Jacobs & Casey Have Us Dancing in Our Seats 

by Lynne Stevens

When I was in high school a boy who took auto shop classes and was rumored to have been in “juvie” asked me to the prom. He had the requisite greased hair and cigarette packet tucked into the rolled-up sleeve of his t-shirt. I said yes. There’s something about a bad boy that is alluring.

So, I can totally get how Sandy (wholesome Kit Town) could fall for Danny Zuko (charming Luc Leffe).

Besides, when she met him at the beach in the summer, he was on his best behavior and didn’t have his cronies around influencing him. Boys will be boys, you know.

Sandy is puzzled and taken aback when she enrolls at Rydell High School and Danny acts like he doesn’t even know her. Not only that, but she is also ridiculed by Rizzo (commanding Seana Nicol) and her girl gang for her “Sandra Dee” goodie two shoes demeanor.

Sandy and Danny each give up a little of what they are to appeal more to each other. Danny joins the track team to be more “straight arrow” for Sandy. This looks better than stealing hubcaps. Sandy becomes tougher to get Danny to pay attention to her again. Though she is still a ray of sunshine.

With one rowdy, high-energy number after another we’re dropped into the middle of Rydell High School with the Greasers in their leather jackets and bad attitudes. We strut with the girls in satin jackets that have “Pink Ladies” embroidered in black on the back. Costume designer Janice Stephenson recreates 50s outfits to perfection along with dresses with lots of petticoats for the girls and the occasional dinner jacket and letter sweater for the guys. A trip back in time to the conservative Eisenhower era and the coming teen rebellion.

Kit Town’s Sandy is demure, prime, and proper. She joins the cheer leading squad but she really longs to be accepted by the Pink Ladies. Outsiders were scorned, even then.

Non-stop singing and dancing make this musical so appealing. Memorable songs remind me of long-ago days because the tunes lift their melodies from songs of our teenage years. “Summer Nights” and “Beauty School Dropout” are fine examples. A little Frankie Avalon here, a Temptations Walk there. Romantic songs that teenagers today can love too.

Choreographer Shelly McDowell does an amazing job maneuvering this big cast into striking numbers to fit the intimate Altarena stage. Armando Fox’s band doesn’t miss a beat as familiar tunes flow.

When Sandy repeats the song “Look at me, I’m Sandra Dee” that Rizzo sang earlier, she mentions teen heartthrobs of the day. Rizzo was making sly reference to Sandy’s innocence. This time Sandy owns it and refuses to be put down.

This bad boy Romeo and Goodie-Two-Shoes Juliet find a way to meet with a lot of singing and dancing. When Sandy powerfully intones, “You’re the One That I Want,” it’s the rousing declaration that will wrap up their romance.

The audience clearly enjoyed every minute as they danced their way out of the theater into the night. What’s not to love?!

“Grease” –book, music, & lyrics by Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey, directed by Jacquie Duckworth, musical direction by Armando Fox, choreography by Shelly McDowell, set design by Tom Curtin; scenic design by Elinor Almagor, lighting by Kevin Myrick, sound by Daniel “Techno” Debono, costumes by Janice Stephenson, props by Kevin Davies, fights & wigs by Jeremy Letheule, at Altarena Playhouse, Alameda, California.

Info: altarena.org – to April 27, 2025.

Cast: Raven Douglas, Heather Warren Camacho, Mateo Urquidez, Emma Roth, Annabella Guaragna, Seana Nicol, Jules Hensley, Roberto Ruiz Jr., Liam Cody, Will Thompson, Sarah Elizabeth Williams, Kit Town, Luc Leffe, and Armando Fox.

“The Grease Pit”: keyboards/conductor, Armando Fox; drums, Tiena Elias; bass, Noah Hornick/Jacob Neves; guitars, KJ Brown/Mark Ziegenfuss; tenor sax 1, William Berg/Brian Einstein Lassiter; tenor sax 2, Richard Batelaan.

Banner photo: Liam Cody as Kenickie, Jules Hensley as Doody, Robert Ruiz, Jr. as Roger, Raven Douglas as Miss Lynch (Raven also plays Cha Cha), and Will Thompson as Sonny. Photos by Grizzly DeHaro