HERMISTON, Ore.-The Hermiston High School Drama Department’s production of “Grease” opens February 20.
Putting on a production as beloved and well-known as “Grease,” a stage musical that was adapted into the iconic 1978 movie, could be challenging, but Hermiston High’s production, directed by Jordan Bemrose-Rust, proves a worthy adaptation.
“Our show has all of the classic music and characters that everyone loves with fun dancing and costumes,” said Bemrose-Rust. “A great evening out for the whole family.”
Bringing “Grease” to the stage
Bringing “Grease” to the stage has been an almost year-long process.
According to Bemrose-Rust, the Theatre Director, Assistant Director and Band Director have a meeting in the spring of the previous year to decide what show to put on based on the skill level of student musicians, how many students they anticipate participating, and the instrumentation needed.
Budget is also a contributing factor when it comes to what show will be produced, including what sets and costumes will be needed.
After all of that discussion and planning, Bemrose-Rust and the Theater Department determined that “Grease” was indeed the word.
“We will be performing the “School Edition” of the show Grease, which is family-oriented and eliminates any mature content found in the original show and edits inappropriate words or content from songs and storyline,” said Bemrose-Rust.
Putting in the work
Once a show is chosen, the real work of bringing it to life onstage begins, a monthslong process that began with auditions the week before Thanksgiving.
“The Audition asks the students to sing, perform a prepared monologue, act in scenes as different characters, and learn a dance/choreography that they perform in small groups,” said Bemrose-Rust.
“Grease” has lots of moving parts and 66 students and five lead staff between the cast, crew and band, however, a large contingent of parents and helpers off-stage is also essential to the success of the production.
“We have had SO much wonderful help from parents and we are so very grateful,” said Bemrose-Rust. “The parents help build and paint the set, and they also provide food for the students during our dress Rehearsal week, which are the 4 days prior to our opening weekend.”
Hermiston’s High’s production of “Grease”
“Grease” is full of catchy songs and iconic dance numbers, and the costuming and choreography required was perhaps the most challenging part of the show, according to Bemrose-Rust.
Each character needed two or more costumes and the musical style of the era meant getting the boys ready to sing songs with wide ranges, something that took quite a bit of time.
“The most challenging part was learning lots of different dances,” said senior Keaton Ince, who plays Danny Zuko. “The whole cast put lots of time in, though, and it will be lively and fun.”
Ince brings a subdued sense of cool to the Zuko role as head of the T-birds.
“I’ve been doing musicals and plays since I was a freshman, so my senior year I figured go big or go home,” Ince said, of auditioning. “My favorite part in portraying the character is getting to act differently than I normally would personally.”
Sandy Dumbrowski, the new student at good old Rydell High, is played by Mickenzie Marks, a junior at Hermiston.
“I feel personally connected to Sandy’s character,” said Marks, who has been acting in theater since seventh grade. “I feel like we’re similar, so I can portray her pretty well.
Marks brings a confident innocence to the role of Sandy, holding her own among the Pink Ladies, while navigating high school and figuring out her relationship with Zuko.
“Sandy has lots of layers, she’s sweet and angry,” said Marks. “The biggest challenge with the role was flipping between those personalities.”
For both Ince and Marks, the most meaningful part of the experience was meeting new people and getting to know everyone in the cast and crew over the course of auditions, practice and dress rehearsals for the performance.
“I would encourage everyone to come to a performance,” said Marks. “We appreciate the support, and most likely you know someone in the cast or crew.”
“Grease” opens on February 20 at 7 p.m. in the Hermiston High School Auditorium, followed by 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows on February 21, a 7 p.m. show on February 27, and concluding with 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows on February 28.
Tickets for “Grease” are $5 for adults and are available at the door. Students are free with identification. Doors open 45 minutes before showtime.
