From the Director Welcome to Grease! This choice was inspired by the need for fun — especially because our fall production is attended by the final element involved in theatre: YOU. The audience is what we’ve missed the most during the pandemic. You bring the actors the “illusion of the first time,” and keep them honest in terms of staying with the story. Audiences never realize just how much actors talk about them, as they change from performance to performance. Audiences — you — are also the reason a director is important, because directors are always the advocate for the audience and clarity and consistent storytelling is the way that happens. We are so glad you’re here and hope you appreciate our production. We have so enjoyed putting it together for you. — Stephen Stout, Director of Theatre Programs
GFA Upper School Theatre Board Presents
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sio r e V chool
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Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey Directed by Stephen Stout Choreographer/Musical Staging: Carole Schweid Musical Direction/Conductor: Benjamin Doyle Set Design: Kevin Bartlett Costume Design: Caroline Oliver Lighting Design: Scott Cally The videotaping or making of electronic or other audio and/or visual recordings of this production and distributing recordings or streams in any medium, including the internet, is strictly prohibited, a violation of the author(s)’s rights and actionable under United States copyright law. For more information, please visit: https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists “Grease, School Version” is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc., a Concord Theatricals Company. www.concordtheatricals.com
Cast In order of appearance Danny Jed Morgan Sandy Chloe Whelan Rizzo Ayla Shively Frenchy Fiona Burton Marty & radio singer
Elizabeth Jones
Jan Ella Woodbury Kenickie Alexander Valbuena Doody Oliver Pitchenik Roger Ben Grimm Sonny Josh Moskowitz Patty Ella Sato-Connell Cha-Cha Kari Ergmann Eugene Peter Adams
Jen Bonilla Angel
Vin Fontaine & Teen
Johnny Casino Kendall Caron-Quinn Miss Lynch Rosie Cargill
Production Team Director Stephen Stout Musical Director/
Benjamin Doyle
Conductor Choreographer
Carole Schweid
Set Design/Build
Kevin Bartlett
Costume Design
Caroline Oliver
Lighting Design
Scott Cally
Production Stage Manager
Hannah Shairer
Assistant Director
Zoma Tessema
Liyana Asaria-Issa, Chang, Alden Grover, Bri McFarlane, Natilie Mikhaeel, Joanne Park, Sadie Paulos Stage Managers
Set Build Assistant
Grant Miller
SFX Operator Antara Singh-Ghai Lighting Programmer/Tech
Stef Carr
Costume Helper
Sadie Paulos
Prop Builder/Poster Design
Joanne Park
NOTE: GFA Maintenance has installed an electrostatic charge in the air-handling system in the theatre which helps freshens the air more often in the room. All actors and musicians will be masked for the duration of the performance and while in the building.
Pit Band Keyboard/Conductor
Benjamin Doyle
Guitar 1 Nicholas DiFabbio Guitar 2 Max Caserta Reed Gary Ruggiero Bass Larry Perlstein Percussion Geoff Birt
Musical numbers ACT 1 “Alma Mater” Company “Alma Mater (Parody)”
Company
“Summer Nights” Danny, Sandy, Pink Ladies, Burger Palace Boys “Those Magic Changes”
Doody and Company
“Freddy My Love”
Marty and the Pink Ladies
“Greased Lightnin” Kenickie “Mooning” Roger, Jan “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee”
Rizzo
“We Go Together” Company ACT 2 “It’s Raining on Prom Night”
Sandy, Singer from the radio
“Shakin’ at the High School Hop”
Johnny Casino and Company
“Born To Hand Jive”
Johnny Casino
“Beauty School Dropout”
Teen Angel
“Alone at a Drive-In Movie”
Danny and Burger Palace Boys
“Rock ‘N Roll Party Queen”
Doody and Roger
“Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” (Reprise) Sandy “All Choked Up”
Danny, Sandy, Company
“We Go Together” (Reprise)
Company
Who’s Peter Adams is a sophomore who has
always loved music and theatre. Although it took him a while before being in his first show — a production of Annie Jr. in seventh grade, and another ensemble role in the Lion King Jr. the next year — his first speaking role was Finnegan in The Book of Names last year. He currently is playing dorky Eugene in this year’s production of Grease.
Liyana Asaria-Issa is a junior
and this is her first time participating in a GFA theatre production in person as a stage manager. Coming into this, she had quite limited experience with theatre due to COVID-19. She wants to thank the cast and crew for being so amazing and is looking forward to working with them again soon!
