Information about Grease (musical)

This article is about the stage musical. For the 1978 film of the same name, see Grease.

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Grease
Original Broadway Cast Recording
Music	Jim Jacobs Warren Casey
Lyrics	Jim Jacobs Warren Casey
Book	Jim Jacobs Warren Casey
Productions	1972 Broadway 1973 West End 1978 Film 1979 West End revival 1993 West End revival 1994 Broadway revival 1994 U.S. national tour 2001 West End revival 2007 West End revival 2007 Broadway revival

Grease is a musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.

It takes its name from the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 in fictional Rydell High in Chicago, focuses on the romance between high schoolers Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski and tackles such social issues as teenage pregnancy and gang violence; its themes include love, friendship, teenage rebellion, sexual exploration during adolescence and, to some extent, class consciousness/class conflict. The show's score celebrates '50s rock and roll as well as doo-wop and other contemporary styles.

The show became the longest-running Broadway musical in history, until it was beaten by A Chorus Line, and went on to become a West End hit, a hugely successful film, a popular 1994 Broadway revival, and a staple of regional theatre, summer stock, community theatre, and high school and middle school drama groups.

Production history

The show's original 1971 incarnation was a play with incidental music^[1] staged at the Kingston Mines Theater in the Old Town section of Chicago. Producers Ken Waissman and Maxine Fox saw it and suggested to the playwrights it might work better as a full-scale musical, and told them if they were willing to rework it and if they liked the end result, they would produce it off-Broadway. The team headed to New York City and after additional collaboration and refinements, Grease opened at the Eden Theatre in downtown Manhattan on February 14, 1972. Excellent reviews and brisk box-office business prompted the producers to move it to Broadway.

The Broadway production, directed by Tom Moore and choreographed by Patricia Birch (who later directed the ill-fated sequel of the film adaptation of Grease), opened on June 7 1972 at the Broadhurst Theatre, where it ran for five months before transferring to the Royale Theatre. It remained there for more than seven years before moving to the Majestic Theatre to complete its record-setting 3,388-performance run. The original cast included Barry Bostwick as Danny and Carole Demas as Sandy, with Adrienne Barbeau, Timothy Meyers, and Walter Bobbie in supporting roles. Replacements later in the run included Jeff Conaway, Marilu Henner, Peter Gallagher, Ilene Graff, Judy Kaye, Patrick Swayze, John Travolta, Jerry Zaks, and Treat Williams. Richard Gere was an understudy for many roles in this production, including Danny Zuko, Teen Angel, and Vince Fontaine.

The original London production opened at the New London Theatre in June 1973 with a cast that included a then-unknown Richard Gere as Danny and Elaine Page as Sandy. It was revived in London at the Astoria in 1979 with Su Pollard and Tracey Ullman. In 1993, a London revival ran for six years beginning on July 15, 1993, at the Dominion Theatre and transferring to the Cambridge Theatre in October 1996, where it ran until September 11, 1999. Directed by David Gilmore, the opening cast included Craig McLachlan (Danny), Debbie Gibson (Sandy), and Sally Ann Triplett (Rizzo). (Variety, Review Abroad Grease, 8/2/93-8/8/93) Other performers who played Danny were Luke Goss, Ian Kelsey, and Darren Day.

After twenty previews, a Broadway revival directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun opened on May 11 1994 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, where it ran for 1,505 performances. Featured were Ricky Paull Goldin (Danny), Brooke Shields and Rosie O'Donnell (Rizzo), Susan Wood (Sandy), Megan Mullally (Marty), Hunter Foster (Roger), and Paul Castree (Eugene). A U.S. national tour of the 1994 production started in September 1994 in New Haven, Connecticut, and ran for several years. The opening tour cast included Sally Struthers (Miss Lynch), who stayed with the tour for several years, Angela Pupello (Rizzo), Rex Smith (Danny), Trisha M. Gorman (Sandy), and Davy Jones (actor) (Vince Fontaine). Brooke Shields (Rizzo) started on the tour in November 1994 before joining the Broadway cast. Other notable performers on the tour were Mickey Dolenz (Vince Fontaine), Adrian Zmed (Danny), Debbie Gibson, Mackenzie Phillips and Jasmine Guy (Rizzo), and Sutton Foster (Sandy).

A second Broadway revival, directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, began previews at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on July 24, 2007 and opened on August 19 2007. Max Crumm and Laura Osnes were selected to portray Danny and Sandy via viewer votes cast during the run of the NBC reality series . The original score includes four songs written for the film adaptation: "Hopelessly Devoted to You," "Sandy," "You're the One That I Want," and the title number. A West End revival, with the leads similarly cast via ITV's Grease Is The Word, opened at the Piccadilly Theatre, London on August 8, 2007 to negative reviews.^[2]

The Asian tour opened in Macau in October and has booked dates for Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Pusan, Taegu, Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Taipei, Hong Kong, Dubai, and various cities in India.

