Princess Margaret Secondary School Horseshoe Theatre is taking on the time-honoured high school story Grease.
“It’s the classic,” said show director Lori Grant. “It’s the one everyone wishes and hopes to get to be in and I probably thought I had done my last production of it before, but I thought this was a really good group and it was time to do Grease again.”
With a cast of 30, the students will take on the musical incorporating the songs and scenes from the musical about high school life in the 1950s. Grant said casting the roles fell into place perfectly with Chris Zavazal playing the lead role of Danny Zuko and Samantha Schimmer playing Sandy Olsen.
“The ensemble is also great. Without them you don’t get the full flavour of the big dance numbers and the scenes that require lots of people,” said Grant.
“The younger students are doing a great job. They are the future for this program and they have such a bright spark in their eyes and they are looking forward to the day they get these roles. They have been really energetic, supportive and happy to be a part of this show.”
Taking a “green” approach to creating the set, Grant borrowed from Summerland Secondary School who previously did their own production of the play two years ago. Grant also found the most important prop, the Greased Lightning car, to fit within her budget thanks to a theatre troupe in Spokane, Washington who sold it for the right price.
Zavazal, a Grade 12 student, said he is taking elements of the Danny Zuko that actor John Travolta made famous in the movies as well as incorporating his own style.
“I was excited to get this role. I love everything about acting and this is beneficial to me because I am applying to Capilano College for acting for the screen and stage,” said Zavazal.
The Grease lead actor said he is comfortable getting in front of an audience and has a bit of a singing background as he also is part of a band. He said it helps the actress playing Sandy is also his girlfriend off the stage.
The transition from high school students to being The Pink Ladies, the popular clique of girls in Grease, was easy for the group of actresses.
“It’s been great,” said Lauren Richards who is playing Marty, one of the Pink Ladies.
“Three of us were really good friends before this and since we have been together all the time working on this we have all become best friends.”
Sydney Wood is taking on the character of Rizzo, another of The Pink Ladies, and said this is the perfect way to finish off their senior year of high school.
“We have some super talented people here and it is such a fun thing to do in our graduation year. Grease is so iconic and everyone has seen it or grew up watching it,” said Wood.
The students said they follow the original musical but have added some elements of the movie, including the song You’re The One That I Want, because those are the things that people most remember about Grease.
The show is running Nov. 21 to 23 with reserved seating tickets available for purchase at the Penticton Community Centre. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. with a 1 p.m. matinee on Nov. 23. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students (with identification).
