Holy Redeemer Cast and Crew Ready GREASE
Each and every year, the Holy Redeemer Drama Department prepares a highly anticipated production that audiences get very excited about. And this year audiences are even more excited than ever before as the Drama Program prepares Grease: School Version.
“Ever since we announced that we are performing this classic musical, everyone has been asking when tickets go on sale,” says Drama Teacher Peter Taylor. “I’ve never seen the community so excited about one of our productions as they are this year. And I’ve told the students that the expectations have never been higher.”
The production has the music and lyrics written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Additional songs are provided courtesy of John Farrar, Scott Simon and Louis St. Louis, and Barry Alan Gibb.
Over 55 grade 7 to 12 students are set to be a part in the school’s third musical and sixteenth main stage production. The story is based on the Broadway show from 1971 and made famous by the 1978 film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
After an intense week of auditions, the cast and crew was officially announced on September 14. The cast will be led by a number of veteran HRH performers. Grade 10 student Jayna Fedorak and grade 11 student Thomas Pennings will play the iconic roles of Sandy and Danny respectively.
“I’m so excited,” says Fedorak, who is also a two-time Festival award winner for Best Actress. “This show is going to be a lot of work and a lot of fun all at the same time!”
Supporting Fedorak and Pennings will be a great group of very talents students. The infamous Pink Ladies will be played by Jaden Gauchier (Rizzo), CJ Jabagat (Frenchy), Rena Fakhreddine (Marty), and Morgan Steffler (Jan). Opposite these ladies will be the Burger Palace Boys played by Austin Frazer (Kenickie), Stephen Domshy (Doody), Kaelan Tait (Sonny), and Tyler Ferguson (Roger).
In addition to many familiar faces that audiences have come to love to see on stage at the HRH shows there will be plenty of new faces too. “We have 17 actors who will be making their HRH acting debuts with this show,” says Taylor. “It’s certainly going to be a memorable show at that.”
“Everyone did such an amazing job at auditions,” says Fahkreddine who says she was especially impressed with the work done by the young grade 7 students. “It took a lot of courage to get up in front of people to sing. They did, and they were fantastic.” The grade 7 students who will be joining the HRH Drama Family are Peyton Blue, Kensley Bodner, Delaney Kuilboer, Micah Loewen, and Cassandra Squire.
The cast and crew of Holy Redeemer Drama Department’s production of Grease: School Version are very excited to get started with rehearsals for this massive musical. Here, the main cast members are all smiles in preparation for the show: (left to right) Rena Fakhreddine, Jayna Fedorak, Thomas Pennings, Morgan Steffler, Jaden Gauchier, Austin Frazer, Kaelan Tait, Stephen Domshy, Tyler Ferguson and CJ Jabagat.
The HRH Drama Department is currently looking for local businesses to help sponsor the show. One such sponsor that has already stepped forward with a major donation of $750 is Cenovus. “We always love how the local community partners with the students in these plays,” says Taylor. “This truly shows the support for our school and the fine arts community.” Companies are encouraged to contact the school for more information.
Tickets go on sale November 6. There will be six public performances planned between December 5 to 8, along with four special matinees for local schools.
When tickets do go on sale to the public, they are expected to sell extremely fast.
If you would like more information on this article please feel free to contact the school at 780-723-7437, visit our website at holyredeemerhigh. ca, join our Facebook page, facebook.com/holyredeemerhigh, follow us on Twitter, @holyredeemerhig, or follow us on Instagram, @holyredeemerhigh.