Jenifer Bonilla is performing in
her final GFA musical. She’s enthralled with the process and joint effort for a cast, with the help of a crew, to bring a production to life. She’s ecstatic to be working with a talented cast, playing Vin Fontaine and Teen Angel in Grease! She’s played The Guard in 12 Angry Jurors, Crystal in Little Shop of Horrors, and The Nurse in Romeo and Juliet.
Who Fiona Burton is currently a junior at
GFA and has been involved in two GFA productions in the past: Diana of Dobson’s and The Book of Names. She is utterly delighted to be playing the role of Frenchy! Other than being in musicals set in the 1950s, Fiona enjoys dancing, obsessing over fantasy books series, and making seasonal music playlists.
Rosie Cargill is delighted to work
alongside director Stephen Stout in her first GFA production after seven years of singing together in choir. From a young age, Rosie became passionate about singing and has found interest in acting since then. Following a long family history of GFA performers, Rosie cannot wait to carry on the tradition as she portrays the role of Miss Lynch in this year’s production of Grease!
Kendall Caron-Quinn has al-
ways had a passion for all forms of the arts. Singing has consistently been a huge part of her life and when introduced to theatre in middle school, has been acting ever since. She has been in multiple middle school shows, and was in GFA’s Little Shop of Horrors, and The Book of names. Kendall can’t wait to Hand Jive with you as Johnny Casino in Grease!
Chang is continuing their stage managing
this year in Grease, with a special focus this time on set and props for the show! They’ve been part of the stage manager crew for several years now, and really enjoy the behind-thescenes work that goes into theatre performances. Outside of theatre, they also ski, snowboard, and play the drums! Kari Ergmann is thrilled to be per-
forming her first production at GFA! This is Kari’s fifth year at GFA and she’s delighted to play Cha-Cha in Grease! Some previous roles Kari has played have been Jack’s Mother in Into the Woods, Bird Woman in Mary Poppins, and a Nun/Newsie in Newsies at the Westport Country Playhouse. She is so honored to be performing with the incredible cast of Grease! Benjamin Grimm is a 14-year-old
freshman and plays the piano. He has been in two other theatre productions: The Book of Names last spring, and Shrek, Jr. Besides theatre and piano, he has joined Beachside Express and does rowing on the weekends.
Junior Elizabeth Jones has appeared in several productions at Greens Farms Academy. She was the voice of Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors, Diana Massingberd in Diana of Dobson’s, Zjartta in The Book of Names, and she is very excited to be playing Marty in Grease. Outside of GFA, Elizabeth is a cellist of 10 years and spends her Saturdays as a student at The Juilliard School Pre-College.
This year’s musical will indicate Bri McFarlane’s 5th production of GFA’s theatre crew. She appreciates being a stage manager because the process of watching a show come together, and being part of that process, is very rewarding for her. The teamwork to be able to perform in front of many people is something that has fascinated Bri, and she hopes to continue to be part of theatre in the future. Natilie Mikhaeel is a senior at
Greens Farms Academy. She has been a stage manager since her freshman year. She’s participated in the 2019 spring play 12 Angry Jurors, the 2019 fall musical Little Shop of Horrors, and is pleased to be working on Grease!
Grant Miller is a senior and when he
was a freshman, he took the first ever Theatre Design class offered at GFA. Working in teams, he learned about all the design elements used in a production and found it very interesting. He is happy to be helping to build the scenic units and problem-solve with Set Designer, Kevin Bartlett.
Jed Morgan is delighted to be a part of
this year’s production of Grease. He performed in Little Shop of Horrors and Spamalot in the past and now plays Danny Zuko. It has been a pleasure for him to act throughout his high school career at GFA and he hopes that everyone enjoys the show.
Josh Moskowitz
is performing in his first GFA show. This is his first year at GFA and he is thrilled to be playing Sonny LaTierra in Grease. He has never performed in a stage production before, so he is delighted to take part in this new experience. He is very grateful to perform with the help of such an amazing cast. Joanne Park is a senior working on
the production Grease on props and the poster. They have been in past high school productions for four years running, mostly as an actor. Despite the pandemic, they are thrilled for everyone and their family to see the show in the theatre for the first time in a while.
Grease is Sadie Paulos’ first GFA production. She works mostly in costumes but also helps stage manage. She was convinced by her friends to join the technical staff and is glad they did so. She is delighted for the show and is looking forward to participating in future productions!
Oliver Pitchenik is performing in
his first GFA show. This is his third year at GFA and he is proud to play Doody in Grease. He pursued Doody because he loved the character’s music. He is very pleased to be performing with a talented cast such as the group involved in Grease.
