Audience “Hopelessly Devoted” to WAHS’ Production of Grease

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By Becca Schmitz

 

Grease cast members surround, from left to right, Lauren Rider as Frenchy, Chloe Horner as Sandy, Ryann Sheehy as Rizzo, and Virginia Garey as Marty.
Grease cast members surround, from left to right, Lauren Rider as Frenchy, Chloe Horner as Sandy, Ryann Sheehy as Rizzo, and Virginia Garey as Marty.

The Pink Ladies, T-Birds, and other assorted nerds, cheerleaders, and greasers from Rydell High invaded Western Albemarle High School over Easter weekend. Donning bobby socks, circle skirts, leather jackets, and yes, plenty of slicked-back hair, the cast of Grease perfectly channeled the beloved characters that made the Broadway play and subsequent 1978 movie such timeless classics.  Sophomore Chloe Horner expertly captured Sandy’s youthful innocence and enthusiasm, while senior Cutter Mendenhall, as the leader of the T-Birds, brought Danny Zucco’s sweet bravado to life, pompadour and all.  But perhaps the most thunderous applause of the night was reserved for Western’s principal, Darah Bonham, who ably stepped into Frankie Avalon’s shoes to play the Teen Angel and croon “Beauty School Dropout” to a pink-coiffed Frenchy (Lauren Rider).

How did the musical’s director, drama teacher Caitlin Pitts, persuade Bonham, who has no singing or acting experience, to take on the role?  “Honestly, I think the kids just bugged him enough until he gave in,” she says with a chuckle.  The audience seemed delighted by Bonham’s performance, hooting and clapping when he was wheeled onto the stage on a rolling staircase.

Other WAHS teachers made cameos as well.  The show opened on a Rydell High reunion held in the 1970s.  Dressed in bell bottoms, wide collared shirts, bohemian style dresses—or, in the case of swim coach and teacher Dan Bledsoe, an impressive thick black mustache, gold chain, and exposed faux chest hair—about 15 teachers played the part of former students reminiscing about the days when the Pink Ladies and T-Birds ruled Rydell.

The modern day high-schoolers transformed into 1950s teens for the night with ease. Ryann Sheehy turned in a performance of Rizzo that would have made Stockard Channing jealous. Her soaring, heartfelt rendition of “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” was a crowd favorite.  Virginia Garey handily captured Marty’s flirtatious, lovesick personality, displaying a strong vocal talent on “Freddy My Love.”  Lauren Rider infused Frenchy with bubbly, optimistic charm, and Carly Haling perfectly portrayed Jan’s quirky, goofy demeanor.

The T-Birds—Ben Nordrick as Kenickie, William Sigmon as Sonny, Genesis Brockett as Doody, and Ben Jessee as Roger—often had the crowd in stiches with their bumbling braggadocio.  Jackie Burke captured Cha-Cha’s trademark swagger and attitude, demonstrating flawless dancing skills during the prom scene, and Noel Brockett was a smooth, confident Vince Fontaine.

Director Caitlin Pitts says she chose to Grease as this year’s spring musical because “I knew the kids were incredibly excited about it and wanted to do it, and the music is so great. “ Although the climax of the original Grease involves Sandy, the main character, transforming her appearance and affecting a “bad-girl” persona to win the affections of Danny—and Danny likewise donning a letter jacket and adopting a more serious tone to appeal to her—Western’s production focused more on themes of friendship and being true to one’s own self. “We wanted to portray it more as not that she changes herself for the guy, but that she becomes more of herself at the end, and that’s attractive to him,” Pitts says.  The students also decided to donate a portion of the ticket sales to Equality Now, an international human rights organization dedicating to protecting the civil, political, economic, and social rights of girls and women.

The cast and crew put in many hours preparing for the production, practicing three hours a night, five nights a week, for the last three months.  “It’s a big commitment.  It’s the equivalent of being on a sports team,” Pitts says.  For the last three weeks before the show, they practiced four to five hours each day.

Leads Cutter Mendenhall and Chloe Horner admit the practices were tough, but they wouldn’t have had it any other way.  “We do spend a lot of time here.  Lately it’s been from 4:00-8:30 every night, which makes homework kind of hard.  But it’s totally worth it.  I’ve met so many people.  Honestly, there really isn’t anything negative I’d say about it,” Horner says.

Mendenhall is new to Western, moving here from Utah in mid-January.  He auditioned for the role after the original Danny left the production.  Being part of the cast has eased the transition to his new school, he says.  “They lost their Danny, so they had an opening, and I was able to audition,” he says.  “It was meant to be!  It was a great way to get to know people.  I’ve been having a great time.”

Both Horner and Mendenhall have impressive credentials.  “I take voice lessons, and I’ve also performed professionally and in community theater since I was seven years old,” Horner says.  “I’ve performed at Ash Lawn Opera, Heritage Theater, and Four County Players.  I started in opera when I was 11, but I found that musical theater was more of my thing.”

Mendenhall also has experience on the stage.  “I’ve been taking voice lessons for a couple of years.  I’ve done school and community theater since around second grade.”  Dancing was new to him, however.  “I just learned it on the job.  I really like dancing, actually.  I was going to start dance lessons anyway.”

Horner says it wasn’t hard for her to get into character as Sandy.  “Her personality and my personality are really similar.  It’s been really easy to act the role because there are so many similarities between us.”  Mendenhall says he doesn’t have much in common with Danny Zucco, but still enjoyed playing the T-Bird leader: “Danny’s a lot different than I am, which has been difficult, but I’ve learned a lot just putting myself into a character who’s so different from me.”

The actors weren’t the only secret to Grease’s success, Pitts says: “There is a crew of 20 kids who were moving set pieces, running lights, and running sounds.”  She said one of the most challenging parts was working with the wooden car because it had to be driven off and on the stage and it had to be coordinated with all the actors’ movements.  “For any of the set pieces that rolled, we had to spend a lot of time rehearsing,” she said.   Kids and parent volunteers worked on the weekends to build the set pieces.  “Parents did most of the serious building, and the kids helped with everything.  The kids did a lot of painting; they did smaller jobs.”

Pitts enjoyed her experience directing the musical:  “This group of kids have been the most hardworking group that I’ve had here.  I’d say they’re the most hard-working and the nicest.  It’s just an incredibly nice group of kids,” Pitts says.  “There are a lot of seniors—they’re so great—and I really hate to lose them!  I’ll be so sad to see them go.”  Sounds like those 1950s values are still alive at Western today.

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