Edgemont Gets Grease Fever

Grease was the word in Edgemont High School this past weekend and it seemed everyone in town wanted to see this popular musical. Over 75 students participated in the school's production with students from all four grades involved in the cast, pit and crew. The selection of Grease proved to be a great one as over 1,000 people showed up to see it at Edgemont High School this weekend. While recent Edgemont shows (The Pajama Game in 2010 and Guys and Dolls in 2009) also did well, Grease was by far the most successful of recent years.

The show was directed by the high school's Vocal Music teacher, Kelley Morse. She worked long hours with the students to produce a truly amazing show. Seniors Elizabeth Han, Justin Arnold, Julie Robine, and David Newman, who played the lead roles of Sandy, Danny, Rizzo and Kenickie, all gave outstanding performances at the four shows, as did the rest of cast and ensemble. The energy level and enthusiasm from everyone on stage provided for a fast-paced show that was full of great singing, impressive dancing, and many funny moments. The applause at the end of each show was thundering and went on for quite some time with many audience members giving a standing ovation to the students who had worked so hard since auditions occurred in December to bring Grease to life on the Edgemont stage.

The pit orchestra directed by John Catoliato, the school's Instrumental Music teacher, was excellent. Edgemont traditionally uses students

in their pit and this year's pit was exceptionally talented and even became part of the show by playing from the stage during Grease's prom night scene in Act 2. The pit members were Laura Marx and Melchior Maetzener on tenor saxophones, Jack Bevacqua on guitar, Howard Kilik on piano, Adam Asher on bass, and Joseph Frappaolo on drums. They rocked the house with popular Grease songs such as "Summer Nights," "We Go Together," "Greased Lightening" and "You're the One That I Want." Many in the audience clapped and sang along to well known songs.

 

The popular show ran for four performances from March 24th through the 27th and tickets went faster than "Greased Lightening." The performances on Friday, Saturday and Sunday were sold out and despite a mass email by the high school on Friday morning to parents letting them know that Friday's show was sold out and there were limited tickets left for Saturday and Sunday, many families without reserved seats showed up hoping to be seated. Although everyone was accommodated on Friday and Saturday, several families were turned away at Sunday's matinee performance. Edgemont could have easily sold out a fifth performance of Grease. It seemed everyone in Edgemont wanted to see Grease and rightly so!

Congratulations to everyone involved with Grease.

 

Pictured at top: Justin Arnold as Danny Zuko

Caroline Tzelios is a "stay at home" mom of three kids who never stays at home. She has spent the past twelve years volunteering in the Edgemont Schools and recently completed her two year term as PTSA co-president of Edgemont High School and is the current co-chair of Edgemont's PISA Theater Committee.