Theatre News

Maureen Nolan joins cast of Footloose: The Musical

The Irish star will join Gareth Gates on the UK tour

Maureen Nolan
Maureen Nolan

Maureen Nolan will be joining the cast of the UK tour of Footloose: The Musical to play Vi Moore.

Part of girl band The Nolans, Nolan's theatre credits include playing Mrs Johnstone in both the West End and touring production of Blood Brothers. She will be joining the previously announced Gareth Gates.

American Idiot star Luke Baker will play Ren McCormack, the role immortalised on screen by Kevin Bacon.

They will be joined by Hannah Price as Ariel Moore, Nigel Lister as Reverend Shaw Moore, Nicky Swift as Ethel McCormack, Joanna Sawyer as Rusty, Matthew Tomlinson as Chuck, Natasha Brown as Wendy-Jo, Miracle Chance as Urleen and Scott Haining as Bickie.

The cast will be completed by Lauren Storer, Natalie Morton-Graham, Luke Thornton and Alex Marshall.

Based on the 1984 hit film, Footloose tells the story of city boy Ren, who has to move to a rural backwater in America where dancing is banned.

The show features classic 80s hits including "Holding Out for a Hero", "Almost Paradise", "Let's Hear it for the Boy" and the title track, "Footloose."

Racky Plews directs the musical, which has music by Tom Snow and lyrics by Dean Pitchford.

Footloose: The Musical opens in Bridlington Spa in January 2016. For a full list of tour dates, click here.