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Grease Is The Word

photo by Kristina McKulin The students, directors and volunteers of the VUHS production of Grease took three full auditoriums of people to Rydell High and on a musical journey that will be long remembered.

photo by Kristina McKulin Danny, Sandy, the Pink Ladies and the Burger Palace Boys paused the night before the show to let the camera capture the fun.

Tuesday November 22, 2016

By Cookie Steponaitis

It is a daunting task to take on a musical that is considered one of the most loved and known in American history, but that is exactly what the cast and crew of Grease did at VUHS on November 17, 18 and 19th. Forty actors and actresses, director Bill Carmichael Walsh, Choreographer Susan Burk Walsh, Producer/Conductor Susan O’Daniel and Vocal Director Liana Fitt took a packed house on a journey to Rydell High with a memorable cast led by Danny Zuko (Max Ratti- Bicknell) and Sandy (Caitlin Walsh). The audience laughed and got to its feet while singing along to Summer Nights (Sandy & Danny), Sandra Dee (Marty and Pink Ladies), Greased Lightnin’ (Kneckie and Greasers), We Go Together (Pink Ladies & Greasers), It’s Raining on Prom Night (Doris and Wilma), Born to Hand Jive (Johnny Casino and Company), and You’re the One That I Want (Sandy, Danny, Pink Ladies and Greasers).
    tand out moments were many and the cast fed off the energy of the audience and the unexpected appearances of students both new to the VUHS musical program and some completing their last performances as seniors. Whether it was Teen Angel (Kai Williams) sending Frenchy (Peyton Duprey) back to Beauty School or the footwork and style of Kenickie (Zeke Palmer) and the Greasers and the ups and downs of the love of Danny and Sandy, the audience enjoyed the show from beginning to end with an ovation that was matched only by the smiles on their faces. The Commodore celebration of the arts through music and drama has a musical tradition dating back to 1966’s performance of Li’l Abner and has become an anticipated event in Addison County. Capped off by the efforts of a dedicated stage crew, technical crew and dedicated parents, faculty, and Commodore Friends of Music, Grease joined a long list of family fun and favorite night events in early November.
    The truth be told the Addison County community is hopelessly devoted to school musical productions and does not intend to stop this love affair anytime in the near future. It is fair to say VUHS musicals, the arts and teens go together like, ‘rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong. Remembered forever as shoo-bop sha wadda wadda yippity boom de boom. Chang chang changitty chang sha-bop that’s the way it should be’ and for three nights in November, Grease was indeed the word.

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