MSU harks back to 1959 with the original version of version of GREASE, the musical, which opened on Broadway in 1971. It’s a little rougher and raunchier than the 1978 movie and recent live version on Fox TV — suggesting, as dramaturg Karen Vance points out in the program, "both an homage and gritty commentary on a unique era of American teenage history” as working class teenagers navigate the rocky road of peer pressure, identity and values. Still, it’s joyful and exuberant, showcasing great voices and wonderful dancing that evokes the era and kicks it up a notch with acrobatics and imaginative moves. Kudos to director/choreographer Brad Willcuts.
All voices are great, and several of the guys put Frankie Valli to shame with their soaring falsettos. Music Director Dave Wendelberger conducts and plays keyboard in a rockin’ 7-piece combo. The set (Lex Van Blommenstein) is somewhat dingy and vacant, suggesting a high school that could use a rise in tax millage, but versatile with rolling pieces that make plenty of room for dancing, and the coveted car “Greased Lightning.”
Highlights included an energetic, acrobatic, tough-yet-vulnerable Danny played by Lukas Jacob. Sandy (Shelby Antel) was appropriately prim and dreamy, before she absorbed the gospel according to Rizzo (a powerful Katlyn Wilson “There Are Worse Things I Could Do”) and makes her transformation. A high point was the FABulous Blaine Mizer as an unexpected version of Teen Angel that foreshadowed a dash of David Bowie. He ruled the stage for his “Beauty School Dropout” number.
GREASE continues on the Pasant Stage at MSU’s Wharton Center:
Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 2:00pm
Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 8:00pm
*Sunday, April 17, 2016 at 2:00pm
Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 7:30pm
**Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 7:30pm
Friday, April 22, 2016 at 8:00pm
Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 2:00pm
Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 8:00pm
Sunday, April 24, 2016 at 2:00pm
* Director Pre-Show Discussion, Sunday, April 17, 2016, 1:15.
** Post-Show Discussion on Thursday, April 21, 2016. (Following the performance)
Tickets are available from the Wharton Center Box Office; 1.800.WHARTON; www.whartoncenter.com.
All voices are great, and several of the guys put Frankie Valli to shame with their soaring falsettos. Music Director Dave Wendelberger conducts and plays keyboard in a rockin’ 7-piece combo. The set (Lex Van Blommenstein) is somewhat dingy and vacant, suggesting a high school that could use a rise in tax millage, but versatile with rolling pieces that make plenty of room for dancing, and the coveted car “Greased Lightning.”
Highlights included an energetic, acrobatic, tough-yet-vulnerable Danny played by Lukas Jacob. Sandy (Shelby Antel) was appropriately prim and dreamy, before she absorbed the gospel according to Rizzo (a powerful Katlyn Wilson “There Are Worse Things I Could Do”) and makes her transformation. A high point was the FABulous Blaine Mizer as an unexpected version of Teen Angel that foreshadowed a dash of David Bowie. He ruled the stage for his “Beauty School Dropout” number.
GREASE continues on the Pasant Stage at MSU’s Wharton Center:
Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 2:00pm
Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 8:00pm
*Sunday, April 17, 2016 at 2:00pm
Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 7:30pm
**Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 7:30pm
Friday, April 22, 2016 at 8:00pm
Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 2:00pm
Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 8:00pm
Sunday, April 24, 2016 at 2:00pm
* Director Pre-Show Discussion, Sunday, April 17, 2016, 1:15.
** Post-Show Discussion on Thursday, April 21, 2016. (Following the performance)
Tickets are available from the Wharton Center Box Office; 1.800.WHARTON; www.whartoncenter.com.
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