Johnny Casino Grease Costume
- Grease – Broadway Musical. Patty Simcox, Sandy Dumbrowski), Paul Greeno (Danny Zuko, Eugene Florczyk, Johnny Casino, Doody.
- Grease Costumes - T-Birds, Pink Ladies, Sandy, Rydell High JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.
- 2 days ago Grease (1978) Johnny Contardo as Johnny Casino & The Gamblers. Grease (1978) Johnny Contardo: Johnny Casino & The Gamblers. It looks like we don't have any photos or quotes yet. Be the first to contribute! Add a photo or add a quote.
Sporting all black - jeans, sleeveless muscle shirt, belt, motorcycle boots, leather jacket with the T-Birds logo stitched on the back, and a Pompadour haircut, he was the epitome of cool. It was revealed that he and Stephanie Zinone used to date during the previous school year, but she broke up with him over the summer after outgrowing him.
a '50s Rock 'n' Roll musical in 2 acts, 15 scenes: Book, Music and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey
Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway - 14 February, 1972 (3388 perfs)
Produced at the New London Theatre 1973
Revived at the London Astoria 1979 (124 perfs)
Synopsis
Rydell High's spirited class of '59-gum-chewing, hub-cap-stealing, hotrod-loving boys with D.A.s and leatherjackets and their wise-cracking girls in teased curls, bobby sox, and pedal pushers-capture the look and sound of the 1950s in a rollicking musical that salutes the rock 'n' roll era. While hip Danny Zuke and wholesome Sandy Dumbrowski resolve the problems of their mutual attraction for each other, the gang sings and dances its way through such nostalgic scenes as the pyjama party, the prom, the burger palace, and the drive-in movie.
- 'A lively and funny musical-as well as the dancingest one in town-that brings back the look and sound of the teenage world of the late 1950s with glee. It's a winner... The songs... are dandies [that portray] the early rockers ... with zip and charm .... The sheer energy of Grease carries all before it.' New York Daily News
Story
Grease is a class reunion flashback to the 'days that were' in the fabulous fifties.
Miss Lynch, still the old-maid English teacher, and the high achievers of the class, Patty Simcox and Eugene Florcyk, are presiding at the head table once again, but the Greasers and all the gang are back in the '50's reliving their hell-raising days at Rydell High.
Kenickie, Roger, Sonny, and the group are pressing Danny about his 'hot' summer. Concealing the fact that he met a girl he really cared about and didn't score at all, he leads them on.
Rizzo, the tough-talking leader of the Pink Ladies, joins with other members (Frenchy, Marty, and Jan) in meeting Sandy Dumbrowski, a perfect Sandra Dee, girl-next-door type. As it turns out, Sandy was Danny's summer love.
When Rizzo forces a confrontation, Danny plays the 'big deal' for his peers rather than show the tenderness he shared with Sandy last summer. Sandy is confused and hurt by his strange behavior.
At a pyjama party Sandy tried to get into the groove with the other Pink Ladies but gets sick. Rizzo mocks Sandy and splits to join the boys.
Kenickie and the guys customize 'Greased Lightnin',' a fouron-the-floor hot rod, guaranteed to snag any girl.
Sandy, still puzzled about Danny, becomes a cheerleader. Danny longs for Sandy but doesn't know how to approach her. It's time for the school dance, a special event to be hosted by Vince Fontaine, the nationally known D.J. There is a dance contest won by Danny and Cha-Cha, an obviously loose lady who seems to drive the final wedge between Danny and Sandy. Frenchy becomes a beauty-school dropout, encounters her teen angel, then flunks out. Rizzo confides that her period is late, and word spreads that she is knocked up. Danny and Sandy are briefly united, but he makes a pass at the drive-in and Sandy walks home.
On second thought, she turns to the girls for help and becomes a greaser's dream girl. Danny is knocked out. Frenchy is back in school and Rizzo is not P.G. Everyone is back together to rock 'n' roll happily ever after.
