Shrine students bring Grease school version to life
Show begins weekend run tonight
A timeless love story from 1950s Rydell High School — Grease High School Edition will be presented on the Shrine High School stage.
All shows are at the Sanders Auditorium on the Shrine High School campus, 3500 West 13 Mile Road in Royal Oak. For tickets, go to Shrinemusic.org. The School Version retains the fun-loving spirit and immortal songs of the blockbuster show but removes any profanity, lewd behavior and Rizzo’s pregnancy scare.
The Shrine Catholic High School Performing Arts Department once again fills the stage with unbelievable and unique talent bringing every character to life. And they’ll be accompanied by a renaissance of the Shrine Pit Orchestra under the direction of Julie Malloy on keyboard, Ken Hebenstrait on saxophone, Brad Linden on guitar, Greg Platter on bass and Jesse Gibbs on drums.
Director Jerry Haines, longtime friends with Malloy, is directing his third show at Shrine and notes the musical was chosen to showcase the multitude of talented students.
“We are doing the school version,” Haines said. “They took out a lot but now the show is accessible to high schools to perform. My favorite part of directing any show is watching the show grow, watching the kids grow into their roles, watching them learn their dances and see it all come together in the end. There are so many kids who have never done a show before. The first bit of energy we saw was when they got their costumes on and when the band started playing. The energy boosted and the show started coming together.”
Set at Rydell High School, the summer romance between lead characters Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski is put to the test when school begins and peer
groups reform.
The four main characters — Zuko, Dumbrowski, Betty Rizzo and Kenickie are played by Shrine seniors Rex Cormier, Elena Gallagher, Leah Groth and Isaiah Cortez respectively.
Cortez is on stage for the second time and has been enjoying bringing his role to life.
“I think Kenickie is a cool character and I’m glad to play him,” Cortez said. “My favorite scene is Greased Lightning.”
Groth as Rizzo is in her fourth Shrine show but has nearly 10 shows in her theatre resume.
“Playing a main character is a lot of fun and it’s a change from what main characters usually are. The sarcastic humor is fun,” Groth said. “Everybody comes together from our school. We have at least a member from every sports team at our school and it’s a fun way for all of us to come together.”
She also explained having a live pit orchestra “changes everything and the energy is so much different. It makes the show.”
Gallagher wanted the part of Sandy and will be performing on the Shrine stage for the fourth time.
“I did want this part. Sandy was always my favorite character in any movie growing up. I was Sandy three times for Halloween. I love her,” Gallahger said. “The group numbers are my favorite. Since its our senior year, many of our friends haven’t done shows and when you’re on stage and look around and see all of your friends there, it really connects you. Summer Nights is my favorite song and it starts the show on a good foot and its playful all around.”
Cormier steps into Zuko with zest and is his first big part.
“It’s definitely been a challenge but a lot of people have been really supportive — cast members and my teachers,” Cormier said. “I like being around my fellow classmates, especially being a senior. There are so many of us in the cast.”
The first show is tonight, Thursday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday shows at 7:30 p.m. as well and a Sunday matinee beginning at 3 p.m. are also set.