Grease at The Ritz is a Trip Down Memory Lane in a Souped-Up Hot Rod

by: Deitra Oliver

Rydell High School and the class of 1959 are taking over the stage at The Ritz Theatre in Haddon Township, NJ, through mid-July, and it is a trip you will want to take. Directed by Bruce A Curless for the 40^th Anniversary Season, their production brings familiar characters, songs, and storylines to life with a freshness that is exciting to watch.  Working as the assistant to the director is Randi Fowler. Grease tells the story of a group of friends navigating life, love, and their last year of high school together. A crew of misfits, the girls call themselves the Pink Ladies, and the guys go by the T-Birds. As the lyrics of one song say, they are a pack of “teenage ne’er-do-wells.” Danny Zuko, the king of the T-Birds, is played by Cochise Jones, who brings smoothness and charisma to the character. Leading lady Sandy Dumbrowski is played beautifully by gifted vocalist and actress Meg Bryan. Their love story takes the lead in this musical throwback to a bygone era. 

From the opening Alma Mater to the finale We Go Together, this production is full of nostalgia that doesn’t feel stale. Music director Steve Weber leads this vocally talented ensemble and certainly helps to bring out the performer's star qualities. This production opted to use backing tracks, and sound technicians Allen Jay, Wyeth McBride, and Scout Taylor do an impressive job of producing a full and well-balanced sound, both from the audio recordings and the performers. 

The halls of old Rydell are the backdrop for the production. With an impressive two-level, fixed structure, set designer Matthew Weil successfully creates the depth and imagery needed to tell the story. One of the most striking features of the stage is the large photo grid on the upper level, designed to look like a yearbook page. Lighting design by Jen Donsky highlights the photos while making each scene feel vibrant and alive. The lower level has lockers and stairs leading to the upper level. This is where a lot of the action takes place. Lori Alexio-Howard does double duty in this show, handling properties and serving as the intimacy coordinator. I was impressed by the attention to detail in the props used in the performance, from period-specific magazines to fake cigarettes; everything added to the show’s atmosphere.

Opening the musical are Miss Lynch, played by Lisa Croce, Patty Simcox, played by Allie Coeby, and Eugene, played by Brian Gensel. They play the foils to the T-Birds and Pink Ladies, showing another, more scholastically engaged side of high school. Croce, as Miss Lynch, delivers a realistic performance as the school administrator who has been around enough teenagers to be vigilant, but who cares deeply for their students. One of my favorite bits was Miss Lynch’s interactions with Sonny, played by Shaun Grace. Grace had excellent physicality and comedic timing. Coeby, as Patty Simcox, gave a memorable performance. Coeby delivered a tour de force in comedic acting, with an exaggerated but believable presentation of Patty that had many laugh-out-loud moments. Gensel, as Eugene, was equally funny and enjoyable to watch. I especially enjoyed the moments when Eugene was left alone on the stage. These moments were not only comedic but also captured the feeling many have experienced of wanting to find a place where they belong.

Cochise Jones’ Danny Zuko begins as a slacker who refuses to try, to someone willing to push for what he wants. In addition to the aforementioned attributes, Jones brings a refreshing earnestness. You can see the internal struggle happening as Danny chooses whether to maintain his “image” or to push the boundaries of how he defines himself.  Alone at a Drive-In Movie is a showcase song for Jones, delivering standout vocals and the overwhelming heartache of adolescence.  

Pushing Danny to change is his love interest, Sandy Dumbrowski, played by Meg Bryan. Bryan delivers a powerhouse performance as the iconic Sandy, played famously by Olivia Newton-John in the film adaptation. Those are not easy shoes to fill, but Bryan did not shy away from the challenge. “Hopelessly Devoted to You” was a revelation. While remaining true to the song, Bryan made it their own with unique and engaging vocal choices. Like Danny, Sandy undergoes personal changes throughout the story, from a slightly shy and strait-laced young woman to a more confident, loosened up version of herself. Bryan acts the part to perfection, with an underlying wit and acerbity that makes them a pleasure to watch. 

T-Birds and Pink Ladies seem to go together like “Ramma lamma lamma ka dinga da dinga dong” or “Shoo bop shoo wadda wadda yippity boom da boom”, so it is no surprise that everyone is dating each other. Kevin Regan plays Kenickie, the second-in-command of the T-Birds, and Chelsea Rose Paradiso plays Rizzo, the queen of the Pink Ladies. From his too-cool-for-school attitude to his rebellious greaser style of speaking, Regan delivers a strong performance.  For those familiar with the movie, John Travolta sings the legendary song “Greased Lightnin’”. The stage musical, however, puts Kenickie front and center for the song, and Regan delivers a fun and energetic performance. Choreography by Roberta Curless really helps this number to shine, with all the gasp hip thrusting and gyrating, à la Elvis, that make this such an entertaining number. 

