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Perform.
April 2011
GREASE lightning! Students in GBHS musical theater bring the classic story to the stage problems when production first began. “I think that one of the biggest challenges in the rvasquez.gazette@gmail.com beginning of our production was to start out by saying ‘forget the movie. We’re going to make it our here is a class where desks aren’t needed, show,” Prichard said. disturbing the calmness of the classroom is Luckily the class has spent countless hours in acceptable and doing make-up and hair is preparation for the much-anticipated play. allowed – Musical Theater. Senior Ashley Hilton is not only on the make-up Upon closer look, the class isn’t as chaotic as committee but she is the female star of the play it seems. The unconventional portraying Sandy, the new student at classroom has been the second home Rydell High School. Her good-girl One of for student actors over the three ways conflict with her love interest’s months they spent preparing for their the biggest rebellious nature. Bad-boy Danny is production of the 1972 Broadway challenges... portrayed by senior Adam Godbey. musical Grease. Similar to the play, Hilton and was to start out While most people are more Godbey differ, but only in their familiar with the 1978 Grease movie by saying ‘forget levels of musical theater experience. staring John Travolta as Danny Zuko the movie. We’re “I’ve been in musical theater for and Olivia Newton-John as Sandy four years,” Hilton said. “I think it going to make it Olsen, the musical theater class was only natural for me to want to hopes to bring a new interpretation our show. have a lead role in my last year of to the community by using the same high school.” play and music as the Broadway While Hilton has been in the class – Jim Prichard, production. With that in mind, the for her four years of high school, musical theater audience’s expectations of the play Godbey only recently joined the teacher in comparison to the familiar movie class in January, not knowing if he might come as a problem. could earn the male lead. “When people go to see the movie, “Everyone wants to have a lead role,” Godbey said. it needs to be realistic and that’s why the movie has a “But there was a certain glory for me wanting to be car race and auto shop,” musical theater teacher Jim the lead role because I’ve never been involved in a Prichard said. “With the Grease Lightning (car we musical at (GBHS) before.” have) on our stage the audience should recognize that Although he didn’t have nearly as much experience it is a stage production and accept the (quality).” with musicals as Hilton had, Godbey had been in Although Prichard was enthusiastic about the drama classes and taken choir in middle school. decision to perform Grease, there were many BY RACHAEL VASQUEZ
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Hilton recognized Godbey’s talent and persuaded him to take the class and audition for the male role, since the musical theater class was lacking male participants. “His drama friends and I convinced him to sign up,” Hilton said. “I knew he had done choir (from 6th to 8th grade) and that he has an amazing voice, so I really pushed him to join.” On stage, Godbey appears to have the façade that he has a part of musical theater throughout high school, despite not having been. Like Godbey, Prichard approaches Grease to his best ability. “Whenever anyone asks me what my favorite play is I tell them the title of the show that I am working on,” Prichard said. “If I can’t approach (a play) thinking that this is going to be the best show that I have ever done, then why bother?” The production has the talent to be remembered as one of the best at Granite Bay High School – but the story behind the charming 1950’s atmosphere and humorous teenage angst isn’t the most morally educating. “The moral (of Grease) is actually pretty bad because Sandy has to change in the end after Danny treats her horribly,” Hilton said. “(However) we’re not trying to provide guidance but rather entertainment.” It can be mutually agreed upon that the love story isn’t the most compromising but the most important idea is that the production leads a new generation to love Grease as much as the generations before. “I can remember when I saw Grease for the first time (on Broadway) and it’s something to be remembered,” Prichard said. “I want the audience to look at the show and not think of it was a high school show but just simply great – (because) as soon as anyone qualifies it as a high school production then I think we haven’t done our job.”
Gazette photos/MAGGIE LOUIS
GBHS musical theater students perform their rendition of Grease after diligent preparation and rehearsals on March 31, April 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9.