Synopsis

Act I

In 1959, Rydell High School's rebellious, happy, thrill-loving students start a new year. The "greasers" are comprised of the Burger Palace Boys and the Pink Ladies ("Alma Mater Parody"). The start of the new school year means lousy food ("You want my coleslaw?") and dreaded teachers ("I got Old Lady Lynch for English again. She hates my guts."). The Pink Ladies sit on one side of the lunchroom, and the Burger Palace Boys sit on the other.

There's a new girl at school, Sandy Dumbrowski. She and the leader of the Burger Palace Boys, Danny Zuko, had a brief love affair the summer before, but the summer ended for them with unresolved feelings. In describing the fling to the Pink Ladies (Jan, Marty, Frenchy, and Betty Rizzo), Sandy focuses on the emotional attachment she and Danny had, while Danny, brags to the Boys (Roger, Doody, Sonny, and Kenickie) about the physical aspects of their relationship ("Summer Nights"). Sandy and Danny soon bump into each other at school, and while Sandy is happy to see Danny, he blows her off, pretending to be too cool. Rock star wannabe Doody gives an impromptu concert in the hall ("Those Magic Changes").

At Marty's pajama party, the girls experiment with wine, cigarettes and pierced ears, and talk about boys. Marty tells about her long-distance courtship with a Marine ("Freddy, My Love"). Meanwhile, the Burger Palace Boys are busy stealing hubcaps and teasing Kenickie about his new (used) car ("Greased Lightnin'").

Danny sees Sandy again and tries to apologize for his behavior, but she is hurt to find out that he has told his friends that she is "easy." Head cheerleader Patty Simcox interrupts to prompt Sandy to join the squad and to tease Danny about his latest indiscretions. The kids take their newfangled portable radios for a rock and roll picnic in the park and plan how they'll pair off at the upcoming school dance, while Roger shares his love for Jan and his favorite hobby ("Mooning"). Rizzo teases Danny for falling for a girl who resembles the excessively proper teenage ingenue, Sandra Dee ("Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee"). Sandy realizes that Danny is putting her off to be cool and wishes she had never met him.

Then the guys suggest that Marty to go out with Eugene, and she chases after them. The kids declare that they'll "always be together" ("We Go Together").

Act II

At the High School Hop, everyone is dancing, except Sandy. She's home feeling sorry for herself ("It's Raining on Prom Night"). Meanwhile the favorite radio DJ of the Burger Palace Boys and the Pink Ladies, Vince Fontaine, is the MC at the dance, which takes place in the gym. He's warming the kids up for a dance contest. Kenickie dumps his blind date and pairs off with his usual girl, Rizzo. Danny enters the contest with Kenickie's cast-off, Cha-Cha DeGregorio, and they win ("Born to Hand Jive").

A few days later at the Burger Palace after school, a couple of the guys run into Frenchy who flunked out of Rydell and has now dropped out of beauty school having failed all her classes.("Beauty School Dropout"). Danny, who has taken up track in order to win back Sandy's affections, doesn't know that the guys have been challenged to a rumble by Cha-Cha's boyfriend's gang. He's more concerned about patching things up with Sandy at the Twi-Light Drive In, but he moves too fast for her, and she leaves ("All Alone at a Drive-In Movie"). The "greasers" are having a party, as Doody and Roger sing "Rock and Roll Party Queen." Rizzo is worried that she's pregnant, but she's so mad at Kenickie that she tells him he's not the father. Rizzo rejects the kids' offers of help, especially Sandy's ("There Are Worse Things I Could Do"). Sandy wonders what she needs to do to fit in at Rydell ("Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee" (Reprise)).

The next time Sandy meets up with the Burger Palace Boys and the Pink Ladies, she has transformed herself into a greaser's dream date, leaving Danny "All Choked Up." Rizzo is relieved to learn that she isn't pregnant, and she and Kenickie reunite. All ends happily ("We Go Together" (Reprise)).

