Dance 'til Dawn
Encyclopedia
Dance 'til Dawn is a 1988 made for television
teen movie
directed
by Paul Schneider
.
) and her jock-boyfriend Kevin McCrea (Brian Bloom
) are Herbert Hoover High's most popular students. When she refuses to sleep with him, they break up shortly before their senior prom and are forced to find new dates on borrowed time. Everyone assumes Shelley will find a new boyfriend in no time; when she can't, Shelley gets scared. She lies to her friends that she's going to a frat party. She avoids the crowd by visiting the town cinema to watch an old horror movie. There she runs into school geek Dan Lefcourt (Chris Young
). Dan is avoiding his father (Alan Thicke
), who thinks Dan has a good social status in high school. Ostensibly using him so she won't run into her friends, Shelley soon discovers Dan is a really nice guy.
When one of his friends claims he's slept with an unpopular girl, Kevin, who is determined to "do it" after prom, decides to invite Angela Strull (Tracey Gold
) to prom. While Angela is delighted with having Kevin as her date, her friend Margaret (Tempestt Bledsoe
) doesn't trust it at all. Not only does Kevin have to convince Margaret he is serious, he discovers that Angela's overprotecting, religious fanatic pharmacist-father Ed (Kelsey Grammer
) - the primary reason for her low social status - is impossible to deal with. He chases the two "lovebirds" all night, eventually getting arrested for his trouble.
Meanwhile, the beautiful but obnoxious Patrice Johnson (Christina Applegate
) is confident she'll be named prom queen. To that end, she's arranged for an all-night celebration with her boyfriend Roger (Matthew Perry
), whom she is having on a string. Her only competition is Shelley, who isn't there...but Angela appears in Cinderella fashion, and she and Kevin are voted prom queen and king. Kevin tries to get Angela into bed, but she resists and confronts him about his real reasons for asking her; when he explains that he really does like her now, she points out that he should have liked her first.
By the end of the film, at a popular diner where everyone conveniently shows up, Angela has learned that her parents had to get married because they had conceived her while they were high school students; confident after her night as prom queen, she informs them she's going to art school in Italy rather than Bible college. Kevin ends his night without sex but defends Angela's honor when his friend makes a lewd comment. Shelley and Dan announce that they are going steady, much to the shock of every senior in the room.
Parents
Others
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
teen movie
Teen film
Teen films is a film genre targeted at teenagers and young adults in which the plot is based upon the special interests of teenagers, such as coming of age, first love, rebellion, conflict with parents, teen angst, and alienation...
directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Paul Schneider
Paul Schneider (director)
Paul Schneider is an American film and television director. Some of his directorial credits include Baywatch, Beverly Hills, 90210, L.A. Law and JAG. He has also directed a number of television films.-External links:...
.
Plot
Shelley Sheridan (Alyssa MilanoAlyssa Milano
Alyssa Jayne Milano is an American actress and former singer, known for her childhood role as Samantha Micelli in the sitcom Who's the Boss? and an eight-year stint as Phoebe Halliwell on the series Charmed. She was also a series regular on the original Melrose Place portraying the role of...
) and her jock-boyfriend Kevin McCrea (Brian Bloom
Brian Bloom
Brian Keith Bloom is an American actor, voice actor, and screenwriter.Bloom was born in Merrick, New York, the brother of producer/actor Scott Bloom and musician Mike Bloom....
) are Herbert Hoover High's most popular students. When she refuses to sleep with him, they break up shortly before their senior prom and are forced to find new dates on borrowed time. Everyone assumes Shelley will find a new boyfriend in no time; when she can't, Shelley gets scared. She lies to her friends that she's going to a frat party. She avoids the crowd by visiting the town cinema to watch an old horror movie. There she runs into school geek Dan Lefcourt (Chris Young
Chris Young (actor)
Christopher Tyler "Chris" Young is an American actor, producer and director.-Life and career:Young was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, the son of Judy , a teacher and librarian, and Dick Young, a businessman...
). Dan is avoiding his father (Alan Thicke
Alan Thicke
Alan Thicke is a Canadian actor, songwriter, and game and talk show host. He is best known for his role as Jason Seaver, the patriarch on the ABC television series Growing Pains.- Early life :...
), who thinks Dan has a good social status in high school. Ostensibly using him so she won't run into her friends, Shelley soon discovers Dan is a really nice guy.
When one of his friends claims he's slept with an unpopular girl, Kevin, who is determined to "do it" after prom, decides to invite Angela Strull (Tracey Gold
Tracey Gold
Tracey Gold is an American actress and former child star best known for playing Carol Seaver on the 1980s sitcom Growing Pains. In early 2009, she co-hosted with Fred Roggin on the live show GSN Live.-Early life:...
