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Southwest Playhouse P.O. Box 204 Clinton, OK 73601 (580) 323-4448
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Southwest Playhouse Fine Arts Center, Inc. Presents
Directors Corner Directed By: Kathy Kelly Most everyone has seen the show or the movie so this is just a little reminder. Over the summer of 1954 Danny Zuko, famed leader of the T-Birds, met and fell in love with Sandy Dembrowski. They both told each other they were going off to new and exiciting places and would never see each other again. Well as fate would have it they end up running into each other on the first day of school at Rydell High School. They both tell their respective friends what happened over the summer in "Summer Nights." Once Danny sees Sandy, he doesn't show the same feelings for her because he is around the rest of the T-Birds: Kenickie, the car guy; Sonny, the annoying jokster; Roger, the "rump"; Doody, the short guy; and Dennis, "the menace." Of course this is just what the Pink Ladies; Rizzo, the leader; Frenchy, the beauty school drop out; Jan, the over-eater; Marty, the pretty one; and Vivian, the wanna-be Pink had warned her about already. Things quickly change during wonderful songs such as "We Go Together," and "Greased Lightning." A visit by local radio disc jokey Vince Fontaine makes for a great singing and dancing sequence with the whole cast. Other great characters include: Eugene, nerd of Rydell; Patty Simcox, chearleader/student council member; and of course, Principal McGee. Grease is by far one of the most recognized musicals in the world. Grease is "the word" this spring at SWPH When I first saw the Broadway production of Grease, I remember being really excited about how much fun the show was. When the movie came out, I had the same reaction. Now, here I am directing this rock-n-rollin', hand jiving bit of American theatre history. This cast has been so great to work with. The kids really work hard, have lots of energy, and keep us laughing. I've decided that they are either going to rejuvenate me or give me a heart attack! I get really upset at people who gripe about working with teenagers. Those people need to come down here and work with a great group of kids like we have in this show. Although, we have had to explain a lot of the references in the show since most of this cast wasn't born until the 1980's. A big production like this doesn't just happen. Besides lots of dedication from the cast, there are wonderful people working behind the scenes. Rolan has been great! Beverly has been invaluable. Some rehearsal nights she even got to play a role or two or six. I have to give a special thank you to Gerald and Brian who spent countless hours building Greased Lightning. Shelly worked tirelessly on costumes, and Bob was so great about lights.
We hope you have as much fun watching Grease as we have had putting it all together!
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