The 1984 classic about a city boy named Ren who moves to a small farming community where dancing is banned and love is found is coming alive in Lincoln.

The 60th anniversary for the Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater in Lincoln's Pioneers Park will feature Footloose as it's summer musical.

"It brings in a whole new feeling..new kids...a whole new cast," said director and choreographer, Courtney Piccoli.

Piccoli said this year's production is a switch from last year's Music Man.

"This is a very energetic and young show. Its also a newer show."

She said the board of directors also stayed very true to the age demographic of the characters - all the high school students are played by real high school students.

Kellyn Wooten, 20, a Vocal Performance major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln plays the lead female role of Ariel.

"I love the music. I go to school for vocal performance so I'm kind of biased towards that," said Wooten whose rebellious character does everything she can to get under her dad's -- the local minister - skin.

The role is a step outside of Wooten's normal characters

"Its a little more risque than I'm used to playing. I'm used to playing the more innocent roles I guess..and she's really in tune with her sensuality.." said Wooten.

Luckily, chemistry with the lead male who plays Ren on stage is made easier as the two are real life friends.

"We've known each other since high school. It just makes it much more comfortable..especially the more intimate scenes. Its not so awkward," said Wooten.

"They're really wonderful. They're fresh. They haven't been one of our frequent lead characters so its nice that they bring a new freshness to the roles that they are portraying," said Piccoli about Wooten and Michael Cleveland's (Ren) performances.

The two are part of the roughly 55 mostly local actors featured in the production.

"There's a tremendous amount of talent on this stage. Some of it more raw then others but boy..." said Paul Eschliman, who plays Ariel's father, Reverend Shaw Moore.

"He's kind of a button down reverend. He's had a bad experience because his son died in a tragic traffic accident with three other people in the community and he reacts to that as one of the town leaders by getting them to ban dancing."

Performances will run July 9-12 and July 16-19, beginning at 8:30 p.m. each night at Pinewood Bowl Amphitheater in Lincoln's Pioneers Park.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate; $10 Adult and $5 Children age 6-12. Children age 5 and younger are free. For more information on tickets, visit http://www.pinewoodbowl.org/tickets.html