Ella Sato-Connell is performing
in her first GFA show. This is her first year at GFA and she is delighted to play Patty Simcox in Grease. She has done many productions outside of GFA, and played the roles of Gramma Tala/ Sina in Moana, Vivienne Kensington in Legally Blonde, and Grace Farrell in Annie. She is thankful to be working with this amazing cast. She hopes you enjoy the show! Hannah Shairer is thrilled to be
working in her seventh theatre production at GFA as the Production Stage Manager. She has been a stage manager and been working in the props department since freshman year. She enjoys working with all and is happy to be creating with an exuberant cast and would like to thank the entire cast and especially the wonderful crew this year for being a magnificent company. Ayla Shively is an enthusiastic senior
theatre student who is delighted to participate in her fifth GFA production. Her previous credits include Juror 12 in Twelve Angry Jurors, Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet. This year she is Rizzo in Grease. She hopes you will enjoy this production!
Antara Singh-Ghai (Stage Manag-
er) is a senior at GFA. This is her second year at the school. She’s participated in theatre since seventh grade, and The Book of Names was her ninth show. Antara has also stage-managed multiple other plays at GFA and at her old school, including Little Shop of Horrors and The Three Musketeers. She can’t wait to see the final show!
Grease is Zoma Tessema’s fourth theatre production, and she’s delighted to be Assistant Director for the musical. Despite setbacks due to COVID, she’s ecstatic to be working with such an amazing team of people while also learning about theatre. She wishes everyone luck and hopes you all enjoy the show!
Senior Alexander Valbuena has been part of several musicals before, but this is his first time in the cast. Alexander is excited about this new experience and has enjoyed getting to know his fellow cast members. He studied Greek for eight years, is an avid learner and tries to understand everything he can, has unending support from his family, and works to lend a helping whenever he can. Chloe Whelan is thrilled to be per-
forming in the Upper School performance of Grease! Chloe plays piano and guitar, records music at Premier Recording Studios in Times Square, and dances. She is a dedicated musician and spends any extra minutes of her day listening to musicals! Thanks to her family and teachers for believing in her and for this opportunity to work on a fun musical from the ’70s! Ella Woodbury, a junior, is thrilled
to be back on stage with an in person audience for her fifth GFA theatre production as Jan in the Grease cast. She hopes that you all enjoy the show... pass the coleslaw!
JIM JACOBS (Book, Music, and Lyrics). Jacobs, who created
Grease (in 1970) with Warren Casey, was born and raised on the mean streets of Chicago’s far northwest side. During the golden era of rock ‘n’ roll (1956–1960) he was a guitar-playing “greaser” student at Taft High School. In 1963, Jacobs met Warren Casey when they were both cast in a local theatre production of A Shot in the Dark. Seven years later they wrote what was to become one of the greatest musicals of all time. Grease opened in 1971 in a former trolley barn called the Kingston Mines Theatre in Chicago. A year later, Grease made it to Broadway and “Greasemania” took off, resulting in one of the longest running shows in Broadway history. The 1978 movie became and remains the highest grossing movie musical of all time. Originally an actor, Jacobs has been seen on television, in motion pictures, regional theatre, national tours, and on Broadway. He is the co-author of several other plays and musicals including Island of Lost Coeds, a musical spoof of the low budget sci-fi/horror/jungle movies of the 1950s, which he wrote with Warren Casey. In May 2014, Mr. Jacobs was presented with an honorary doctorate degree from Columbia College in Chicago. He currently resides in Southern California and remains active in the theatre, especially with the American Theatre Company of Chicago. WARREN CASEY (Author, Composer, and Lyricist) was born
in Yonkers, New York, and attended Syracuse University. During the late ’50s, he learned all about “greasers” while working as an art teacher in upstate New York. He moved to Chicago in 1962, where he hoped to pursue an acting career. He appeared in dozens of productions, including creating the role of Bernie Litko in David Mamet’s Sexual Perversity in Chicago. He supported himself with jobs in retail, including working as an assistant manager of a chain of apparel stores, and as a record salesman. In the meantime, he taught himself how to play the guitar and began writing songs. Mr. Casey acted with the Chicago Stage Guild (where he met Jim Jacobs), the Old Town Players, and the Kinston Mines Theatre. The latter company staged the original production of Grease, which he wrote with Jim Jacobs. After the incredible success of both the musical and the movie, the two collaborated on Island of Lost Coeds, a musical satire of the B-movies of the 1950s. Mr. Casey died in 1988.
Special Our Parent Association Performing Arts Liaison Tyler Duer, for all of her help and willingness to leap with us! GFA Maintenance Team Tope Aiyegbo Frances Moore John Nash Nikki Oxfeld Jim Serach Greenwich Country Day School generously lending of some of the iconic Grease costumes. Greased Lightnin’ car and some props provided by John Shorter at Prop Rentals, N.Y.
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