Scotland’s Pitlochry Festival Theatre and England’s Blackpool Grand join forces this summer to present an exciting new production of the smash hit musical, Grease, set to open in Blackpool on 4 June, running until 14 June, before transferring to Pitlochry from 18 June to 27 September.
Featuring a cast of actor/musicians, Grease transports audiences back in time to the electrifying world of the 1950s and to Rydell High where a whirlwind romance between new girl Sandy Dumbrowski and cool kid Danny Zuko is the talk of the school.
Join Sandy, Danny, Frenchie and Doody and all the gang as they navigate the trials and tribulations of high school with their respective cliques – the sassy Pink Ladies and the Burger Palace Boys – on hand to add plenty of laughs, drama, and unforgettable musical moments along the way. With iconic songs like Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’ and You’re the One That I Want, this high-energy musical promises a nostalgic trip packed with rock ‘n’ roll and teenage exuberance and rebellion.
Director Sam Hardie says, “Grease was the first musical I ever saw, and I still remember the feeling of seeing the film for the first time, with songs that made you just want to move and characters you longed to be. The musical is now more than 50 years old and still its songs fill dance floors, karaoke rooms and play on radio stations across the world.”
She continues, “I was delighted to be asked to direct Grease at Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Blackpool Grand this summer; two places that hold such cherished memories for their audiences. The story is a celebration of what it means to be young: to fall in and out of love, to rebel, to dream, to dance and discover who we are and who we want to be. Now feels like exactly the right moment to tell this story and meet these young people who remind us of the vitality of life and that in this world we should go together rather than individuals apart. I cannot wait to work with this incredible company taking you to Rydell High for a summer full of joy, love and dancing.”
That “incredible company” of actor/musicians is Celeste Collier as Teen Angel, Tyler Collins as Kenickie, Chris Coxon as Eugene, Stephanie Cremona as Cha Cha, Caitlin Forbes as Patty, April Nerissa Hudson as Frenchy, Leah Jamieson as Jan, Blythe Jandoo as Sandy, Jerome Lincoln as Roger, David Rankine as Doody, Oraine Johnson as Sonny, Keith Macpherson as Vince Fontaine, Alyson Orr as Miss Lynch, Alexander Service as Danny, Fiona Wood as Rizzo, and newcomers Eden Barrie and Louis Newman as Marty and Jonny Casino.
With Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Grease, now one of the world’s most popular musicals, opened in Chicago in 1971 and subsequently on Broadway in February 1972 where it received seven Tony nominations, including one for Best Musical. The original Broadway production played 20 previews and 3,388 regular performances. During an eight-year run, then little known actors including Patrick Swayze and John Travolta appeared in the production with Richard Gere understudying many roles before going on to star as Danny Zuko in the 1973 London premiere. In 1978 the blockbuster movie adaptation starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John was released to a waiting world
Blackpool Grand Theatre was opened on July 23, 1894, by Thomas Sergenson who immediately dubbed the theatre ‘Matcham’s Masterpiece’. This title is even more merited now that there are few surviving examples of the work of the leading Victorian theatre architect Frank Matcham.
Blackpool Evening Performances 7.30pm June 4-14. | Matinees 2.30pm June 5, 7, 12, 14. | Audio Described 14 June 2.30pm | Blackpool tickets here.
Since 1951, Pitlochry Festival Theatre has been the artistic heart and soul of Highland Perthshire. Attracting more than 100,000 visitors every year, the venue aims to create life-enhancing experiences.
Pitlochry Evening Performances 7.30pm June 18, 19, 21 | July 2, 3, 5,16, 19, 30 | August 5, 15,16, 21,22, 27 | September 5, 12, 18, 23, 27 | 7pm June 20. Matinees 2pm June 21 | September 6, 13 19, 24. Audio Described 30 July 7.30pm and 6 August, 2pm | Captioned 23 August 2pm. Relaxed and Dementia Friendly 6 September | Pitlochry tickets here.
