Clarkstown High School South Centerstage Players Score With “Grease”

BY GEORGE J. DACRE

A very talented cast of 40 youngsters and a pit orchestra of seven performed Clarkstown High School South’s reenactment of “Grease” last Friday.

The musical/comedy is about teenagers in love in the 1950s California. Set at the fictional Rydell High School, Sandy Olsen, Danny Zuko, the T-Birds, the Pink Ladies, and the Greasers are the main characters. Needless to say, the audience loved it.

Australian Sandy Olson and Greaser Danny Zuko meet during the summer and fall in love. Sandy’s parents decide to stay in America, and Danny and Sandy are reunited in the fall at Rydell High School. Danny, the cool guy who is surrounded by fellow Greasers, puts Sandy off and breaks her heart. From there on Sandy, a “goody two shoes,” has her troubles with Betty Rizzo and the Pink Ladies, a popular girl clique at the school.

Danny becomes a track star and things finally work out. The great music of this award winning it including “Beauty School Drop Out,” “We Go Together,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “Summer Nights,” “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” and many more are performed with great energy by the entire cast. The numerous dance numbers are extremely well choreographed, and it is was a fun show to watch.

Sierra Lugo played as Sandy, James DiPasquale as Danny, Melissa Zeller as Rizzo, Theresa Regan as Frenchy, and Jonathan Kay as Teen Angel. Thomas Hoehmann is right in character as DJ Vince Fontaine and Sarah Lacker comes off well as Miss Lynch.

The play was produced by Catherine Montague, directed by Jared Rosenblum (who is also music director) and choreographed by Justin Biccitto. The orchestra was led by Will Rich.

“Grease” at Clarkstown South High School is a good one. I rate it three out of four stars!