Danny and Sandy will dance to the same tunes but on a different stage as The Everett Theatre presents “Grease” at The Baby Grand in Wilmington, starting this weekend.
The Baby Grand has been a temporary home to local actors since The Everett’s ceiling collapsed in March 2008. The Everett held its production of “Damn Yankees” at the Wilmington theatre in October 2008.
Peter Briccotto, director of “Grease,” said The Everett’s production is different than most.
“The way we do ‘Grease’ is a funny, fast-paced show,” he said. “The performers love to make each other laugh and when they make each other laugh, that audience falls in love with the show.”
“Grease” is a musical set in 1959 that tells the story of groups of friends at Rydell High School, like the Pink Ladies and the T-Birds, or Greasers.
The story revolves around Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko. Sandy is the old-fashioned new girl at Rydell High and Danny is the bad boy leader of the T-Birds. Their previous summer fling complicates things when they wind up attending the same school.
“The cast is really trying to have a good time with each other as friends,” Briccotto said. “That’s what ‘Grease’ is about – sharing memories with your friends and reliving the high school years.”
He said this year’s production is different than when they performed the musical in 2008 because they have a larger cast.
“We alternate our Pink Ladies and Greasers because we had a lot of people audition and we wanted to make sure we got a lot of new people involved,” Briccotto said. “They are both equally funny and entertaining.”
He said having the show at The Baby Grand has brought in performers from northern New Castle County who previously weren’t able to travel to Middletown, but now want to stay involved when The Everett reopens.
“What’s unusual is we’ve built a family of performers that hasn’t been as strong as this,” Briccotto said. “It will be fun to watch so many kids get their start on The Baby Grand stage with our group of people who only know the Everett. It will be good to watch the kids get up there and get their shot, but they’re ready to come back home, too.”
He said all new scenery had to be constructed to adjust to The Baby Grand’s stage, which is almost twice the size of The Everett’s.
Briccotto said the pit band, which consists of six musicians, will be on stage instead of underneath it like at The Everett.
“We’re trying to make it more of a rock ‘n roll show, which is not the usual way of presenting ‘Grease,’ ” he said.
Briccotto said another adjustment is that they only have 12 hours to set up the stage before the first dress rehearsal because The Baby Grand has a full schedule of other artists who perform there.
“We only get two days of rehearsal at the theatre before we open the show,” he said. “We are spoiled at The Everett because we can put up a set a week or two a head of time.”
Briccotto said performing in Wilmington attracts a whole new audience to their shows.
“We had a great response there [for ‘Damn Yankees’], so we felt at home,” he said. “The first time I think we were more worried than we had to be. But we got up there and it was very welcoming and a great facility.”
Briccotto said they’ve gained a great deal of knowledge by working with The Grand Opera House’s staff.
“The Grand and its technical staff has been nothing but welcoming and open with different ways we can better ourselves technically, and what we need to do to update our theatre,” he said.
Briccotto said The Everett is scheduled to reopen its doors this spring, so this will be their last production at The Baby Grand.
“It’s been a little different as a director to watch this cast come together,” he said. “It’s an interesting mix of emotions. We’re finally getting our funds raised and we’re getting to watch these kids get their debut in Wilmington on this gorgeous stage. They’ll be the people on stage when The Everett reopens.”
“Grease” will be performed Fridays, Jan. 9 and 16, at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays, Jan. 10 and 18, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, Jan. 11 and 18, at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $14 for adults, and $12 for seniors, military personnel and children younger than 12. To order tickets, go to www.ticketsatthegrand.org, call (800) 374-7263, stop by The Grand Box Office at 818 N. Market St., Wilmington, or The Everett Theatre Box Office on Tuesdays, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Sundays, from 4 to 7 p.m., where checks and cash are accepted.
