Anyone driving by the Whidbey Playhouse lately is bound to get a little curious as to what’s going on inside. But anyone who’s aimed their ears toward the Playhouse in recent weeks can tell you, a rockin’ good time is on the horizon.

Get ready to cut loose, because “Footloose” the musical opens Friday. The musical is based on the hit ‘80s movie that starred Kevin Bacon and boasted a rockin’ Oscar-nominated soundtrack.

It’s the story of city boy Ren McCormack (Scott Arnold) who, along with his mother (Wendy Roithner), move to small town America where dancing is banned. Ren strolls in with flipped up collar, skinny tie and casually cool sneakers and gets this conservative town led by the ideals of the Rev. Shaw Moore (Jim Harker) a little hot under the collar.

Ren immediately catches the attention of the town’s teen population and its most popular girl, Ariel (Candice Baker), who also happens to be the reverend’s daughter. But even in this small town, Ren’s slick persona doesn’t guarantee a bad boy status. That’s already reserved for Ariel’s boyfriend, Chuck Cranston (Orion Johnson).

Ren hits it off with Willard (Keath Hallen-Worley), but his popularity remains slim when adults like Coach Dunbar (Steve Gormley), Principal Harriet Clark (Mary Kay Hallen) and especially the Rev. Moore are hard pressed to give Ren or rock and roll a chance.

The cast of 30 is a diverse bunch from Coupeville, Oak Harbor, Anacortes and many newcomers to the area. They are middle schoolers, high schoolers, collegiates and career professionals.

“I wanted to pull people from all walks of life because this play is a celebration of community,” said director Allenda Jenkins. “While casting I kept in mind to be representative of this community.”

The stage adaptation written by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie will be directed locally by Jenkins with musical direction by Jamar Jenkins.

Jenkins is well seasoned in drama and music. An Oak Harbor High School graduate, she went on to study drama at the University of Washington. She spent around 20 years performing on stage in Seattle and Los Angeles productions.

She recruited her husband, Jamar, to produce the music for the Playhouse production. Jamar Jenkins has close to 30 years as a professional musician, including time at the helm of his own Los Angeles record label Real Records. His last 20 years have been spent as a music educator in Los Angeles, Tacoma, and, most recently, Coupeville.

The lack of electrical power last month coupled with the distractions of the holidays put the Footloose rehearsal schedule behind, but thanks to the Whidbey Playhouse soundtrack produced by Jenkins, the actors were kept on track.

“They all had their own CD to go home with,” Jenkins said.

Although many in the cast have musical stage experience, Baker said it’s been a task getting used to the “Footloose” style.

“You really have to work with this because it’s more of a rock style,” she said. “It’s nothing like any musical I’ve been in before where the styles have been more classical.”

The show’s timeframe has also been a learning experience for the younger members of the cast. Most weren’t even born when “Footloose” made its 1984 motion picture debut.

“I heard about it growing up but I wasn’t allowed to watch it,” Baker said.

While the older members of the cast have had flashback moments with the fashion, the high schoolers have been closer to clueless.

“The styles have definitely changed,” Baker said.

While Jenkins is a fan of the movie, she can’t wait for people to come see the stage show.

“It’s so much better on the stage,” she said. “You get more into the characters, their relationships. The musical goes places where the movie can’t, all with added song and dance.”

The energy of Footloose will be evident from the first moment the cast steps onto the stage. Movie soundtrack songs like “Footloose,” “The Girl Gets Around,” “Holding Out for a Hero,” “I’m Free,” “Let’s Hear it for the Boy,” and “Almost Paradise” will likely bring chills to anyone sentimental on ‘80s teen movies. These poppy rock hits are interlaced with acting scenes and additional musical numbers found only in the staged “Footloose.”

While the music was the backdrop to the movie, on stage it takes a larger role.

“That’s one of the biggest differences,” said Keath Hallen-Worley. “The characters are singing what was before just background so now the music relates to them more and takes on their emotions.

“When you’re in a show like this you pretty much become a family,” Hallen-Worley said. “By the end of it going to rehearsals is like going home and I hope our audiences feel that.”