“Grease is the word” at Rochester Adams High School this Spring: The Adams Theater Department never fails to give an electrifying performance. After a hit performance of Mamma Mia! Last Spring, the Rochester Adams Theater Department shifted from Greece in the 80s to America in the 50s.
While on vacation, goody two shoes, Sandy Dumbrowski (Karly Ripperger) and greaser, Danny Zuko (Carson Salajan) have a summer fling. When school starts in the fall, unexpectedly, both attend the same high school, as Sandy now lives in the same town as Danny. .
The story revolves around The Pink Ladies:Rizzo (Hannah Barett), Marty (Auna Washington), Jan (Elena Bailey), Frenchy (Hannah Roy), Rhonda (Olivia Godin), and Shannon (Bug Domulewicz) attempting to bring Sandy out of her shell.
Fellow greasers, Kenickie (Magnuson Lars-Lott), Doody (Mikey Flannery), Sonny (Tyler Gibbons), and Roger (Grant Roodbeen) egg Danny on to talk to the “new” girl, not knowing who Sandy is. When the two are reunited, they are both excited to see one another, but Danny is embarrassed to let on that he hasn’t been the same “cool” greaser that his friends know.
The focus of the storyline becomes whether or not Danny and Sandy can find a way to be honest with themselves and still be together.
Each actor and actress brings the stage to life with their energetic presence, whether they have been acting for years, like senior Elena Bailey, or just beginning their journey in theater, like senior Magnuson Lars-Lott.
Bailey has been involved in theater for most of her life, through programs such as Summer Music Theater and Adams Theater. This is the first time, however, that she has had a lead role on the Adams stage.
“Having a bigger role is a lot of fun because I’m more involved in the production process. It’s definitely a lot more responsibility and work, but in the end, it’s so much more rewarding,” said Bailey.
Despite this being Lars-Lott’s first year in theater, he sang and danced his way onto the cast list as Kenickie.
“I had never done theater before. I had never taken any singing classes, but I sang okay and dancing was a lot of fun. To get a secondary lead role like that was really exciting. It was funny because I hadn’t even seen Grease yet. When I got casted, I hadn’t even seen the movie yet. The play right now is going so well. I definitely feel blessed. It’s been an awesome experience,” said Lars-Lott.
Pleased viewers took to social media to spread the word about the success of the musical after opening night on March 8th; the next two shows were sold out. The hard work the cast of Grease poured into the production paid off with four stellar and show stopping performances.
