Students at the Utah high school where "Footloose" was filmed will soon have the opportunity to lose their blues and kick off their Sunday shoes with Kevin Bacon himself, with the actor promising to visit students as they celebrate the final prom in the iconic school building.
The 1984 classic stars Bacon as a Chicago teenager who transfers to a small-town high school where dancing is strictly forbidden. The movie's 40th anniversary coincides with another milestone: Payson High School, where filming took place, is now moving to a different building.
Payson students have worked for months with the Utah Film Commission to get Bacon's attention. They created a social media campaign, recreated movie scenes and planned an event to benefit Bacon's SixDegrees.org, KTVX reported.
Bacon's foundation is "dedicated to creating dialogue, raising awareness, understanding, and empathy around causes that our communities care most about," according to its website.
Even the state's Governor Spencer J. Cox joined in the campaign - sharing a video on Instagram in November encouraging Bacon to visit.
"Utah's preserved the legacy this film left on our state, so we'd like to formally invite you back to the Beehive State to celebrate four decades of 'Footloose' with us," Cox wrote.
Bacon commended the energy the students put into the campaign during a recent phone call he made to a gymnasium packed with eager students.
"I've been amazed at the work that all of you have been putting into this, with the musical and the flash mobs and the recreations," Bacon told the students, according to Today.
"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 your community. It's really inspirational, so thank you. Thank you. And I'm gonna come. I gotta come," he said.
Unlike the curmudgeonly adults in the original film, the Payson community is celebrating Bacon's impending return.
"Payson could not be happier at the possibility of a visit from Kevin Bacon. He is our favorite celebrity and we are so excited at the chance to have him back," said Payson High Principal Jesse Sorenson, according to KTVX.
