Kevin Bacon Will Return to ‘Footloose’ School After Students Rally for Him to Come for Prom
Kevin Bacon is going back to the Footloose high school!
On Friday, the actor revealed on the Today Show that he’ll be stopping by Utah’s Payson High School (where Footloose was filmed) for the school’s upcoming prom on the film’s 40th anniversary. It’s also the last year the school will be at the iconic filming location.
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The students at Payson rallied on social media using the hashtag #BaconToPayson to convince the actor to stop by for their prom ahead of its relocation, recreating scenes from the movie and learning the Footloose dance.
During the Today segment, Bacon surprised the school via video chat to share that he will be stopping by Payson for their upcoming prom.
Students at Payson High School, where "Footloose" was filmed, are on an all-out mission to have star Kevin Bacon attend their prom.
In a TODAY exclusive, @KayleeHartung reports on their viral campaign — and @kevinbacon's responds live! pic.twitter.com/03iduiYDUB— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 22, 2024
“I have been so impressed with everything that’s been going on there with this crazy idea to get me to come back,” said Bacon. “The movie and Payson High School was a big part of my life. 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 re-creations.”
“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 added. “Thank you, guys! Let’s dance.”
In the Today segment, the school’s students talked about how much of an impact the classic 1984 film has had on Payson, even after almost half a decade.
Back in 2020, Bacon spoke to Rolling Stone about the iconic film and how he claimed he didn’t need a choreographer.
“I was like, ‘I don’t need a choreographer,’” he said. “‘Just turn on the music, I’ll dance. I didn’t really understand the extent of what it was going to be. I just didn’t get it. It was a really fast and exhausting and challenging lesson in, ‘Come on, time to go. This is a dance movie.’”
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