Kevin Bacon returning to Payson High, filming location of 'Footloose' before demolition
This image released by CBS shows Kevin Bacon, who will co-host and executive produce “Play On: Celebrating The Power of Music to Make Change” a one-hour benefit concert special to raise funds for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) and WhyHunger. The special will be broadcast on Tuesday, Dec. 15 on CBS. (Michele Crowe/CBS via AP)
PAYSON, Utah (KUTV) — Actor Kevin Bacon announced Friday that he is heading back to Utah to visit the filming location of "Footloose."
Students of Payson High School have worked alongside the Utah Film Commission for over a year on a campaign to get "BaconToPayson."
The school, which served as a primary setting for the 1984 cult classic, is set to be torn down in the spring of 2025.
RELATED: BaconToPayson campaign gives students memorable experience amid looming demolition
Bacon shared his plans to visit on NBC's TODAY show hosted on March 22. The trip is in support of his foundation, SixDegrees - Bacon's initiative to sustain and enrich local communities.
The foundation is striving to put together 40,000 essential resource kits for communities and organizations in need. In collaboration with SixDegrees, students of Payson High have vowed to create 5,000 resource kits for the community on the day of their prom.
Bacon's stay in Utah coincides with the 100-year anniversary of Utah film and television along with the 40th anniversary of "Footloose."
ALSO: Gov. Cox invites Kevin Bacon for 'Footloose' 40th anniversary celebration next year
“Throughout the 100th anniversary, we are celebrating not only film and television moments that were made in Utah, but the people and places behind those moments,” said Virginia Pearce, Director of the Utah Film Commission. “‘Footloose’ is one of those iconic moments in Utah’s film history that made both an impact on Utah and the world. I am so proud of the Payson High School students and hope this celebration will remind everyone of Utah’s rich film history.”
"Footloose" was filmed mainly in Utah County. The production crew stuck mainly to rural areas for shooting, such as Payson, taking advantage of Utah's natural beauty for many of the movie's iconic scenes.
“We’ve worked so hard this year and done our absolute best to make this crazy dream a reality,” said Payson High School Student Body President Rubie Raff. “I can’t believe that it’s finally happening and that we can say we did it! It was all worth it—we got Kevin back to Payson!”
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