POULSBO — The production that has been dubbed America’s favorite musical which is aiming for a Broadway revival this year will also be in the heart of Poulsbo this month.
Tell me more, tell me more … “Grease” is taking the stage at Poulsbo Junior High beginning Jan. 19. And theatergoers can bring the entire family for a night of hand-jives and good times as the school is presenting a clean version of what some consider a racy show.
The PJH thespians will take the audience on a trip to Rydell High in the 1950s, minus the drugs and sex, with a little extra rock ‘n’ roll.
“It’s a lot less racy, but there’s not a lot of difference,” said the show’s co-lead actor Bryson Breakey who plays Danny Zuko. “Every now and then you’ll pick up a line that’s changed, only not so much.”
Danny still falls in love with the new girl Sandy, played by PJH eighth-grader Emily Cauter, then lets his teenage arrogance get in the way and has to win her back. And while the play is set in 1950s Chicago, it’s not too far off from the PJH students’ day-to-day, PJH production director Sharon Fergeson said.
“It’s not something where they are pretending … this is sort of where they are,” she said. “It also gives them a little insight into the ‘50s.”
With an evolving set and collection of props including a bevy of leather jackets and a ‘50s-style Austin Healy Sprint called “Greased Lightning,” the cast should have no problem getting into the feel of the ‘50s.
Jim’s Auto Wrecking of Poulsbo donated the automobile for the production and cast member, NKHS sophomore Nathan Camp — who plays Vince Fontaine — gave the cruiser its bright white lightning bolts.
“Those boys love rolling that thing on and off stage,” Fergeson said, as the Healy made its entrance during a Jan. 11 rehearsal. “They pushed that car a half a mile to get it here, and they couldn’t have been more excited.”
The cast’s excitement can be summed up by the fact that the boys in the production have also fashioned their hair into a 1950s-style DA, begging for the grease.
“This is probably the most fun of any of the plays I’ve ever done,” said Breakey, a freshman who has been acting since age 8.
“Just acting and singing on stage with all of your friends, it’s definitely an experience I’ll never forget,” said Cauter. “Everyone in the show is just great … we’re all working together so well, it’s going to be great.”
And perhaps one of the biggest draws for this production will be its infectiously entertaining music, which will be performed live by a PJH band made up of students Rex Olson on bass and Ray Navarette on guitar, and teachers Joe Power on guitar and Marshall Miranda on drums. NKHS senior Jeff Cauter will serve as conductor.
“Really, everybody brings a different musical background,” Jeff Cauter said of the play’s rock ‘n’ roll band. “But it’s all the original music, all of the favorites.”
