The Good Hope Country Day School brought the “grease lightning” to the stage in a five-night sold-out show over the weekend at the school’s theater for their production of the musical “Grease.” The chills were multiplying, and the crowd was losing control as the 36 students, that ranged in age from the seventh to twelfth grade, took to the stage.
The six-night musical brought favorite characters like Danny Zuko played by Nico Formo-D’Adamo, Sandy Dumbroski played by Noel Bridgman, Betty Rizzo by Anna Simon, Frechy by Yadlelix Vega-Cruz, and other beloved characters from the musical.
“There is a great sense of accomplishment that comes with producing a project from start to finish,” said Kiomie Pedrini, the Associate Director of Advancement for the Good Hope Country Day School. “From the first audition exercise to the breaking down of the set, it is a complete journey from start to finish.”
Pedrini has been producing theater at the Good Hope Country Day School for the last 10-plus years and said that she is humbled by the exponential growth she gets to witness in each individual student as they become courageous and take risks.
Grease, the musical, is a bit different from the actual film. The musical adds songs and a couple of storylines that are unfamiliar to the original movie. Perdini said that they did, however, keep the songs from the film “You’re the One that I Want” and “Hopelessly Devoted,” which are both in the movie and not the musical. This added a nostalgic touch to the musical as the audience sang along with the beloved songs. To do this, Pedrini said they had to get permission and pay for the rights to do the production.
From auditions to opening night, it took about eight weeks to pull the production together. “Students get to be a part of a production, just like playing a sport and being a part of a team. It strengthens their time management skills. Once they’ve committed it is a solid schedule and they pull it off.”
Students were challenged to do their research on the time period and learned about each character in detail. Every student up to the extras in the cast and crew had an important role and each role was evident throughout the production.
Perdini said, “Experiencing and being present in the moment is becoming a foreign concept to our younger generations as technology becomes more prevalent. The performing arts is a way that really helps center and focus our students in the present moment.”
As with most cast and crew, Pedrini credits her team for being able to assist with the execution of the musical. Directors Mario Capriola, musical director Phillippa Smith-Tyler, Technical Director Joseph Barnwell, Choreographers Vanessa Velez-Wyche and Mario Capriola, Stage Manager Necha Bishop, and Costumes by Cathy Mares, Marianne Mahoney and Carolyn Forno.
Other cast members were Ava Moorman, Allegra Ferreras, Tristan Samuel, Anil Prasad, Luca Fomo-D’Adamo, Declan Gwilliam, Hellen Collins, Kalyna Walter-Sundaram, Mia Benton-Huggins, Maya Prasad, Jaden Gonzalez and others.
“Our productions are not only meant to inspire our students but to inspire the community at large. Our greatest pleasure is inspiring students that do not attend Good Hope Country Day School but get inspired to explore performance or even visit us because they saw our show,” said Pedrini.