Radio station 99.5 WJBR FM will give away tickets to the show from 7 to 10 a.m., Monday, Jan. 5, through Friday, Jan. 9.
|
|
|
Danny and Sandy will dance to the same tunes but on a different stage as The Everett Theatre presents “Grease” at The Baby Grand in Wilmington, starting this weekend.
The Baby Grand has been a temporary home to local actors since The Everett’s ceiling collapsed in March 2008. The Everett held its production of “Damn Yankees” at the Wilmington theatre in October 2008.
Peter Briccotto, director of “Grease,” said The Everett’s production is different than most.
“The way we do ‘Grease’ is a funny, fast-paced show,” he said. “The performers love to make each other laugh and when they make each other laugh, that audience falls in love with the show.”
“Grease” is a musical set in 1959 that tells the story of groups of friends at Rydell High School, like the Pink Ladies and the T-Birds, or Greasers.
The story revolves around Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko. Sandy is the old-fashioned new girl at Rydell High and Danny is the bad boy leader of the T-Birds. Their previous summer fling complicates things when they wind up attending the same school.
“The cast is really trying to have a good time with each other as friends,” Briccotto said. “That’s what ‘Grease’ is about – sharing memories with your friends and reliving the high school years.”
He said this year’s production is different than when they performed the musical in 2008 because they have a larger cast.
“We alternate our Pink Ladies and Greasers because we had a lot of people audition and we wanted to make sure we got a lot of new people involved,” Briccotto said. “They are both equally funny and entertaining.”
He said having the show at The Baby Grand has brought in performers from northern New Castle County who previously weren’t able to travel to Middletown, but now want to stay involved when The Everett reopens.
“What’s unusual is we’ve built a family of performers that hasn’t been as strong as this,” Briccotto said. “It will be fun to watch so many kids get their start on The Baby Grand stage with our group of people who only know the Everett. It will be good to watch the kids get up there and get their shot, but they’re ready to come back home, too.”
He said all new scenery had to be constructed to adjust to The Baby Grand’s stage, which is almost twice the size of The Everett’s.
Briccotto said the pit band, which consists of six musicians, will be on stage instead of underneath it like at The Everett.
“We’re trying to make it more of a rock ‘n roll show, which is not the usual way of presenting ‘Grease,’ ” he said.
Briccotto said another adjustment is that they only have 12 hours to set up the stage before the first dress rehearsal because The Baby Grand has a full schedule of other artists who perform there.
“We only get two days of rehearsal at the theatre before we open the show,” he said. “We are spoiled at The Everett because we can put up a set a week or two a head of time.”
Briccotto said performing in Wilmington attracts a whole new audience to their shows.
“We had a great response there [for ‘Damn Yankees’], so we felt at home,” he said. “The first time I think we were more worried than we had to be. But we got up there and it was very welcoming and a great facility.”
Briccotto said they’ve gained a great deal of knowledge by working with The Grand Opera House’s staff.
“The Grand and its technical staff has been nothing but welcoming and open with different ways we can better ourselves technically, and what we need to do to update our theatre,” he said.
Briccotto said The Everett is scheduled to reopen its doors this spring, so this will be their last production at The Baby Grand.
“It’s been a little different as a director to watch this cast come together,” he said. “It’s an interesting mix of emotions. We’re finally getting our funds raised and we’re getting to watch these kids get their debut in Wilmington on this gorgeous stage. They’ll be the people on stage when The Everett reopens.”
“Grease” will be performed Fridays, Jan. 9 and 16, at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays, Jan. 10 and 18, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays, Jan. 11 and 18, at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $14 for adults, and $12 for seniors, military personnel and children younger than 12. To order tickets, go to www.ticketsatthegrand.org, call (800) 374-7263, stop by The Grand Box Office at 818 N. Market St., Wilmington, or The Everett Theatre Box Office on Tuesdays, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Sundays, from 4 to 7 p.m., where checks and cash are accepted.
Radio station 99.5 WJBR FM will give away tickets to the show from 7 to 10 a.m., Monday, Jan. 5, through Friday, Jan. 9.
