The 4th Annual Benefit for Eblen Charities presents the popular musical Footloose April 21–23 at Diana Wortham Theatre. This exhilarating musical, staged by Bioflyer Productions, will be a fun outing for the entire family.

The show is based on the 1984 film that captured the hearts of teenagers all over the country. In Footloose, Ren MacCormack, an ordinary kid from Chicago, has to move with his mother to Beaumont, a small puritanical town in Texas after his father deserts them.

To his dismay, he soon learns the town forbids rock ‘n roll music and dancing, an edict handed down by the Reverend Moor. Ren doesn’t waste any time getting the school’s students on their feet dancing, sending Beaumont into a tizzy.

It’s a lighthearted musical but with real substance about a father’s longing for his lost son and a young man’s need for his absent father. Footloose celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people.

Popular local band Orange Krush is providing the live music for the show. Combined with the huge success of last year’s RENT, past shows have generated much needed money to benefit Eblen Charities which provides assistance to families throughout Western North Carolina.

Performances begin at 8 p.m. over the weekend of April 21–23 with one matinee at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets range from $12–22 and can be purchased at the Diana Wortham box office or online at dwtheatre.com.