Cast
- DANNY: - The leader of the 'Burger Palace Boys.' Well-built, nice looking, with an air of cool easy-going charm. Strong and confident.
- SANDY: - Danny's love interest. Sweet, wholesome, naive, cute, like Sandra Dee of the 'Gidget' movies.
- THE 'PINK LADIES' - (The club-jacketed, gum-chewing, hip-swing ing girls' gang that hangs around with the 'Burger Palace Boys')
- RIZZO: - Leader of the Pink Ladies. She is tough, sarcastic and outspoken but vulnerable: Thin, Italian, with unconventional good looks.
- FRENCHY: - A dreamer. Good-natured and dumb. Heavily made-up, fussy about her appearance-particularly her hair. She can't wait to finish high school so she can be a beautician.
- MARTY: - The 'beauty' of the Pink Ladies. Pretty, looks older than the other girls, but betrays her real age when she opens her mouth. Tries to act sophisticated.
- JAN: - Chubby, compulsive eater. Loud and pushy with the girls, but shy with boys.
- THE 'BURGER PALACE BOYS' - (A super-cool, D.A.-haired, hard-looking group of high school wheeler-dealers . . . or so they think)
- KENICKIE: - Second-in-command of the Burger Palace Boys. Tough-looking, tattooed, surly, avoids any show of softness. Has an off-beat sense of humour.
- DOODY: - Youngest of the guys. Small, boyish, open, with a disarming smile and a hero-worshipping attitude toward the other guys. He also plays the guitar.
- ROGER: - The 'anything-for-a-laugh' stocky type. Full of mischief, half-baked schemes and ideas. A clown who enjoys putting other people on.
- SONNY: - Italian-looking, with shiny black hair and dark oily skin. A braggart and wheeler-dealer who thinks he's a real ladykiller.
- PATTY: - A typical cheerleader at a middle-class American public high school. Attractive and athletic. Aggressive, sure of -herself, given to bursts of disconcerting enthusiasm. Catty, but in an All-American Girl sort of way. She can also twirl a baton.
- CHA-CHA: - A blind date. Slovenly, loud-mouthed and homely. Takes pride in being 'the best dancer at St. Bernadette's.'
- EUGENE: - The class valedictorian. Physically awkward, with weak eyes and a highpitched voice. An apple-polisher, smug and pompous but gullible.
- VINCE FONTAINE: - A typical 'teen audience' radio disc jockey. Slick, egotistical, fast-talkinb A veteran 'greaser.'
- JOHNNY CASINO: - A 'greaser' student at Rydell who leads a rock 'n' roll band and likes to think of himself as a real rock 'n' roll idol.
- TEEN ANGEL: - A good-looking falsetto-voiced, Fabian-look-alike. A singer who would have caused girls to scream and riot back in 1958.
- MISS LYNCH: - An old maid English teacher.
For the Chorus
Two gangs, the Pink Ladies and the Burger Palace Boys are involved in twelve of the musical numbers.
Singing Principals
Sandy, Danny, Doody, Kenicke, Marty, Roger, Rizzio and Jan.
Other Principals
Frenchy, Jan, Sonny.
Johnny Casino Grease Costume Collection
Smaller Parts
Patty, Cha-Cha, Eugene, Vince Fontaine, Johnny Casino, Teen Angel, Miss Lynch.
Scenes and Setting
2 acts, 12 scenes. Unit set with various set pieces. The basic unit is a raised platform with metal stairways up to each side. Posters and ads create the mood of the period, plus rows of school lockers, brick walls, banners, graffiti.