Roles

• Betty Rizzo — Tough & Sarcastic leader of the Pink Ladies gang. (mezzo-soprano) Famous Rizzos have included Adrienne Barbeau, Stockard Channing, Lucy Lawless, Rosie O'Donnell, Debbie Gibson, Danica McKellar, Linda Blair, Debby Boone, Sheena Easton, Jasmine Guy, Mackenzie Phillips, Jody Watley, Brooke Shields, and Dannii Minogue.
• Danny Zuko — Handsome, cocky leader of the Burger Palace Boys gang. (tenor or baritone) Famous Dannys have included Barry Bostwick, Richard Gere, Treat Williams, Patrick Swayze, Adrian Zmed, Craig McLachlan, Rex Smith, Jonathan Wilkes, Ricky Paull Goldin, Max Crumm, Ian Kelsey, Jeff Conaway, Greg Evigan, Jarrod Carland, Peter Gallagher, John Travolta and Jon Secada.
• Frenchy — French Pink Lady - dropped out of school to enter Beauty School. Famous Frenchys include Tracey Ullman.
• Kenickie — A tough and rude member of the Burger Palace Boys and a car fanatic. (baritone)
• Sandy Dumbrowski — New in town, wholesome, pure, kind, and innocent girl. (soprano) Famous Sandys have included Debbie Gibson, Susan Wood, Olivia Newton-John, Laura Osnes, Natalie Bassingthwaite, Lea Salonga, Christiane Noll and Sutton Foster.
• Doody — The youngest member of the Burger Palace Boys. (tenor, falsetto) Famous Doodys have included Martin Ericsson and Sam Harris.
• Jan — Funny, loud, member of the Pink Ladies . (mezzo-soprano)
• Roger — A jolly, prankster member of the Burger Palace Boys; loves Jan. (tenor)
• Cha-Cha (alto)
• Eugene Florczyk — A silly, pompous but gullible nerd.
• Johnny Casino — All-American, rock-star student at Rydell High. (baritone)
• Marty — Most attractive member of the Pink Ladies gang. (mezzo-soprano) Famous Martys have included Megan Mullally.
• Miss Lynch — A no-nonsense, serious, loud, English teacher.
• Patty Simcox — A pretty, peppy, Pittsburgh cheerleader
• Sonny — The funny Italian-American "Wise Guy" of the Burger Palace Boys.
• Teen Angel — Guardian Angel from above that tries to guide Frenchy when she drops out of beauty school. (tenor or baritone) Famous Teen Angels have included Donny Most, Davy Jones, Jeff Conaway, Eddie Mekka, Chubby Checker, John Farnham, Billy Porter, Mary Bond Davis, Jennifer Holliday, Al Jarreau, Darlene Love, and Felix Healy.
• Vince Fontaine — An egotistical daredevil, slimy radio disk jockey trying to relive his teenage years. Famous Vinces include Micky Dolenz, Joe Piscopo, Peter Scolari.
• Burger Palace Boys — The boys' gang of working-class "greasers-to-be."
• Pink Ladies — The snooty elitist girls' gang.

Song list

Act I Prologue -Instrumental Grease** - Sandy Dumbrowski, Danny Zuko, Pink Ladies, Burger Palace Boys Alma Mater † - Miss Lynch, Patty Simcox, Eugene Florczyk & Company Alma Mater Parody † - Kids, Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys Summer Nights - Sandy Dumbrowski, Danny Zuko, Pink Ladies, Burger Palace Boys, Eugene & Patty Those Magic Changes - Doody, Burger Palace Boys and Pink Ladies Freddy, My Love - Marty, Pink Ladies Greased Lightning - Kenickie and Burger Palace Boys Fight Song-Sandy Dumbrowski, Patty Simcox Mooning - Roger and Jan Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee - Betty Rizzo We Go Together - Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys

Act II Shakin' at the High School Hop - The Company It's Raining on Prom Night - Sandy Dumbrowski, Jan & Radio Singer Shakin' at the High School Hop (Reprise) † - Orchestra & Kids Born to Hand Jive - Johnny Casino & Company Hopelessly Devoted to You ** -- Sandy Dumbrowski Beauty School Dropout - Teen Angel and Female Angels Sandy ** - Danny Zuko Alone at a Drive in Movie †- Danny Zuko and Burger Palace Boys Rock N'Roll Party Queen - Doody and Roger There are Worse Things I Could Do - Betty Rizzo Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise) - Sandy Dumbrowski You're the One That I Want ** -- Danny Zuko, Sandy Dumbrowski and Company All Choked Up † - Sandy Dumbrowski, Danny Zuko, Pink Ladies & Burger Palace Boys We Go Together (Reprise) - Cast

''**Notes: newly added to the 2007 revival: "Hopelessly Devoted to You" written by John Farrar; "Sandy" written by Louis St. Louis and Scott Simon; "You're the One That I Want" written by John Farrar. †Not in 2007 revival. ^[3]

Awards and nominations

1972 production

• Tony Award for Best Musical (nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Book (nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (Barry Bostwick, nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Timothy Meyers, nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Adrienne Barbeau, nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Costume Design (nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Choreography (nominee)
• Theatre World Award (Barbeau, winner)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography (winner)
• Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Costume Design (winner)

1994 revival

• Theatre World Award (Brooke Shields, winner)
• Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical (nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Marcia Lewis, nominee)
• Tony Award for Best Choreography (nominee)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical (Sam Harris, nominee)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography (nominee)

Footnotes

References

• Synopsis and other information
• Newsday (Jan. 7, 2007): "Hopelessly Devoted to Grease", by Linda Winer
• Understudy (magazine of the Fulton Theatre, Lancaster, PA, Volume 1, September 2006)

External links

• Grease at The Internet Broadway Database
• Official website for 2007 Broadway revival
• Official website for West End production
• New York Times review, August 20, 2007