Chicago Heights, IL–(ENEWSPF)– Marian Catholic High School will present the fabled Broadway musical Grease May 1-3 in the school’s Croarkin Theatre. This musical, which began life as a play with incidental music at the old Kingston Mines Theater in Chicago ’s Lincoln Park , has certainly left its impact on the world. Originally raw, vulgar and aggressive, the tastes of the world may have toned it down a bit through Broadway revivals, countless middle school, high school, amateur, professional production, and of course, the film adaptation. Its themes of youth and rebellion have, of course, endured.
Marian’s youthful star-crossed lovers Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski are played by Adam King and Molly Ann Nunn. Danny’s Burger Palace Boys are second-in-command Kenickie (Mike Foster), hero-worshipping three-chord guitarist Doody (Alex Rogers), class clown Roger (Mike Mulhearn), self-proclaimed rock-and-roll idol Johnny Casino (Alex Gallinaro) and wheeler-dealer Sonny (Kyle Habben). Betty Rizzo’s (Megan McDonald) Pink Ladies are beauty school hopeful Frenchy (Chantal Freeman), sophisticated lady hopeful Marty (Jaime Patriarca), shy Jan (Bernadette Senick) and Tammy (Courtney Summerise). Summerise will also appear as a radio voice.
Filling out the lives of these kids are cheerleader Patty Simcox (Julie Zielinski), Miss Lynch (Colleen Daw), an old-maid English teacher, awkward class valedictorian, Eugene Florczyk (Conor Keane), teenage radio announcer Vince Fontaine (Sam Kirchenheiter), Cha Cha DiGregorio, the best dancer at St. Bernadette’s, and the immortal Teen Angel (Mike Mulhearn). And what rock-and-roll musical would be complete without the Patty Simcox Cheer Posse, composed of Ben David, Danielle Edgeworth, Alanna Lovely, Deanna Wiiliams and Kieran Dziallo?
Mark Donaway is directing the musical, with musical direction by Michelle Howisen, choreography by Zach Zube, and technical direction by Bernard Jablonski. The band will be directed by Greg Bimm and Vonda Hardesty.
Grease will be performed at Marian’s Croarkin Auditorium on Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, May 3 at 2 pm. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors, and may be reserved by calling 708.756.9443. They man also be purchased at the door. Marian Catholic’s theater is located on Joe Orr Road in Chicago Heights , just west of the intersection of Joe Orr and Ashland .
