Check out more of The Viking Vibe’s coverage of Grease:
After 4 decades, Grease has finally come back to SBHS. The cast performed the musical for 3 days, from April 30th to May 2nd, with two shows on Saturday at 6:30 pm and 1 pm. This musical has been a particularly special choice since the cast is filling the shoes of SBHS’s talented alumni from 40 years ago.
The story of Grease follows a romance between Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko, who meet on the beach over the summer and reunite at Rydell High School. Emma Sava (‘26), cast as Sandy, and Spencer Capes (‘27) as Danny, are accompanied by their respective cliques, the “Pink Ladies” and the “Burger Palace Boys.” The main girls consist of Betty Rizzo (McKenna Caffrey, ‘26), Jan (Riley Green, ‘26), Frenchy (Adienys Ruiz, ‘27), and Marty Maraschino (Charlene Lieberman, ‘26). The main boys include Kenickie (John Hashemi, ‘28), Roger (Ryan Santoro, ‘26), Doody (Emmett Lipman, ‘28), and Sonny Latierri (Sahil Desai, ‘28).
The show opens up with a slideshow of parallels between the current and previous casts in character, and then begins with a brief scene of Sandy and Danny’s summer meet-cute. A time-jump occurs, and life at Rydell High School is shown, with Sandy looking to find her place within the Pink Ladies. Through multiple dance numbers, songs, and dialogue, the plot of Grease unfolds for the audience. Several solos produce a different reaction from the crowd, as many smiled at “Beauty School Dropout” sung by Adienys Ruiz and Angie DeMarco (‘28). And many shed tears at McKenna’s solo “There Are Worse Things I Could Do,” expressing Rizzo’s vulnerable side. Overall, the show spotlights every character in a special way, giving significance to the leads, ensemble, and Grease as a whole.
Mr. Aldo Aranzulla, the music director for the show and choir teacher for SBHS, explains deeper aspects of the school’s club, The Pirandello Players. He noted, “Theater is an experience where it’s less of a club and more like a family. Pirandello is a place where everyone has a spot. Everyone has a chance to sing, to act, to move, and to be a part of this family. And not only that, you get to put on an amazing show that you and other people are proud of.”
Aranzulla additionally highlights his personal love for advising Grease and its cultural significance. He said, “My absolute favorite part is giving other people a similar or better experience than I had. I’ve always liked performing, and now I get to direct it with my co-director, Jillian Trader. Also, Grease is such a cultural show. There are so many people who are coming to see it, and are going to be dressed like greasers or pink ladies. If you do a good job entertaining your audience members, the audience is going to want to come back for more. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of something special like that?”
Furthermore, Kousthuba Yamuna (‘29), a freshman in the ensemble who had a duet with the lead, Emma Sava, shared some insight into the experience of being a cast member. She explains, “The community is definitely the best part. I remember a senior telling me no one does Pirandello just for performance. We do it for the experience and to bond with our friends.” Yamuna also points out a few challenges she has faced in Pirandello, along with the honor of being given a duet. She said, “It was rough coming home really late, but in the end, it was worth it. It was a huge honor to have a duet, especially with the lead, which is crazy. I can’t believe it happened, but it was definitely a great experience. I’m so grateful that I had a chance to show off my talents.”
SBHS’s Grease shines in the midst of many shows. It was a perfect end for many seniors’ last show of the year, and a beautiful experience for many freshmen’s beginning in Pirandello.