ACT I
- Scene 1: Rydell High School Class of '59 Reunion
- Scene 2: The High School Cafeteria
- Scene 3: A Hallway in the High School
- Scene 4: Marty's Bedroom
- Scene 5: A Street
- Scene 6: Cheerleader Practice
- Scene 7: A Deserted Section of the Park
ACT II
Johnny Casino Grease Musical
- Scene 1: The High School Hop
- Scene 2: Outside the Burger Palace
- Scene 3: The Twi-Light Drive-In
- Scene 4: Jan's Basement
- Scene 5: Inside the Burger Palace
Musical Numbers:
- All Choked Up - Sandy and Danny, Pink Ladies & Burger Palace Boys
- Alma Mater - Miss Lynch, Patty & Eugene
- Alma Mater Parody - Pink Ladies, Burger Palace Boys
- Alone at a drive-in Movie - Danny & Burger Palace Boys
- Beauty School Dropout - Teen Angel, Frenchy and Choir
- Born To Hand-Jive - Johnny Casino and Company
- Freddy My Love - Marty & Pink Ladies
- Greased Lightnin' - Kenickie & Burger Palace Boys
- It's Raining on Prom Night.. - Sandy
- Look at Me I'm Sandra Dee - Rizzo
- Moonin' - Roger and Jan
- Rock 'n' Roll Party Queen - Doody and Roger
- Shakin' At the High School Hop - Entire Company
- Summer Nights - Sandy & Danny, Pink Ladies, Burger Palace Boys
- Those Magic Changes - Doody, Burger Palace Boys & Pink Ladies
- There Are Worst Things I Could Do - Rizzo
- We Go Together - Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys
Orchestration
1 Bass, 1 Reeds (Tenor Saxes 1 & 2), 1 Drum, 1 Guitar 1 & 2
Period and Costumes:
- The '50s. All the stereotyped outfits: matron school teacher dress and sweater, full 'poodle' skirts, bobby socks, saddle oxfords, pastel blouses, 'Pink Lady' pink windbreaker jackets, pedal pushers, muu-muus, fuzzy slippers, school sweaters and slacks for 'straights,' pegged pants, white T-shirts, black leather jackets, baggy gymsuit, cheerleader outfit, crinolines, high school formals, skinny neckties, boy dress-up pegged slacks and loud sports jackets, jogging suit, white Fabian sweather, white chinos, white boots, white plastic dropcloth sheets for beauty school girls.
Choreography:
- Rock`n'roll, jazz, twist, cha-cha, 'slow' dancing.
Lighting and Special Effects:
- General lighting, mirror ball for prom.
NB: Grease is a creampuff of nostalgia that works best for those who grew up in the '50s. The second act ending is weak. The movie version solved this problem by reprising several songs. The movie is available on videotape and discs.
Listen to the Music (You will need to have Real Player installed and Java Script enabled - Real Player can be downloaded from here also)
NB: This title is on limited release: -please enquire before commencing rehearsals
Book, Music and Lyrics—Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey“Grease”—Words and Music by Barry Gibb
“Hopelessly Devoted To You”—Written by John Farrar
“You’re The One That I Want”—Written by John Farrar
“Sandy”—Written by Scott Simon and Louis St. Louis
Granbury Theatre Company
Director –Bentleigh Nesbit
Music Director—Greg Doss
Chroreography—Joshua Emmanuel McRae Davis and Rebecca Ford
Scenic Designer—Wendy Searcy-Woode
Lighting Designer—Kalani Morrissette
Sound Designer – Kyle Hoffman
Costume Designer—Drenda Lewis
CAST (at reviewed performance)
Danny Zuko—Bryson Petersen
Sandy Dumbrowski—Delaney Wenger
Betty Rizzo—Micaiah Armstrong
Frenchy—Mikayla Freiburger
Marty—Natalie Guess
Jan—Sam Shephard
Kenickie—Jacob Wyckstrom
Doody—Tyler Ivie
Roger—Chase Williams
Sonny Latierri—Calder Meis
Patty Simcox—V Kyle Tyson
Cha-Cha—Stevie Simmons
Eugene Florczyk—Bradley McKinney
Vince Fontaine—Nathan Early
Johnny Casino—Matt Beutner
Teen Angel—Matt Beutner
Miss Lynch—Jenna Redmond
Dance Captain—Stevie Simmons
Dance Corps—Bailey Brewer, Levi Casler, Brandi Giles, Bradley Kelm, Ben Larson,
Autumn McKee, Britton Melton, Stevie Simmons
