Kevin Bacon attending prom at `Footloose' high school
Kevin Bacon will soon be cutting loose as he announced on Friday he'll attend prom at the very school where “Footloose” was filmed — four decades after the '80s hit danced into theaters.
The Emmy nominee, 65, thrilled Payson High School students while appearing on the “Today” show via video call, during which he accepted their invite to their final prom, as the school will soon relocate and be torn down.
“I have been so impressed with everything that's been going on there with this crazy idea to get me to come back,” Bacon told students cheering at the school's auditorium in Payson, Utah.
“I don't need to say it but the movie and Payson High School was a big part of my life. I've been amazed with the work that all of you have been putting into this, with the musical, flash mobs and the recreations,” he added, referring to the students' #BacontoPayson social media campaign, in which they recreated iconic “Footloose” scenes and dance moves.
“It hasn't gone unnoticed by me. Not to mention the fact that you tied in SixDegrees.org, our foundation, and are trying to figure out ways to give back to our community,” continued the “Mystic River” star. “It's really inspirational. Thank you, thank you, and I'm gonna come. I gotta come.”
Clearly emotional as the gym erupted into cheers, Bacon thanked the students: “Let's dance.”
A nod to the long-running “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” joke — itself a reference to the idea of six degrees of separation — Bacon's Six Degrees foundation centers on youth empowerment, justice and equality, and improving a sustainable living environment, according to its website.
“Footloose” — which celebrated its 40th anniversary on Feb. 17 — follows Bacon's Ren McCormack as he moves to a small town and challenges their rules against dancing.
Though a box office and generational hit, “Footloose” only maintains a 55% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. The film scored two Oscar nominations, both for best original song, for Kenny Loggins' titular hit as well as “Let's Hear It for the Boy,” sung by Deniece Williams.