Meet the Cast of Grease at Cabrillo Stage, By Mindy Pedlar

COMMUNITY NEWS

Meet the Cast of Grease at Cabrillo Stage

By Mindy Pedlar

There is an air of excitement, a joyous energy that fills the room, as the cast of Grease readies itself for rehearsal. Props are checked, voices are warming up, dancers are stretching. You know something wonderful is about to happen.

Rehearsal begins and I am blown away by the talent of this vibrant group. It is clear that director/choreographer Cassie Nordgren has created a warm, creative atmosphere in which her handpicked cast can work and thrive.

All the cast is enjoying the 50s music and the lively choreography. Lauren Chouinard plays Jan, one of the Pink Ladies. She describes her character as goofy, fun and unabashedly herself. Lauren, an accomplished singer, shares that she was “extremely nervous coming into rehearsals about my dance abilities, but our director/choreographer has made the process so fun and I’m always having the best time. I’m going to come away from this show a more confident and wellrounded performer.”

Joshua Martinez connected easily to his character Roger, saying, “He’s a class clown type, always trying to crack a joke and bring a smile to the people around him. A role like this demands a good relationship among actors. It makes having fun on stage and bouncing energy off each other become second nature.”

Josh’s Roger is partner to Lauren’s Jan, and they are having a blast working together. Their song Mooning is hilarious and as Josh says, “kind of heartwarming.”

Meet Peyton Turowski’s Rizzo, the tough, sassy leader of the Pink Ladies. Peyton says Rizzo is “a strong leader who’s never afraid to speak her mind, but in reality she is more fragile than what she shows.” It’s important to Peyton that she finds the reason behind her character’s rude persona. “I don’t want to be mean just to be mean. I want to really know why she behaves the way she does.”

Amanda Payne plays “everyone’s favorite beauty school dropout, Frenchy. She’s a wide-eyed dreamer, a bit of a lovable fool, the sweetest of the Pink Ladies and the peacekeeper of the group.” Amanda admits to having given questionable haircuts and dye jobs to some of her friends in high school. She loves Born to Hand Jive: “It’s such a high energy number. The choreography is challenging and fun while allowing everyone to shine and show their stuff!”

Scott Boynton started as an intern with Cabrillo Stage’s scene shop in 2012. He has since been a carpenter, a props master and was on the fly crew for Mary Poppins where he also appeared as Robertson, the charmingly clumsy butler. In this production he brings Kenickie to life, describing him as “brash, loud and hot-headed, but a loyal friend and even a tad sensitive.”

One of his favorite numbers is Greased Lightning where he and his gang get to dance all over the 1959 Nash Metropolitan that Scenic Designer Skip Epperson and Technical Director Marcel Tjioe are overhauling for its guest appearance. Scott is enjoying every moment of the rehearsal process. “The best part is the camaraderie with the cast while perfecting each scene and musical number.”

Photo Credit: Jana Marcus

Haley Clarke as Sandy with Jack Bloome as Danny Zuko in the Cabrillo Stage production of “Grease.”

“Aptos Educators” from page 11

Kerry Gil, art teacher &

PBIS lead: She has created all news assemblies, messaging and strategies that appeal to students’ preferred communication methods to help them see and experience how to Act Responsibly, Just Be Safe, Have Respect, and Strive for Success.

Aptos High

Mabel Marquez,

health care assistant: She is well known for her compassionate and thorough care. She seamlessly transferred her impeccable skills from meeting student needs in the health office to meeting student needs in COVID testing.

Ryane Ortiz, science teacher: She uses inclusive practices to bring others in, modeling strategies for staff in faculty meetings, SAIL leadership team meetings, and in department collaboration. She is innovating in the ways she uses positive rewards to improve students’ behaviors as well as their sense of belonging on campus. n

“Grease” page 23