“Beauty School Dropout” Dancers—Jessica Cope, Natalie Guess, Tiffany Marie Hyatt, Devon Kleine, Madelyn Myers, Sam Shephard, McKayla Winn
Ensemble—Andy Alamo, Ashley Anderson, Jessica Cope, Sydney Hamil, Tiffany Marie Hyatt, Devon Kleine, Tyler K Krumm, Madelyn Myers, Cole Brayton Lucas, Ryan McAvoy, Marissa Nelson, Jack Snyder, McKayla Winn
Reviewed Performance: 6/9/2019
Reviewed by Genevieve Croft , Associate Critic for John Garcia's THE COLUMN
Premiering in 1971, and written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Grease follows ten working-class teenagers in 1959, at the fictional Rydell High School, where they explore the issues of peer pressure, teenage pregnancy, rebellion, love, friendship, gang violence, the growing pains of adolescence. Initially, Grease was a raunchy and vulgar show, and has become toned down over the years. Set these issues to the early sounds of 1950’s rock and roll, and of course, you have the formula for a hit stage musical. It was also adapted into a film in 1978, with an all-star cast consisting of John Travolta as Danny Zuko, Olivia Newton-John as Sandy, and Frankie Avalon as the Teen Angel. A perennial favorite of theatre-goers, and film fans alike, Grease has become one of those musicals with instantly recognizable, sing-a-long songs, and a large fan base.
What I found to be most intriguing was the inclusion of some of the film numbers into the stage production. There were many numbers (“Sandy”, “Hopelessly Devoted…”, “You’re the One That I Want”, and of course, the title track “Grease”) that were written specifically for the film, have made their way into this stage production. For those that are fans of the original stage production, you will find that some of the songs from the original have been omitted in favor of popular songs from the film. I did enjoy experiencing and seeing these musical numbers live on stage, as it was a nice homage to the film-that was one of the first musical films my Dad introduced me to as a child; perhaps giving me the appreciation and love for musical theatre that I have now.
Director Bentleigh Nesbit brought together a large ensemble cast of actors who seemed to work well together. While there were some apparent rocky spots (slow and muddled transitions) and intermittent issues with audio and microphones (ever thus in the theatre it seems). Despite these overt issues, Nesbit was able to create a cohesiveness and some nice moments of chemistry and ensemble within the large cast. There were moments that left me much to be desired (the transformation of ‘nice’ Sandy into ‘cool’ Sandy) and also moments of beauty and humor on stage (“Beauty School Dropout”). I can only imagine the difficult undertaking that any director would have when mounting such a large and well-known production as Grease.
It can be a difficult task to take on a show as recognizable as Grease; due to the sheer fact that it may not be, the same as audience remember. However, I am certain that as the production gains momentum, and gets further into its production run, these flaws will work themselves out-as is the case with most productions early in the run. Set Designer Wendy Searcy-Woode successfully transformed the proscenium stage into the multiple locations in the story. From the halls of Rydell High School (which served as the central location), and smaller suggestive elements of other locations (Burger Palace, and the Drive-in), the sets were exactly what I would expect from a 1950’s musical. Each location was given a great attention to detail. From the trophy cases on the walls of Rydell High, to the quintessential school club and organization advertisements in the halls of the school, it is evident that Ms. Searcy-Woode spent a great deal of time working on a versatile, yet effective set for the production.