) to prom. While Angela is delighted with having Kevin as her date, her friend Margaret (Tempestt Bledsoe
Tempestt Bledsoe
Tempestt Bledsoe is an American actress. She is best known for her childhood role as Vanessa Huxtable on the long-running NBC sitcom The Cosby Show....
) doesn't trust it at all. Not only does Kevin have to convince Margaret he is serious, he discovers that Angela's overprotecting, religious fanatic pharmacist-father Ed (Kelsey Grammer
Kelsey Grammer
Allen Kelsey Grammer is an American actor and comedian. He is most widely known for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the sitcoms Cheers and Frasier...
) - the primary reason for her low social status - is impossible to deal with. He chases the two "lovebirds" all night, eventually getting arrested for his trouble.
Meanwhile, the beautiful but obnoxious Patrice Johnson (Christina Applegate
Christina Applegate
Christina Applegate is an American actress. She is best known for playing Kelly Bundy on the Fox sitcom Married... with Children. Since then, she has established a film and television career, winning a Primetime Emmy and earning Tony and Golden Globe nominations...
) is confident she'll be named prom queen. To that end, she's arranged for an all-night celebration with her boyfriend Roger (Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry (actor)
Matthew Langford Perry is a Canadian-American actor and comedian, best known for his Emmy-nominated role as Chandler Bing on the popular, long-running NBC television sitcom Friends...
), whom she is having on a string. Her only competition is Shelley, who isn't there...but Angela appears in Cinderella fashion, and she and Kevin are voted prom queen and king. Kevin tries to get Angela into bed, but she resists and confronts him about his real reasons for asking her; when he explains that he really does like her now, she points out that he should have liked her first.
By the end of the film, at a popular diner where everyone conveniently shows up, Angela has learned that her parents had to get married because they had conceived her while they were high school students; confident after her night as prom queen, she informs them she's going to art school in Italy rather than Bible college. Kevin ends his night without sex but defends Angela's honor when his friend makes a lewd comment. Shelley and Dan announce that they are going steady, much to the shock of every senior in the room.
Cast
Teens- Brian BloomBrian BloomBrian Keith Bloom is an American actor, voice actor, and screenwriter.Bloom was born in Merrick, New York, the brother of producer/actor Scott Bloom and musician Mike Bloom....
as Kevin McCrea - Alyssa MilanoAlyssa MilanoAlyssa Jayne Milano is an American actress and former singer, known for her childhood role as Samantha Micelli in the sitcom Who's the Boss? and an eight-year stint as Phoebe Halliwell on the series Charmed. She was also a series regular on the original Melrose Place portraying the role of...
as Shelley Sheridan - Christina ApplegateChristina ApplegateChristina Applegate is an American actress. She is best known for playing Kelly Bundy on the Fox sitcom Married... with Children. Since then, she has established a film and television career, winning a Primetime Emmy and earning Tony and Golden Globe nominations...
as Patrice Johnson - Chris YoungChris Young (actor)Christopher Tyler "Chris" Young is an American actor, producer and director.-Life and career:Young was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, the son of Judy , a teacher and librarian, and Dick Young, a businessman...
as Dan Lefcourt - Tracey GoldTracey GoldTracey Gold is an American actress and former child star best known for playing Carol Seaver on the 1980s sitcom Growing Pains. In early 2009, she co-hosted with Fred Roggin on the live show GSN Live.-Early life:...
as Angela Strull - Matthew PerryMatthew Perry (actor)Matthew Langford Perry is a Canadian-American actor and comedian, best known for his Emmy-nominated role as Chandler Bing on the popular, long-running NBC television sitcom Friends...
as Roger - Tempestt BledsoeTempestt BledsoeTempestt Bledsoe is an American actress. She is best known for her childhood role as Vanessa Huxtable on the long-running NBC sitcom The Cosby Show....
as Margaret
Parents
- Kelsey GrammerKelsey GrammerAllen Kelsey Grammer is an American actor and comedian. He is most widely known for his two-decade portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the sitcoms Cheers and Frasier...
as Ed Strull - Edie McClurgEdie McClurgEdie McClurg is an American character actress. She is known for her perky North Central dialect , common to persons from Middle America.-Career:...
as Ruth Strull - Alan ThickeAlan ThickeAlan Thicke is a Canadian actor, songwriter, and game and talk show host. He is best known for his role as Jason Seaver, the patriarch on the ABC television series Growing Pains.- Early life :...
as Jack Lefcourt - Cliff De Young as Larry Johnson
- Mary FrannMary FrannMary Frann was an American actress best known for her role as Bob Newhart's wife, Joanna Loudon, on the television series Newhart.-Early life and career:...
as Nancy Johnson
Others
- Lewis ArquetteLewis ArquetteLewis Michael Arquette was an American film actor, writer and producer. Arquette was known for playing "J.D. Pickett" on the TV series, The Waltons, where he worked from 1978–1981.-Life and career:...
as Pawnshop Owner