(Above, l.-r.) Jan (Anna Jeffries), Rizzo (Alyson Gannon), Kenicke (Kyle Fisher), Danny (Dylan Fidler), Sandy (Olivia Carr), Frenchy (Ariyonna Thomas) and Marty (Heather Rich) headline the cast of โGreaseโ through July 30, at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center. (Photos by Charmaine George).
Although there already has been a New Tampa Players (NTP) preview show and a Penguin Productions presentation of โBeauty and the Beastโ at the sparkling new New Tampa Performing Arts Center (NTPAC), โGreaseโ โ the first official show of NTPโs 2023-24 season โ made its debut at the NTPAC last weekend.
Unfortunately, due to the timing of our issues, we arenโt able to share pictures of actual scenes from โGreaseโ in this issue, but as a minor player in the cast, I am able to share these preview pictures we were able to take of some of the cast members, in their costumes.
I will tell you that, even the week before the cast premiered the 1972 Tony Award-winning musical, that โGreaseโ is a super-fun show with an awesome cast that you should still be able to check out this weekend โ although tickets were already getting a little scarce at our press time.
According to NTP producing artistic director Nora Paine, the six performances of โGreaseโ over two weekends (July 21-23 and July 28-20) were already nearly 70% sold out as this issue went to the printer (on July 16), with the Sunday matinee (3 p.m.) performances both weekends having the fewest tickets remaining.
More tickets, however, still remained for the Friday and Saturday night (at 8 p.m. both nights) performances, but after what Iโm certain was a smash opening weekend โ under the direction of G. Frank Meekins with choreography by Sarah Walston โ all I can say is donโt wait too long to get yours!
The outstanding ensemble cast delivers too many standout performances to name everyone here, but rest assured, all will be praised (and hopefully, pictured) in our next issue.
Among my favorite moments from the show include Tripp Peavyhouse (โRogerโ) and Anna Jeffries (Jan) performing โMooning,โ Heather Rich (Marty) singing โFreddie, My Love,โ Kyle Fisher (Kenicke)โs โGreased Lightning,โ Alyson Gannon (Rizzo)โs mocking โLook at Me, Iโm Sandra Dee,โ the perfect falsetto of Trevor Lloyd (who portrays both Teen Angel and Johnny Casino) on โBeauty School Dropout,โ and Olivia Carr (as Sandy) on both โHopelessly Devoted to Youโ and her duet with Dylan Fidler (โDannyโ) on โYouโre The One That I Want.โ
Michael Figueroa (Sonny) and Heather, Tripp and Anna, Kyle and Alyson and Makayla Raines (as Cha-Cha) and Dylan provide standout dance performances.
Donโt have your tickets yet? Visit NewTampaPlayers.org or see the ad below to get yours now!