EHS Drama rocks the '50s with popular musical, “Grease”
Cast and crew set the way-back machine to 1959 and fictional Rydell High School.
This past weekend, the Ephrata High School Drama Department’s cast and crew set the way-back machine’s year and place to 1959 and fictional Rydell High School for their stage presentation of “Grease: School Version.”
Directed and choreographed by Marla Allsopp, the spirited EHS production brings back the vibe of hot rods, bobby socks, early rock ’n roll, and the universal angst of teenage love, embodied in the on-again, off-again romance between “greaser” Danny Zuko and “good girl” Sandy Dumbrowski and their friends and rivals.
Created by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Grease debuted 55 years ago in Chicago. In its numerous iterations since then, it has become one of the world’s most popular stage musicals — from Broadway to community theaters to high school drama groups — plus the successful 1978 film adaptation starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
In her director’s note, Allsopp said that watching the film “for the first time in our own Lee Theater” sparked an ambition to “share a little bit of that magic I experienced so long ago” with local audiences.
Along with thanking her performers and many crew members, Allsop expressed appreciation to their families and friends, Ephrata School District staff, several local businesses, and costume designer Carly Morris and music director Allison Pheasant.
Two more performances of “Grease: School Version” are scheduled this Friday and Saturday, Feb. 20-21, at the EHS Performing Arts Center. The curtain opens at 7 p.m.
Here’s some scenes from the show:
