The musical is the crowd-favorite. The songs are so well-known that almost anyone, young or old can sing along with them. And what about those dance numbers? From “Summer Lovin” to “Greased Lightning” to “We Go Together,” you’ll be “Shakin’ at the High School Hop” with the rest of the students “Hand Jiving” from the 1950s Rydell High as you enjoy “Grease” on the Merrill High School stage.
When “Grease” first debuted in Chicago in the 1970’s it quickly became one of the longest-running shows in musical theater. A story about 10 working-class high school students and the everyday pressures and issues they face as teenagers has made the story relatable and entertaining for audiences for years. Although it has since been eclipsed by others, it remains the 13th longest running show in Broadway history, and continues to have revivals decade after decade.
Merrill High School students are proud to bring this famous musical to the stage. The cast of characters include the “Greasers” known as ‘The Burger Palace Boys’ played by Walter Blakey, Kevin Lee, Matthew Pfantz, and Dan Thompson as Kenickie. The ‘Pink Ladies’ are played by Whitney Baumgart, Maria DeBroux, Macy Francke, and Rachel Mueller as Rizzo. The character made famous by John Travolta in the 1978 movie, Danny Zuko, is play by David Lofy. And the girl-next-door, Sandy Dumbrowski, is played by Jessica Hargrave.
Other notable performers include Alyssa Uttech as Cha-Cha, Breanna Igl as Patty Simcox, Hunter Dux as Eugene Florcyzk, Quiz Vang as Johnny Casino, Megan Wayda as Miss Lynch, Michael Bergmann as Vince Fontaine, and Elizabeth Pfantz, Karina Baacke, Maria Schmelling, Annie DeBroux, Chiara Nicoli, Sierra Smith, Monica Helman, Hannah Ziemke, Briana Hall, Steven Roets, Andrew Grawien, Brady Geiss, Remmington Persteiner, Jake Beyer, Andrew Koch, and Andrew Grawien as students of Rydell High.
The musical will run Thursday-Saturday, with doors opening at 7 p.m, and the performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. All seats are reserved. Tickets are $8.50 for adults and $6.50 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased, and printed, online from www.showtix4u.com and can also be purchased in advance at the Merrill High School Activities office or at the door the day of the show.