High school students experience the friendships, romances and adventures and that high school atmosphere hasn’t changed.
If you are digging what I’m putting’ down then lets take a look back in time as the Holy Trinity Catholic Senior High School presents 1950s rock ‘n’ roll musical “GREASE.” The musical will run March 31 through April 2 at the HTC Shottenkirk Gymnasium.
This year, the audience will experience a live performance of singing and dancing from one of the most popular and original high school musicals of all time.
“Grease” (school version) is based on the book, music and lyrics from the Grease musical, which was created by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey and first performed in 1971.
The school version eliminates all references and uses of cigarettes and alcohol, as well as any swearing or bad language. Practically all of the songs have undergone changes as well; the numbers are all shortened and edited to fit school content and language.
Plot
Sandy Dumbrowski (Lillian Schierbrock), the new girl in town, and Danny Zuko (Benjamin Tinguely), the school’s coolest greaser, have fallen in love during the summer. But now that they are back in school, everything changes. Sandy attempts to navigate Rydell High School social waters of peer pressure and cliques and catch Danny’s attention again, but Danny is more concerned with maintaining his tough-guy reputation. In the end, the Pink Ladies Betty Rizzo (Sabrina Fullhart) and Marty (Kira Walljasper), Jan (Kim Yang-hee) and Frenchy (Claire Graham)) help Sandy figure out how to win back the leader of the Burger Palace Boys (Kenickie (Conrad Hellman), Sonny (Joseph Hummel), Doody (Alex Bentler) and Roger (Rhett Fullhart)).
School staff and other cast members include Patty (Maille Sheerin), Cha-Cha (Matilda Jung), Eugene (Ryan Otte), Vince Fontaine (Joshua Caruso), Johnny Casino (Samuel Avery), Teen Angel (Kyle Bredemeyer), Miss Lynch (Avery Malinski), Hero (Tim Shin), Sheila (Camila Almeida) and Scientist (Abby Dingman).
This is the first time that Lillian Schierbrock and Benjamin Tinguely have starred as lead characters.
Schierbrock said she identifies with her character’s personality and what she is going through in the beginning, but towards the end she says she wishes she could blossom like her character does.
Some of the supporting actors feel out of their element, like Sabrina Fullhart, who said she is not used to being sassy.
“(In the past) I used to play the sweet and innocent characters, but this time I am letting my sassy side show for this show; it’s a lot of fun,” Fullhart said.
For most of the students, this is not their first time performing, and, for some, they are just getting the hang of performing on stage.
This is the second school musical under the direction of Stewart Beyer.
“It just seemed right to go down this path and try a different direction of music,” Beyer said. “It’s more real and very much so relatable to the students.”
Beyer, with the students’ experience in theatre, says, “It was not that hard to get them into character.”
“They have their own creative direction, so I have a little bit more confidence in trusting them,” Beyer said. “It’s phenomenal, the amount of talent that they have here. I don’t have to pry a lot out of them. It makes my job easier.”
Beyer, who also starred in Pella High School’s 2008 Grease musical as Danny Zuko, said, “When it’s time, they’re ready to step into their roles and do their job.”
This year, there will be six students as stage crew: Alexis Boyd (stage manager), Ken Le, Tim Shin, Alexis Stalcup, Eddie Vo and Jayde Watznauer (curtain and stage lights).
The dance coordinators are Elle Rashid and Abby Dingman, sound assistant is Joshua Pieper, hair and make-up design is by Nicole and Samantha Pothitakis, spotlight directors are Joshua Barr and Annabelle Scheetz, set is designed by Lois DiPrima and constructed by Bob Schierbrock and the DiPrimas: Doug, Lois, Cindy and DJ, and student publicist is Danielle Scheetz.
The musical will be March 31 and April 1 at 6 p.m., with a daytime performance on April 2 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door at HTC Shottenkirk Gymnasium, with children 10 and under admitted for free.
All proceeds benefit Holy Trinity Catholic’s Music Department. Cash and/or checks will be accepted.
