I have an update to the story about Kevin Bacon attending the final prom at Payson High School! ICYMI, Utah’s Payton HS, where Footloose was filmed, is relocating to a new building at the end of this year. In order to give the school a proper send off, its students came up with an epic idea to celebrate the end of an era. They launched a social media campaign earlier this year called #BaconToPayson to entice Footloose star Kevin Bacon to go to the building’s final prom. Basically, those students said that it was their time to dance, and Kevin was like, “Let’s dance!”
And dance they did! The prom was this past weekend, and Kevin kept his word. He showed up and gave a speech on the day of the prom, praising the students’ tenacity and creativity towards getting his attention. He also did a big shoutout to their dedication towards giving back to their community, as the students had pledged to help create 5,000 “essential resource kits” for communities across America. The kits are a part of Kevin’s foundation Six Degrees’ campaign to create 40,000 of these kits in honor of the movie’s 40th anniversary.
“Go Lions! Here we are on this beautiful, beautiful spot on this beautiful, beautiful day,” Bacon said as he opened up his speech to the Payson High student body. “It’s been a long time – 40 years – that just blows my mind, you know. Things look a little different around here. I’d say the thing that looks the most different is me.”
The film was shot on location at Payson High and Lehi Roller Mills. Payson High’s student body has been working to lure the actor back to the school for several months now. Now, 40 years later, Kevin Bacon has answered the calls of Payson High students and others — including Utah Gov. Spencer Cox — and returned to Payson High on prom night.
“When I first heard about this Bacon to Payson thing, I was like ‘Wow, this is crazy.’ But you were all just tireless. Unrelenting … You talked me into it,” Bacon said. “I think it’s great to see that kind of commitment to anything. I also think that it’s amazing the power that this movie has had to just kind of bring people together, and connect on the basic ideas there are behind the movie – you know, standing up to authority sometimes, and to being forgiving to people who are not exactly the same as you, and for standing up for your own freedoms and your right to express yourself, and for having compassion for other people.”
As part of the effort to bring Bacon back to Utah, students have offered to help support the actor’s foundation, SixDegrees.org. The foundation is aiming to create 40,000 “essential resource kits” for youth and schools. Payson students have pledged to create 5,000 of those kits today — on the same day as prom — as a thank you for Bacon’s return.
“And that’s what all of you have shown here, by turning what could be just a movie star coming back to get a pat on the back, into something really positive. And that’s what we’re going to do today when we build these kits,” Bacon continued. “Thank you so much for your commitment to giving back to your community and to the people you’re sharing this planet with, and I’m thrilled we’re going to be working here together today.”
Bacon’s visit also came as a boost for the film commission’s 100th anniversary. According to a press release, a 2023 survey indicated that 37% of visitors cite film and/or television as one of the motivators in selecting Utah as a destination. Over the last 10 years, the film commission said those visitors have spent an estimated $6 billion in the state.
While Kevin did not end up attending the actual prom, he recorded a video that played at the event. In the video message, he said, “The thing is, tonight, it’s not about me, it’s about you. I want you all to have a great time, and most importantly, be good to each other. And don’t forget to cut loose.” After the video was finished, you could hear the scene from the movie where he yells, “Let’s dance!” Then, Kenny Loggins’ Footloose started playing and all of the students started dancing to it.
This is so great! I love that Kevin did this for those students. I’m a little bummed that he didn’t show up at the dance itself in a maroon suit, shouting that it was time to dance, but I suppose he didn’t want to take too much more attention away from the event. Apparently, he did stick around and chat with students after his speech was over, which was really cool. During and after his in-person speech on the football field, the Footloose song plays and he does a little footwork both times to get into the spirit. It’s really endearing. I hope those kids had a blast at their prom! What wonderful memories they made and a helluva way to close down Payton High School properly.
If you want to know more about the Six Degrees campaign to make 40,000 kits for communities across America, you can visit their website, at SixDegress.org/footloose.
Kevin Bacon didn’t attend Payson High’s prom last night, but he did leave the students with a video message: “Tonight, it’s not about me, it’s about you. I sent you all to have a great time, and most importantly, be good to each other. And don’t forget to cut loose.” pic.twitter.com/qnQqrOQnew
— Lottie Johnson (@Lotlotej) April 21, 2024
photos credit: Getty Images for Netflix and via Instagram and YouTube