Wayne High School’s production of the musical Grease opened on Thursday, Nov. 14th, to rave reviews. Director and drama teacher Tina Peterson proudly stated, “That was the best first night I’ve ever seen at WHS.” Students started working on their lines in June, and despite not having access to the auditorium until two weeks before the curtain went up, they smashed it!
Peterson double-cast the roles of the Pink Ladies; “We have a lot of talented girls to showcase.” Seniors Kylee Pace and Kaysie Jeffery each played Sandy, and Skye Davis played Danny Zuko.
The rest of the cast included Stetsyn Lamb and Tylee Torgerson as Rizzo, Oaklee Brian and Brigette Winters as Jan, Audrey White and Autumn Chesnut as Frenchy, and Brakehl Brown as Marty. The T-Birds were Austin Oyler—Kenickie, Miguel Whipple—Roger, Alejandro Rosales—Doody, and Mateusz Drumm—Sonny.
Britta Brinkerhoff, Tate Saunders, Dreygan Niemeyer, TaKara Taylor, Kater Thomas, and Ruger Grundy played supporting roles while Lauren Stewart, Koyo Ito, Sloan Hallows, Kemrie Brown, Ethan Beecher, and Addi Lyman completed the ensemble.
The crew consisted of Koyo Ito—Art Director; Pazley New and Berkleigh Elmer—Curtain Manager; Ayla Deakin—Sound; Ethan Petree and Kyler Flores—Lights, with Makaylee Burningham—Student Assistant to the Director. Mrs. Geneva Peterson served as Choreographer, Mrs. Sade Syme directed the music, Philip Winters helped the students in the booth as technical director, and Mr. Bryson Syme and his students built the set.
Peterson hopes “all the kids in the cast look back on this musical and remember that putting effort into something pays off in the end.”
– by Brinlee Burningham (12) Lyman
Feature image caption: Britta Brinkerhoff (freshman), Audrey White (junior) performing during “Beauty School Dropout.”
Read more from Wayne High School in Badgers Get a New Den.