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NBHS Grease: Cast Comments

During rehearsals last week, The Sound caught up with some cast and crew working to bring “Grease” to the North Branford auditorium for three performances April 1 and 2 (see “Grease Shines at NBHS” on page 1).

Spencer Wilson, senior, “Danny Zuko”: I’m a singer and I’ve always wanted to do these shows, but I wasn’t able to try out for one until this year. So this is my first year here, but I feel like I’ve been here all four years. I like the vocals the best because a lot of my songs are sung high and loud. All of the songs in the show are a lot of fun to sing.

Kaylea Grandpre, senior, “Sandy Dumbrowski”: Singing is my favorite pastime and I love these songs. Sandy’s very naive and innocent and kind-hearted, and then there’s a transformation where she realizes that in order to be with this boy she needs to change herself. She transforms, maybe not for the better, but she becomes a lot more charismatic and adventurous.

Dylan Wilson, senior, “Kenickie”: He’s kind of like the tough guy, he’s interested in cars and makes all the dirty jokes, and he’s Danny’s best friend. I love singing “Greased Lightning”; it’s so much fun and one of the highlights of Act One. We also brought in some stuff from Grease Live, like our choreographer taught us the new “Hand Jive” and other cool parts. So if you loved Grease Live, come and see this.

Vittoria Cristante, senior, “Rizzo”: I really like to sing “Sandra Dee” and I also like “There are Worse Things.’ Grease is my favorite movie from when I was younger. Even though this is my fourth year in this drama club and I know how great this group is I thought, ‘What if we ruin the best movie ever?’ But it’s turned out pretty awesome and I feel like we’re going to show up. We’re at Rydell High, it’s not North Branford any more.

Krista Sansone, senior, “Frenchy”: I’m super like her in real life, I love make up, I love hair. I read the script and she’s supposed to be dumb, so that’s fun to play. This show is like the Broadway show, but we also put in some movie things, like we’re throwing in my pink hair because it’s classic. We just want every one in the audience to leave with a smile on their face. I’m so happy up there, I want them to feel that way as wel1.

Ashley Stephens, senior, “Jan”: Being a Pink Lady is so exciting. It’s great to personify this type of person; I did a lot of research and made it into my own character from all different people I’ve seen portraying her. I think audiences are going to love it, especially things like “Hand Jive”—it’s a huge production with amazing, intricate choreography and everyone really gets into it. It’s going to be a lot of fun.

Sarah Calamita, senior, Stage Manager: I’m charge of all the lighting cues and sound cues and getting everything together backstage. It’s all students working backstage; we have about 10, and two on spots, and the lighting manager with me in the booth is a student, too. We also have a student on sound and this year, we have sound apprentice. I love all our techies, they’re the best, and Grace, our adult manager—she keeps me sane! I’m going to miss it because we’re like a giant family. I’ll definitely come back and watch next year.

Other principal cast members (in order of appearance) include: Nadia Calabrese as Miss Lynch; Alexina Cristante as Patty Simcox; Logan Frandson as Eugene Florczyk; Lydia Mattson as Marty; Collin Ouellet as Doody, Nicholas Federico as Roger/Teen Angel; Ian McLay as Sonny La Tieri, Matt Gall as Vince Fontaine, Gerry Camp as Johnny Casino; Julia Sudusky as Cha Cha DiGregorio, and Kaitlyn Fisher as Radio Singer.