SANDWICH – When he was first cast as lead character Danny Zuko in Children’s Community Theatre’s production of “Grease: School Version,” 13-year-old Giovanni Bianchi of Genoa was worried how he’d fit the part.
Iliana Rigaud, 13, of DeKalb was surprised at the casting: She auditioned for the role of Rizzo but was cast as the show’s female lead, Sandy Dumbrowski.
“I auditioned for Danny, but didn’t think I’d get it,” Bianchi said. “I mean, I don’t look anything like John Travolta. And even though Iliana has curls, she doesn’t look much like Olivia Newton-John.
“We have different hairstyles, they’re white, we’re black. But you know what? Things have changed,” he said. “It’s the 21st century and times are more modern. Just look at ‘Hamilton,’ with a cast of all kinds of different people.”
Sue Graham, the show’s director, said the casting process was “pretty easy.”
“Iliana and Giovanni walked in and right off the bat, I knew I had my leads,” she said. “I based the casting totally on talent. They were my Sandy and Danny.”
Both Rigaud and Bianchi say that after being cast in their roles, they can see the similarities between the characters and their own personalities.
“Being Danny, a leader, is pretty fun,” Bianchi said. “Usually I’m sitting in the back reading a book. I’ve come out of my shell a bit with the costumes and the role, and I’ve made a lot of new friends and had a lot of fun.”
“Usually I’m shy, but around friends I can be more lively and loud,” Rigaud said. “The show is all about a high school with stereotypes. Sandy changes her look for Danny, Danny changes for Sandy. ‘Grease’ is all about breaking out of stereotypes and being yourself.”
The musical was cast at the end of November, and since then rehearsals have been held four times a week at First United Methodist Church in DeKalb, with each rehearsal lasting 2 ½ hours.
Seventy-one children ages 7 to 18 will star in the family-friendly version of “Grease,” which was iconicized by the 1978 film with Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta.
“Grease: School Version” is a musical set in the 1950s that tells the story of hot-rodding greaser Danny and the sweet new girl in town, Sandy. They had a secret romance over the summer, but with school back in session, peer pressure and cliques make their love a bit more complicated.
Performances of “Grease: School Version” will be at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 5-6, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 7, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 8 at the Sandwich Opera House, 140 E. Railroad St. in Sandwich. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $6 for children 12 and younger. Tickets will be available at the door or online at www.cctgrease2018.ticketleap.com/grease.
“Grease: School Version,” with book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French Inc.
Kendel Graham, 14, of Somonauk has performed in CCT productions for nine years. In this show, she plays Jan, one of the Pink Ladies. She said her favorite part about “Grease: School Version” is that there are no small roles.
“Everyone has costume changes, and a lot of us have our own song or duet,” Graham said. “It’s a little bit different from the movie. There is more focus on certain characters and a lot of different stories and scenes. There is prom, parties, cafeteria scenes, a picnic and friends just hanging out.”
Kendel’s mom, Sue Graham, is the show’s director. She describes the show as “family-friendly ‘50s fun that shares the message of being who you are, accepting each other and finding yourself.”
“The play actually came first before the movie version, and the movie mostly focuses on the characters Sandy and Danny,” Sue Graham said. “In the play, there are about 20 large lead roles with solos and lines. We try very hard to make the show their own, not a replica of the movie. Of course, there will be Pink Ladies and T-Birds, but it’s a musical that tells a story.”
“Grease: School Version” is the first CCT production for 16-year-old Lucas Sus of Genoa. He said that since being cast as Kenickie in the musical, he is glad that off-stage during practices, he can just be himself.
“I now have triple as many friends as I did before the musical, and I love that everyone has the same interests as me,” he said. “Sometimes it’s a little crazy with about 70 kids in the cast, especially since some of the kids are younger. But it’s been a great experience. ... We all have the opportunity to sing, be part of a production and make new friends.”