The Record • Wednesday, February 9, 2011 • A13
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It’s got mood, it’s got feeling: Ceilidh Millar, centre, stars as Sandy, with Sadie DeCoste, left, and Sofia Newman featured as two of the Pink Ladies in the upcoming New Westminster Secondary School production of Grease. The popular musical is onstage at Massey Theatre Feb. 24, 25 and 26.
Larry Wright/
THE RECORD
Grease is the word at NWSS
BY JULIE MACLELLAN REPORTER jmaclellan@royalcityrecord.com
You don’t have to look too hard to find the rehearsal for this year’s musical at New Westminster Secondary School. Just enter through the doors by the Massey Theatre, head downstairs and follow the sounds of joyous chaos – some piano playing, some singing and a whole lot of laughter. The narrow hallway you’re walking down may be a little on the drab side. But you’ll forget about that when you enter the band room and encounter the enthusiastic teens who are the cast of Grease. The musical takes to the stage at Massey Theatre Feb. 24 to 26. A team of teachers – director Frances Monteleone, vocal coach Kelly Proznick, band leader Steve Clements, choreographers Lindsay Waldner and Peter Ha, and stage manager Juliet Brown – are leading a cast of 50 and a student crew in staging the Broadway musical favourite. Monteleone, who’s a drama teacher at the school, just can’t stop the smile that spreads across her face when she’s asked about the musical. She was overwhelmed, she says, by the
turnout at auditions – more than 100 stu- as well as some Saturdays, in practice. “These kids are spending a lot of time dents tried out to take part in this year’s production. There was so much talent on here,” she says. “They’re so dedicated, and display that the teachers opted to expand they’re willing to come in.” Among the dedicated crew are a pair of the cast by dividing up some of the small Grade 12s who are playing chorus numbers among differthe lead roles of Danny and ent groups of students. ◗CHECK IT OUT Sandy: Ceilidh Millar and “We wanted more people to be involved, so we have a What: Grease, the musical, Jesse DeCoste. Ceilidh, as Sandy, is an cast of 50,” she says, her eyes presented by New Westminaccomplished performer, widening at the thought. ster Secondary School with a long history in film And, she notes, though the and television, as well as on teachers focused on giving Where: Massey Theatre, stage. She lists her film and senior students a shot, there Feb. 24, 25 and 26, with were also a lot of talented shows at 7 p.m. and a Sat- television work as “one of my favourite hobbies,” and she younger students – there’s a urday matinee at 2 p.m. also cites the school’s previGrade 8 student in the cast, Tickets: Massey Theatre ous musical, Bye Bye Birdie, and some of the leads are box office, tickets.masas a highlight. In that musibeing played by Grade 9s. seytheatre.com or 604cal, she was in the chorus. To Some of the students were 521-5050 have been chosen this time to previously unknown to the play Sandy – the role made teachers – some aren’t taking drama, Monteleone notes. Proznick, too, famous by Olivia Newton-John in the 1978 says she encountered a few excellent sing- movie version – was a thrill. “It’s a fantastic role. It’s kinda like a ers who made her demand, “Why aren’t dream role, so I’m really happy I get to play you in my choir?” Monteleone is impressed by the dedica- it,” she says. The musical, for those who’ve somehow tion of the chosen students. They’ve been rehearsing since the first week of October, managed to miss it for all these years, tells spending their lunch and after-school hours, the love story of good girl Sandy and greas-
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er Danny, who have a summer romance – and then unexpectedly find themselves at the same high school in the fall. How Sandy finds her way as a new girl, and how the two manage to reconcile their very different worlds, is a story that has provided some of the best-known tunes in musical theatre – Summer Nights, You’re The One That I Want, Greased Lightning and Hopelessly Devoted, among others. Ceilidh notes that the show is giving everyone a chance to shine. “It’s going to be such a great show,” she says. “Everybody’s working so hard.” She admits the rehearsal schedule is demanding, particularly since she’s also got a lot of other things on the go – she’s also an avid volunteer outside of school, and she’s eyeing a future in broadcast journalism. “It’s a big commitment, but I always say it’s worth it,” she says. She notes that all the students really appreciate the chance to work in the Massey Theatre. “It’s so nice being attached to the theatre and be able to perform for that many people,” she says. As her onstage romantic counterpart, Jesse couldn’t be more thrilled than to have ◗Grease Page 16
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