The musical, which proved to be a modest success on Broadway back in 1998, is based on the 1998 film of the same name. Teenager Ren McCormack (Donelvan Thigpen) moves from Chicago to a small town which, due to the prodding of the town’s minister (Vincent Hooper), has outlawed dancing. It’s up to Ren to get the town dancing again, and in the process, he attracts the attention of the Reverend’s rebellious daughter (Mariel Ardilla).

This summer’s crowning glory just might be Summer Stock Austin’s production of “Footloose,” playing now through Aug. 10 in the Rollins Studio Theatre at the Long Center – unless, that is, their production of “Chicago” that opens later this week proves to be the cherry on top.

SSA’s “Footloose” has everything there is to love about musical theater: big, boisterous dance numbers, catchy, unavoidably familiar music, and enough dramatic pathos to tug at the heartstrings.