A big surprise that drew oohs and aahs from the audience was when the lockers opened, and Greased Lightnin’ emerged. Much credit must be given to master builder Seth Chaffin and master electrician Brian Gensel for the skill used to create the structures and to make them operational. Greased Lightnin’ is a character in itself. From its introduction as a beat-up hunk of scrap metal to its final emergence as the souped-up racer, the car reflects the transformation the characters undergo throughout the show.  Stage manager Tara Romanelli and assistant stage managers Lucy Hofstetter and Gabe Slimm did an amazing job running things behind the scenes. Every transition was fluid, and I noticed no missed cues or props. 

Fiercely rebellious, extremely sarcastic, and rarely vulnerable, Rizzo, played by Paradiso, is another wonderful performance. Paradiso carefully plays the role, walking the fine line between being a bully and being a sympathetic character. We see flashes of vulnerability and insecurity behind the wall of sarcastic wit Rizzo uses to protect herself. In “There Are Worse Things I Could Do”, Paradiso stands alone, lit to perfection under Donsky’s skills, highlighting the raw emotions delivered on their expressive face. Vocally, Paradiso conveys the deep feelings of the song with flawless execution, leaving the audience, well, me for sure, in tears. 

Another notable couple is Jan, played by Kathryne Iafolla, and Roger, played by Jackson Hummel. Iafolla and Jackson bring cuteness and strong onstage chemistry to the song Mooning. Iafolla delivers a likeable comedic performance. Hummel, as their counterpart, is equally enjoyable. Julie Hamilton as Frenchy and Christian Randazzo as Doody give the audience a will-they-or-won’t-they energy with their interactions that keeps you interested. Those Magic Changes, sung with a smooth timbre by Randazzo, is a throwback to the 1950s Doo-Wop style that transports the audience. Frenchy is my personal favorite character from Grease, and I loved Hamilton’s portrayal of the kind-hearted, slightly ditzy character. “Beauty School Dropout” features George Spelvin as Teen Angel, Frenchy’s frustrated heavenly guardian. Spelvin shines as they hit the high notes the song is famous for with an impressive falsetto. 

Surrounded by couples is Marty, played by Cate Harding, whose ever-changing roster of admirers is impressive to say the least. “Freddy My Love” reads like an instruction manual for handling multiple relationships with aplomb, and Harding delivers the right amount of flair and flirtation to the song. Harding does a great job portraying a young woman living life on her own terms. With her many flings, Marty still finds time to have a fling with Vince Fontaine, played by Steven Brandt, at the school dance. Brandt executes the sleazy celebrity persona of Fontaine hilariously as he MC’s the dance and creeps on the young Marty. 

The dance is a well-known scene of the musical as it features a dance competition to the song “Born to Hand Jive” sung by Johnny Casino, played by Evan Hairston. Hairston gives an engaging and comical performance. Johnny Casino is styled in a large afro wig and a flashy suit that gives the character panache. This brings me to the team responsible for all the immaculate costumes and hairstyles throughout. Costume design by Megan Iafolla was period-appropriate and suited each character well. I especially loved the costumes for the dance sequence and Sandy’s final bad girl reveal. I need to find those pants for myself. Wigs designer Kelsey Brooks helped transport the actors into the age of bouffants, pin-up curls, and lots of hairspray. Notable styles are Sandy’s Doris Day-inspired doo and Frenchy’s transition to pink hair. 

Crowd-favorite Cha-Cha, played by Cassidy Summerville, makes her appearance at the dance. They call her Cha-Cha because she’s the best dancer at Saint Bernadette's, and Summerville lit up the stage with their dynamic and joyfully expressive dance moves, proving she deserves the name.   Rounding out the cast are the ensemble Ryan Lynd, Michael Cramer, Vivianna Aviles, and Aniela Erwin, who helped fill the halls of Rydell with energy and life. Many of their reactions and interactions helped to make scenes even more entertaining. 

Grease at The Ritz is like opening a time capsule. It brings back memories of the first time you saw it or maybe performed in it, and of a time in America’s history that wasn’t as innocent as some recall. There are certainly aspects of the show's humor and storyline that have aged like milk, but beyond that is a universal story about people trying to figure out who they are and where they want to be. While remaining true to its origins, this production feels revitalized. It is a trip down memory lane in a souped-up hot rod (with Bluetooth speakers).  Get your tickets today, now through July 19^th: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/RitzTheatreCo/6520

Location: 

915 White Horse PikeArts DistrictHaddon Township, NJ 08107

***They/Them pronouns are used throughout this article to avoid potential misgendering of actors referenced. Characters are referenced using traditional gender roles as described in the original work.