Andrew Hepditch had “been workin’ so hard” for close to five months rehearsing for O’Donel High School’s musical production of “Footloose” — learning song lyrics and choreography, and remembering cues.
Playing the lead role as Ren McCormack in the show — based on the 1984 film of the same name — the 17-year-old was ready to cut loose and tear up this town next week for what was supposed to be the show’s debut.
But Andrew’s dream came crashing down Tuesday, when, while practising roller skating in his Mount Pearl home, he fell.
“I had been practising a few times before, and the day before I had gone back and forth a few times and it went great, so I thought, I’ll just take a quick run to see if I’m still good with it,” Andrew told The Telegram Friday, hours after arriving home from the hospital.
“But the stopper on the roller skate flew right out and I went down.”
Through the pain, he managed to call his father, Sean, who immediately took Andrew to the hospital, believing it might be a twisted ankle.
However, X-rays determined Andrew had actually broken his fibula (calf bone) and severed his tibia in his right leg.
Doctors told him there was no way he would be back on his feet in time to perform in the musical, which was scheduled to run Feb. 22-24 at the St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre.
“It was absolutely devastating. I was heartbroken,” said Andrew, who had surgery Thursday to have a steel rod inserted in his leg.
“We had all spent these last five months rehearsing and I had just felt like, in that moment, I had completely ruined it for everybody.”
But when news of Andrew’s misfortune reached director Greg White, his teachers and the 65 other members of the cast, all were in agreement — the show couldn’t go on without Andrew.
“I asked him at the hospital, ‘Do you still want to do this?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ I said, ‘That’s all I need to hear. We’ll make it happen,’” said White, who drove from his home in Witless Bay directly to the hospital as soon as he heard about Andrew’s accident.
“At a meeting with the cast the next day, I said to them, ‘Listen, we’re a team. We’re in this together.’ Andrew is an important part of this team and everyone agreed we would rally around him. … If anyone can pull it off, it’s Andrew. He’s a great kid and a force when he’s on that stage.”
With the help of producers, O’Donel’s staff and principal, Michelle Clemens, the show’s original dates at the St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre were cancelled and moved to March 23-25 at Holy Heart Theatre. The hundreds of tickets already sold would be refunded for the move to the new location.
The turn of events brought Andrew to tears.
“It was shocking. I found it really hard to believe, because I had never heard of anything like that being done before,” he said. “But it was such a relief. It was such good news at such a dark time.
“I mean, I can’t find the words for it. They’re the most incredible group of people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing in my life. The fact that they’re all putting me before the musical and said, ‘we want to do this together,’ is the most amazing form of camaraderie I’ve ever experienced in my life.”
Even with the five-week extension, Andrew will still have to perform the show in a wheelchair, but it doesn’t matter if it means he’ll still be a part of it.
“I’m determined,” Andrew said. “I’ve got to practise my choreography with just my arms now,” he added, laughing.
Andrew’s father and mother, Liana, were both overcome with emotion thinking about the group’s incredibly kind gesture toward their son.
“I get really choked up every time I think about what they did for Andrew,” Sean said, his voice quivering. “In my 52 years of life, I never saw such amazing teamwork. It’s just unbelievable. We’re so overwhelmed. For them to say it’s all of us or none of us, it was pretty touching.
“We’ll never, ever forget this.”
Tickets for the show can be purchased at the Holy Heart Theatre by calling the box office at 579-4424.
Twitter: TelyRosie
