Grease is the Word on Stage at SHS this Weekend

The Scarsdale High School auditorium will rock to the sounds of the 50's and swoon for summer lovers this weekend when the senior class puts on their production of Grease, based on the original 1971 version about teenage love. A perennial favorite, the show was last seen at SHS in 2010 when the senior class also chose it as their class play and at Edgemont High School in 2011.

150 seniors auditioned for the musical, which will feature 120 students at "Rydell High School." The leads include Jonathan Potter as Danny; Sarah Mar as Sandy; Eric Berman, Wyatt Chamlin, Alex Benitez, and Daniel Markowitz as the T-Birds; and Veronica Dickson, Clara Belk, Allie Miller, and Abby Greenberg as the famous Pink Ladies.

The musical is being directed by Bianca Rogoff with assistance from Rebecca Primoff and the audience is sure to recognize the score that includes popular favorites like ""Summer Nights," "We Go Together," "Greased Lightening" and "You're the One That I Want."

The directors are usually drama club veterans and have experience in musical theatre. They serve as the experts and teachers in the field since this production is the first theater experience for several seniors. Both Rogoff and Primoff have directed plays, but this is their first time directing a musical. "I'm learning a lot in the sense that I now know how to conduct a musical. And it's really nice to be able to work with my peers," stated director Bianca Rogoff, who also added that the production team is "phenomenal." Rebecca Primoff agreed, stating: "The process has been a lot of fun. It requires a lot of grunt work like copying scripts and taking down notes. But being assistant director, I've gotten to do more." As director and assistant director, Rogoff and Primoff are in charge of organizing and perfecting lines, stage blocking, and choreography.

The play's music director is Josh Kaufman. While not a drama club veteran, Josh is an accomplished musician and conductor. He is responsible for the musical aspects of the show, including recruiting and running the pit. He will also conduct the entire show. "Working with so many of my peers is certainly challenging, but I am always proud to see how much effort they are putting into the production," he commented.

Although the play, which was cast in March, takes a great deal of time and effort (recent rehearsals have been running three plus hours everyday), it's a really fun experience and bonding activity for the outgoing seniors. As Alexa Pappas, a member of the cast, commented, "It's a lot more fun than I expected."

The show really makes an effort to include all cast members, splitting up the ensemble so that everyone has a turn being in a song. "It's a really new experience and it's getting me really into acting. And I'm really stepping into my role," stated Alex Faegenburg. "It's such an honor to be part of it." Not only are the seniors excited about their new acting experiences, they are also excited about the play itself. "I think it's a really relevant play. It's a high school setting that I think everyone can kind of relate to," remarked Devon Kerr. As the cast is in its final week of rehearsal, dubbed "hell week," the excitement and anticipation has been building up. "I'm truly excited for the finished product!" exclaimed Kaufman.

Why should everyone go to see the SHS production of Grease? Because students have worked hard preparing the show, and it promises to be a fun event full of great music and dancing.

The play will run from Friday May 30th to Sunday June 1st. Performances on Friday and Saturday start at 7:30, while Sunday begins at 2:00. Sunday's performance will feature a meet and greet with the cast after the show. Tickets are available online - click here to buy yours today.