BRHS Theater Group Prepares For Spring Musical 'Footloose'

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — 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."

Rehearsals are fun, he said, during a break at the auditorium on Tuesday, March 18 afternoon.

"There is no other place I would rather be at than here," he declared.

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

— Submitted by the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District