Grease, The Musical! Meet Sandy and Danny...

Neisha Cooper

Year 11

Harington House

Which character do you play?
I play Sandy Dumbrowski.

In a sentence or two, sum up who your character is in the context of the story:
My character is the new girl at Rydell High School, she is very sweet, innocent and naive. Sandy just wants to fit in and make friends with everyone at Rydell High. Being accepted is a struggle at times for Sandy, as she comes from a conservative background and is very different to the girls she hangs out with.

What do you like most about playing this character?
What I like most about playing Sandy, is the fact that she is a very shy and sweet girl who later on develops into a strong and confident young lady. The songs are very catchy and enjoyable to sing with some upbeat numbers, as well as some slower more emotional songs that tell the story.

Have there been any challenges taking on this role?
The challenges of taking on this role has been managing my time with my other school curricular commitments and ensuring I keep in character throughout the whole performance.

Grease is best known for its catchy musical tunes, do you have a favourite song?
My favourite song is Grease is the Word because this is the opening number of the show which is very upbeat and vibrant and it sets the scene of what is to come. It is a great introduction to the show which will draw in the audience right from the start.

If you were a high school student in the 1950s, which Grease character would you most relate to?
I think I would most relate to the character of Sandy, because she is super positive and likes to please people she comes into contact with.

Is this your first stage show/musical or have you performed before?
This will be my second musical. I performed in The Little Mermaid last year at Hillcrest High School. I am very excited to be playing my first lead role. I have performed numerous times on stage as a lead singer in bands over the past four years.

Who do you look up to (as an actor/singer/performer)?
I look up to Jennifer Lopez, because she is a multi-talented performer. Among her musical attributes is singing, acting and dancing. She has won so many awards over the years and is an excellent role model to all young performers.

Do you have plans to continue with any performing once you leave school?
I plan to continue with singing once I leave school and I am open to any opportunities that may come my way.

Is there anything additional you would like to share about your experience so far being involved in this year’s school production?
I am thoroughly enjoying working with such an incredible and supportive cast. As I am the new girl to school I have found the seniors have made me feel very welcome. We always have a lot of laughs and fun times, but we all put in the hard yards so we can bring out our best performance on stage. I definitely recommend that everyone should come along to watch the show as it caters for all age groups and is a fun and upbeat musical that will have you singing along.

Liam Waide
Year 13
School House

Which character do you play?
Danny Zuko.

In a sentence or two, sum up who your character is in the context of the story:
Danny is a cool, calm, confident high school bad boy. He is the leader of the T-Birds who are the Rydell High’s “cool kid” gang.

What do you like most about playing this character?
I get to wear a leather jacket, play with my hair and be the stereotypical American high school bad boy.

Have there been any challenges taking on this role?
Similar to last year’s production, it’s nailing the accent. The accent is a downtown New Jersey accent, full of slang. The hardest part about it, is because us Kiwis talk at the back of our mouths and we talk very fast, whereas Americans talk at the front of their mouths and talk a lot slower. Another challenge is the rock and roll dancing, it’s fast-paced and very full on ... but also good fun!

Grease is best known for its catchy musical tunes, do you have a favourite song?
My favourite song is Greased Lightning by far. It’s super groovy and fun to sing. I am very jealous of Kenickie who in the stage show gets to perform it, whereas in the movie it’s Danny’s song.

If you were a high school student in the 1950s, which Grease character would you most relate to?
I think that I would relate to Danny for sure. Although he has this bad boy exterior, he is a really caring and loyal person with his group of friends and will always look out for them and people he cares about.

Is this your first stage show/musical or have you performed before?
No, it’s not my first show. I have been in four other shows and Grease will be my fifth show. I have been in the last two shows here at St Paul’s and after Legally Blonde last year, I’m very excited for this year being my last high school show!

Who do you look up to (as an actor/singer/performer)?
By far Freddie Mercury. He has such a presence on stage and he just doesn't sing the songs he performs them and makes his performances so energetic and memorable. He is such a different person to the other artists of his generation, but he still kept true to himself and did what he did best and is in my eyes the best performer that the world has ever seen.

Do you have plans to continue with any performing once you leave school?
If I can make the time, or consider it as a career path, I will! I have always loved my music and the stage so I'm sure that there will be a calling sometime next year!

Is there anything additional you would like to share about your experience so far being involved in this year’s school production?
As it’s my last year, it’s been cool to see all the new students this year putting themselves out there in their first year and showing such eagerness for the shows. As someone who has been lucky enough for leads all three years, I’m glad that myself and everyone leaving this year can leave this year knowing that the passion and high standards will live on. The culture of this year’s show is really awesome, it’s a lot different from the few years before with some pretty drilling dance rehearsals and the music is so much fun, plus everyone knew the songs before our first rehearsal! I can’t wait to share the show with our community, family and friends. It’s truly going to be the best show St Paul’s has ever done!

GREASE hits the stage at Southwell School Performing Arts Centre June 30 – July 4.

Snap up your tickets here.