McHenry County College to put on popular musical 'Grease'

Posted October 09, 2017 11:00 pm

Submitted by McHenry County College

The Pink Ladies check out the T-Birds in the McHenry County College production of "Grease." Pictured are, from left, bottom row, Ariella Simandl, Jessica Santos and Angelina Straus and top row, Jessica Oliver Courtesy of McHenry County College

As part of its 50th Anniversary celebration, the Black Box Theatre at McHenry County College will present "Grease," by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.

Here is Rydell High's senior class of 1959: ducktailed, hot-rodding "Burger Palace Boys" and their gum-snapping, hip-shaking "Pink Ladies" in bobby sox and pedal pushers, evoking the look and sound of the 1950s in this rollicking musical. Head "greaser" Danny Zuko and new (good) girl Sandy Dumbrowski try to relive the high romance of their "Summer Nights" as the rest of the gang sings and dances its way through such songs as "Greased Lightnin'," "Summer Nights," "You're the One That I Want," recalling the music of Buddy Holly, Little Richard and Elvis Presley that became the soundtrack of a generation.

With an eight-year run on Broadway and two subsequent revivals, along with innumerable school and community productions, "Grease" remains among the world's most popular musicals.

"Grease" is directed by Jay Geller of Kildeer, with musical direction by Michael Hillstrom of Woodstock, choreography by Maggie McCord of Crystal Lake, set design by Thomas Kesling of Glenview, lighting design by Rick Amundsen, costume design by Kathy Brunke, and stage manager Kacie Swanson, all of Woodstock.

The cast includes Matthew Lucchetti, Jessica Oliver, Jessica Santos, William Bauer, and Gary Mackowiak, all of Crystal Lake; Angelina Straus of Harvard, Nicolas Mule, Ethan Sherman, Julius Alfaro, all of Huntley; Ben Carver of Island Lake; Liam Bell and Larisa Bell, both of Johnsburg; Monica Hauschild and Heidi Boring, both of McHenry; Peri Sindberg of Oakwood Hills; Ariella Simandl of Wonder Lake; and Patrick Wicklow and Mary Beth Brown, both of Woodstock.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, Oct. 19-21, 26-28, Nov. 2-4, and 2 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 22 and 29.

Tickets for "Grease" are $10 for students, MCC employees, senior citizens, veterans and MCC alumni and $15 for the general public. For reservations, email jgeller@mchenry.edu or call (815) 455-8746.

The T-Birds looking cool in the McHenry County College production of "Grease." Pictured are, from left, bottom row: Matthew Lucchetti and Ben Carver, center row, Patrick Wicklow and top row, Ethan Sherman and Julius Alfaro. Courtesy of McHenry County College

Danny (Patrick Wicklow) tries to sweet talk Sandy (Larisa Bell) in the McHenry County College production of "Grease." Courtesy of McHenry County College

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