Community & Business
21 May, 2024
You better shape up - Grease is coming your way!
Students and staff at Pittsworth State High School (PSHS) have been working tirelessly to bring the electrifying musical Grease to life, across three performances on 24 and 25 May.
Film, Media and Visual Arts teacher, Clare Lawrence, is the driving force behind this year’s production of Grease.
Supporting her are Nathasja Sprong, director of music, and Laura Lund, director of theatrics.
PSHS last held a musical in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was with Ms Lawrence’s determination and motivation, that this year’s musical has come
to life, with pre-production planning taking place at the end of last year.
Auditions were held in week three of term one, and rehearsal started shortly after in week six.
Ms Lund said they were blown away by the talent of the students.
“Planning a show in this amount of time is incredibly daunting but less so, when they’re this great,” she said.
Grease is a musical set in 1959 at the fictional Rydell High School and follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of peer pressure, politics, personal core values, and love.
It’s sure to thrill audiences with classic songs like You’re The One That I Want, Hopelessly Devoted To You and Greased Lightning.
MEET THE CAST
Ethan King plays the male lead of Danny, an easygoing head “greaser” of Rydell High’s T-Birds.
This is not the first time Ethan has been the lead in a musical.
“I really enjoy musicals, I have done since I was in primary school,” he said.
“I wanted to make the most of what I’ve got left of school.
“I think it’s a good opportunity as a student to go out and be creative, when there might not be another opportunity to do so.
“And to make some pretty good memories.”
Ethan said being part of Grease and transforming into his character as Danny, has been a thrill.
“Most of the students didn’t know each other beforehand, but have come together to collaborate and make it happen,” Ethan said.
He hopes to study engineering at university next year.
Six boys auditioned for main roles in the musical, and three of those students only decided they would give it a try, 30 minutes before auditions started.
When it came time to audition, none of them knew any of the Grease songs, so it was unanimously decided they would audition to Taylor Swift’s hit single Shake It Off.
The youngest member of the cast is Grade 7 student, James Gillam, who plays Sonny.
Grease is delighted to have two girls take on the role opposite Danny as lead female, Sandy.
Cheezeekie Lenueva is set to perform the Friday night show, while Abbie Summers, will assume the role for Saturday’s performances.
Cheezeekie auditioned because all of her friends were taking part in the musical.
They encouraged her to audition and she ended up being cast as one of the lead roles.
“It’s good fun,” Cheezeekie said.
She graduates high school at the end of year, and hopes to complete a dental assisting certificate before studying dentistry at university.
Her favourite musical is Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim.
Abbie is in Grade 11, and auditioned for the musical when there was a callback for the character of Sandy, after Cheezeekie was unable to attend Saturday’s performances.
Abbie said the most enjoyable thing about being part of the musical is acting with the cast, and seeing the involvement and encouragement from everyone in the production.
“The funnest thing is acting with everyone, especially Ethan,” she said.
“I’m not very confident around guys, but he’s making it so fun.”
Abbie said she would definitely be in the next production.
“This is my first musical.
“If they do one [next year], I’m definitely doing it. It’s really fun,” she said.
Abbie hopes to become a primary school teacher when she graduates.
Grade 10 student Freya, has been cast as Cha Cha in the musical.
Any Grease film fan, will remember Cha Cha in the famous dance-off scene with Danny, and members of the school’s cast have been practicing their dance moves for weeks now, in preparation of the performances.
Freya is a student at Chenyl’s Academy of Dance (CAD) in Pittsworth, which has assisted her, in assuming the role of Cha Cha.
“It’s really fun but also nerve-racking at the same time, because I’ve also never danced with a guy before,” she said.
Freya is also a musician, having been privately taught piano and flute, and violin and saxophone through school.
Her dance teacher, and principal of CAD, Chenyl Burwood, has choreographed all of the dances for the musical.
Freya hopes to go into acting, or instrumental music, when she finishes school in a few year’s time.
Grade 11 student Erika Ferdinand wears many hats, as the prop manager, backstage manager of the left wing, and member of the sets crew, in the production.
After attending Creative Generation as a singer, Erika decided to give the stage management side of it, a go.
Erika’s dream would be to become a director after school, but the short term goal is to go to university and study marketing.
Her favourite musical is the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Items for the production have been donated by Beauaraba Living, and borrowed from the Philharmonic Society in Toowoomba.
The students have been rehearsing twice a week, plus some weekends, and even run lines during free periods at school.
The cast and crew of Grease have made their rehearsals a fun experience that has formed new friendships, and encourages everyone to have a go.
The cast list is as follows: Cheezeekie Lenueva and Abbie Summers (Sandy), Ethan King (Danny), Liam Cousen (Kenickie), Jilly Tandy (Rizzo), Ava Farrington (Marty), Tanika Macdonald (Jan), Ethan Behrendorff (Roger), Tom Derrick (Doody), James Gillam (Sonny), Era Tecson (Johnny Casino), Kiera Macdonald (Frenchie), Freya (Cha Cha), Sofia Thornber (Patty), Katelyn Moore (Eugene), Cooper Hutley (Vince Fontaine), Jessica Gordon (Vince’s Assistant), Courtney Dowe, Keira Quinn, Ella Mengel (as Teen Angels), Isabella Doyle (Miss Lynch), Sally Gordon (VI/Radio Announcer), Zoe-Lee Greenwood, Pip Jackson, Tyesha, Jessie Friedrichs (as Chorus).
The performances will be next Friday and Saturday from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.
There will be a matinee on Saturday at 1pm.
Tickets are still available to purchase.
There will be no tickets sold at the door.
