The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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April 16, 2012

Hennessey students' video goes viral

By Phyllis Zorn, Staff Writer CNHI

HENNESSEY — A video of Hennessey High School students dancing to the theme song of “Footloose” is becoming an internet sensation.

The video, available HERE, was recorded Saturday night on Main Street outside Hennessey’s Kirkpatrick Building, where the prom was held. At midnight, Jack Quirk, owner of KJ Productions in Enid, posted the video to YouTube.

After Quirk notified Hennessey music teacher Beth Berkenbile, who had directed the students in the musical production of “Footloose” for the school, Berkenbile put the word out on her Facebook page that the video was available online.

“It really wasn’t in the public until 6 p.m. Sunday,” Berkenbile said.

Already by late afternoon Monday, the video had gotten more than 18,500 views.

“We’re kind of excited,” said Jill Moery, high school guidance counselor.

“It was my director’s husband’s idea,” said Tristan Hill, a Hennessey freshman who helped build some of the sets for the play. “We thought it would be cool to do it at prom. We put big lights out in the street so everyone could see it.”

Tristan, the son of Nathan and Lorie Hill, of Hennessey, said he portrayed Chuck Cranston, “the bad boyfriend” in the musical.

In the video, Tristan is the dancer wearing a white suit with a pink vest and pink tie.

“I want to pursue a career on stage,” Tristan said.

Tristan said the students are watching the counter on their YouTube video steadily rise.

“We want it to go viral,” Tristan said. “Already there are 18,500 hits.”

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