Costumes were designed by Drenda Lewis. In the same style as the scenic designs, Ms. Lewis brought color, texture, and detail to the production with her wardrobe. The costumes matched the entire concept of the production. It was impressive to see how the wardrobe successfully created each character, and helped to define their role in the story. Each character from the T-Birds and Pink Ladies, to the students at Rydell High School all had a different look, which helped to paint a visual picture of each character and their role in the story. Costumes were full of color, and were very reminiscent of what I would have expected to see teenagers wear in the 1950’s. I especially loved Ms. Lewis’ use of glitter in Johnny Casino’s tri-color jacket, and the rhinestones in the costume of the Teen Angel. I am dying to know where I can find wardrobe like that! I am a fan of all things glittery and sparkly! Fabulous!
Bryson Petersen was phenomenal in the role of Danny Zuko. Mr. Petersen delivered a spot on, and enthusiastic performance full of energy, intensity and honesty. Not only did Mr. Petersen deliver with an incredible singing voice, but, he also delivered with his chemistry on stage with his fellow T-Birds. There was a fantastic ensemble between the men. It was very comical, loveable, and dynamic. Some of the best musical moments for Mr. Petersen was his rendition of “Sandy,” and “Summer Nights.” He paid a nice tribute to a young John Travolta, while putting in originality and a creative stamp on the role.
Sam Shephard was fantastic in the role of chubby, but loveable Pink Lady, Jan. Not only did she have fantastic facial expressions, but, she carried the role with charisma, and enthusiasm. One of the best numbers of the production was “Mooning,” a delightful and humorous duet with Roger (played wonderfully by Chase Williams.) Her role was full of energy, and certainly stood out in an ensemble of so many actors. Brava, Ms. Shephard.
Another standout was Matt Beutner in the role of the Teen Angel. Not only did Mr. Beutner deliver a comical performance, his vocal delivery was phenomenal! Mr. Beutner brought energy, and humor to a song that I would often “fast-forward” through on the video tape (that is certainly a comment about my age, isn’t it?). Mr. Beutner’s mannerisms, and comic timing was consistent throughout the number. With his boyish charm, I am confident in saying that Mr. Beutner stole the show with his portrayal of the Teen Angel-the most memorable and enjoyable moment of the production for me.
Portraying the role of Rizzo was Micaiah Armstrong. Usually considered the “fun role” (as with most characters of little moral fiber), Rizzo provides the show’s moral conflict as she unapologetically walks through the world of “sin.” She stopped the show with the heart-wrenching “There Are Worse Things I Could Do.” Ms. Armstrong provided moments of much needed humor in some of the more dramatic scenes, and filled the theater with her rich and skilled vocal talents. Ms. Armstrong was full of energy, and magnetism on stage.
While the majority of the company delivered with their portrayal of characters, I was slightly unmoved by Delaney Wenger’s depiction of Sandy Dumbrowski. While she had a marvelous singing voice, her characterization seemed very flat, and changed very little from the beginning to the end. One of the key characteristics of Sandy’s character is the large transformation from ‘nice Sandy’ to ‘cool Sandy’ to fit into Danny’s crowd of friends. Ms. Wenger delivered with her vocal talents and dance talents, but, fell short in the acting category during this performance.
This production of Grease is worth seeing, especially if you are a fan of the film. Grease is one of those productions that everyone should see. It is a modern-day classic of American musical theatre. I will caution you; however, this production may not be appropriate for younger audience members due to some of the content. If you are looking for a fun afternoon of light entertainment- I encourage you to visit Granbury, and see Granbury Theatre Company’s production of Grease-after all these years, Grease is still the word!
Granbury Theatre Company
Granbury Opera House
133 E. Pearl Street
Granbury, Texas 76048
Plays through July 7.
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday Matinees at 2:00 pm
Ticket prices range from $25-$35 depending on seating (Prime: Rows A, B, C, D, Standard or Balcony: Rows CR, E, F, G, H, J, Balcony)
For groups of 10 or more, please call the box office for rates & reservations.