, enjoy High School Musical, Annie and most recently, Footloose!  I am referring to an amazing venture being nurtured by the Clinkingbeard and Dean families.  Folks I am referring to the Central Community Theatre.

The cast from Central Community Theatre blew out the walls of the Manship Theatre in the Shaw Center in Downtown Baton Rouge during five performances of “Footloose” last week, all to the back drop of a live orchestra.

I am privileged to say that I have attended every production of CCT and the productions began as wonderful and are only getting better and better.  I dare say that “Footloose” was the best performance yet.  The amazing thing is the cast is comprised of mostly Central youth.  The talent we have in our community is astounding!

The work put forth in a production of this size is overwhelming. This entails hours of practice, costume frenzy, stage settings, stage crew, producers, directors, dance choreographers and the list goes on and on. Yet every time this troupe comes together for a production, the end result is pristine!

The starring cast of “Footloose” included:

Garrett Smith as Ren McCormack  

Chelsi Hefner as Ariel Moore

Dillon Chustz as Willard Hewitt

Emma Graves as Rusty

Josiah Ortego as Reverend Shaw Moore

Claire Clinkingbeard as Vi Moore

Support cast is too numerous to list but each young man or lady on stage brought this Broadway musical to life in Baton Rouge last week and did so on a professional level.  One other tidbit is all five performances we sold out!

Please take the time to attend the next production by this fine group.  Karen Clinkenbeard has done a phenomenal job starting from the ground up.  It does the heart good to see so many family members, neighbors and friends coming together in support of our children and our community.  Treat yourself next production!  We are so very Central Proud!!!!