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Grease by Rancho Buena Vista High School  Following two magnificent productions set in the 1920s and
30s over the past two years, the group at Rancho Buena Vista High School have
time-warped a generation forward to end of the 1950s and that fan-favorite rock
‘n’ roll musical Grease! A fitting finale, as much of the cast are high
school seniors enjoying their last year at high school and hoping they’ll
“always be together” in the years ahead.
Jacob Silva stars as Danny Zuko, the leader of the Burger Palace Boys who finds himself in the awkward position of trying to be the ultra-cool guy his gang can look up to while simultaneously being deeply in love with goody two-shoes Sandy Dumbrowski (a.k.a. Sandra Dee). Jacob’s physical and vocal humor hit all the right notes when he finds himself Alone at the Drive-In Movie and especially at the end when he gets All Choked Up, two songs replaced in the popular film version. Caitlyn Schock is Sandy, playing the nice girl without overdoing it while revealing some hints of personality (especially during a tough cheerleading tryout), showing great vocal talent in her solo It’s Raining on Prom Night, and transforming nicely into the not-so-nice girl to join Danny in All Choked Up. The stage version of Grease devotes much more time to the individual members of the Burger Palace Boys and the Pink Ladies, allowing the deep casts that Rancho Buena Vista offers to display their wares. The most amusing and endearing is Roger (Ian Doyle) crooning about his lone natural talent in Mooning, during which he is joined at the hip by Margot Nelson as a totally adorable Jan. Michelle Wadleigh stands out as the jaded Rizzo, the show’s strongest character, with Michelle bringing out Rizzo’s spiteful humor and the sensitivity she hides underneath, while nailing There are Worse Things I Could Do. Other strong performances include Ramani Greenblatt as Marty with her humorous voice who leads the Pink Ladies in Freddy, My Love. Whitney Fortmueller is the lovable Frenchie who drops out of high school to become a Beauty School Dropout (as described by big-haired Teen Angel Adam Shea). Dustin Scheie does a great job as Kenickie leading the Burger Palace Boys in Greased Lightinin’. Good cameos are added by Katie Schmucker as the obnoxious Patti Simcox, Kyle Hetherington as nerdy Eugene, Darrce Hodgen as an amusingly disgusting Cha Cha, and Jeff McAndrew as smooth-talking Vince Fontaine. Backed by an excellent live orchestra while singing and dancing to Renee Kollar’s energetic choreography is a top-notch ensemble who really deliver on such numbers as Those Magic Changes (led by Noah Fish), Born to Hand-Jive, Summer Nights, the opening Alma Mater, and the closing We Go Together. Hopefully they always will.Performed April 7 - 16, 2005.
Rob Hopper ~ Cast ~
Miss Lynch: Laura Brooks Patti: Katie Schmucker Eugene: Kyle Hetherington Jan: Margot Nelson Marty: Ramani Greenblatt Rizzo: Michelle Wadleigh Doody: Noah Fish Roger: Ian Doyle Kenickie: Dustin Scheie Sonny: Jeff Strong Frenchie: Whitney Fortmueller Sandy: Caitlyn Schock Danny: Jacob Silva Vince Fontaine: Jeff McAndrew Johnny Casino/Teen Angel: Adam Shea Cha Cha: Darrce Hodgen Pink Lady/Radio Voice: Chelsea Smith Pink Lady: Kim Kern Chorus: Josh Barrett Jessica Bennett Ellen Berry Brooke Carpenter Gregg Casiopo Marianne Clark Chelsea Cornejo Ashley Finney Keeghan Gelrud Matt Guerrero Rachael Guerrero Mark Hoke Kevin Manley Chelsea Menshek Keri Miller Katie Nelson Raquel Rodriguez Erica Schwekart Tanner Weston Director: Mark Scott Choreographer/Musical Director: Renee M. Kollar Technical Director: Jim Malone Stage Manager: Jeff Barrio Lighting Design: Mark Hoke Sound: Michelle Delgatto Costumes: Lara Kirkbride Katie Blair Natalie Mills Taylor Pierce |
