WEBSTER, N.Y. — Local high schools across the Greater Rochester region are gearing up for their spring musicals. News10NBC’s Emily Putnam visited her alma mater, Webster Thomas High School, where students are getting ready to showcase their talents in the 1980’s musical “Footloose” this weekend.
Dr. Kyle Sackett, another Webster Thomas alum, has returned to teach in the program that launched his career. Sackett said, “I am a community builder, and my job is to do that, and music is the vehicle to build community.”
Sackett teaches more than 135 students across five choirs and serves as the vocal director and producer of the spring musical. When asked why he and the directing team decided to do “Footloose” this year, he said, “We want to pick shows that our students can connect with the material.”
Dom McMangano, a junior who plays Ren (the Kevin Bacon character) in “Footloose”, shared his excitement about the role. “Ren is very energetic. There’s a lot of dancing I get to do, which is a lot of fun. I’ve always loved dancing in shows,” Dom said.
Sackett emphasized the depth of the musical’s story. “It’s not a show about a town that banned dancing. It’s a town that has experienced real and significant pain and trauma,” he explained.
Dom praised Sackett’s direction. “Dr. Sackett, he’s one of the best directors I’ve ever worked with,” he said. “He won’t stop until you’re at a place that you’re comfortable with, especially vocally.”
Before returning to Webster to teach, Sackett pursued a career as a professional musician, earning multiple Grammy nominations for his work with ensembles in the Chicago area. Reflecting on his return to the music program at Thomas, Sackett said, “Whoever’s the most passionate, and whoever I can try to impact the way that we were impacted when we were here. That’s all I want to do.”
Emily Putnam, News10NBC: “How do you think going through this program and being a student at this school prepared you for this role that you’re in right now?”
Dr. Kyle Sackett: “I would do this job the way I’m doing it whether I went here or not,” adding “Webster just sort of values music at a level that I think we should all be very grateful for.”
The music program at Thomas not only builds confidence for students, but also fosters community and brings people together. Dom added, “I’ve gotten to meet a lot of great people, I’ve gotten to learn a lot of great things about music and about myself, and I wouldn’t take any of it back for anything.”
“It’s just a really rewarding experience to get to see these kids shine,” Sackett said.
There are 84 students involved in “Footloose”, including cast and crew, set builders, orchestra musicians, and more. The cast has been rehearsing since December.
The show runs one weekend only, March 5 through 7. Click here to buy tickets for “Footloose”.
Webster Thomas grad returns as vocal director of musical ‘Footloose’, aiming to inspire students WHEC.com.
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