Marriott Theatre Presents GREASE: Hopelessly Devoted to The Music

Posted on by Lauren Lynch

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A whimsically but minimally adorned arena stage (Set Design: Jeffrey D. Kmiec) sits betwixt our audience eagerly seeking all the rock-n-roll revelry Grease is sure to offer. All the while, approximately 23 miles from The Marriott Theatre is the alma mater of Jim Jacobs, the co-writer/composer of the Book, Music, and Lyrics of Grease (also co-written by Warren Casey). This grand place of academia, Taft High School, is the school upon which Grease is lovingly based. Further, just a few more miles south in the heart of Chicago, Grease had its world premiere just under 50 years ago. The hometown history of this household favorite lingers in the air as the lights fade and the room is enlivened with song.

Marriot Theatre GREASE:
Jimmy Nicholas, Michelle Lauto, Leryn Turlington, Tiffany T. Taylor

Suddenly, we’re catapulted into the late 1950s in a gymnasium filled with teenage angst and hormone-infused, time-honored tunes. We join sweet Sandy Dumbrowski (Leryn Turlington) on her journey as she begins senior year as a new girl at Rydell High School after a summer fling with greaser Danny Zuko (Jimmy Nicholas). Sandy and Danny deliver the beloved song Summer Nights, which juxtaposes two disparate tales of the same summer romance, each story reflecting how its singer wants to appear to their friends: chaste or cool. Soon after, Sandy and Danny are unexpectedly reunited at school, and the pressure of their peers changes the dynamic of their relationship, paralleled by the previous song. With their relationship at the center of it all, the two, as well as their friends, navigate the complexities of high school, young love, and their fleeting time together as high school seniors.

Marriott Theatre Mobilizes Skilled Designers

The musical’s design elements, much like the neon lights hanging above the stage (Lighting Design: Jesse Klug), are radiant highlights, in this writer’s view. The costuming (Costume Design: Sally Dolembo), particularly in the Beauty School Dropout number, was sparklingly original, with the added flair of lit halo-like hair dryers and an LED accented suit. In addition, the properties designer, Sally Zack, impressively reimagined what appeared to be a golf cart into a working car (which was driven on and off stage) with all the trappings one would expect from a true Grease Lightning inspired vehicle.

Marriot Theatre GREASE:
Landree Fleming

True to Marriott Theatre fashion, Grease is staged in the round, allowing us to have a more intimate relationship with the actors even in such a large house. However, in this writer’s opinion, Scott Weinstein’s direction hampered many of these opportunities even in light of his extremely capable cast. The musical was littered with moments in which the play felt like it should be directed in a proscenium space, where the majority (or sometimes all) of the actors were facing in the opposite direction of a section of the audience. This was especially disappointing in well-known songs such as Grease Lightning.  On the other hand, Weinstein certainly didn’t hinder the vocal talents of Sandy played by Leryn Turlington or Rizzo played by Jacquelyne Jones. In addition, William Carlos Angulo’s choreography was fabulously fraught with chaotic but splendidly synchronized movement, which is a joy to see.

Marriot Theatre GREASE:
Jonathan Butler-Duplessis, Landree Fleming

A Musical for Lovers of 50s Flair

While this writer recognizes some of Grease’s more problematic scenes in an era of Me Too, this musical may still be recommended for those who have an appreciation for the 50s flair, catchy songs, and the campy high school fun that Grease does so well—especially in a location so close to its origin. It will certainly leave you with a smile on your face, and a few songs that may prove difficult to leave your head.

Marriot Theatre GREASE:
Jacquelyne Jones, Kevin Corbett

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Cast:

Curt Bouril (“Vince Fontaine”), Jonathan Butler-Duplessis (“Teen Angel”), Jack Cahill-Lemme (“Sonny”), Kelly Anne Clark (“Mrs. Lynch”), Kevin Corbett (“Kenickie”), Jake Elkins (“Roger”), Landree Fleming  (“Frenchy”), Jacquelyne Jones (“Rizzo”), Michael Kurowski (“Doody”), Michelle Lauto (“Marty”), Garrett Lutz (“Eugene”), Jessica Palkovic (“Cha Cha”), Billy Rude (“Johnny Casino”), Tiffany T. Taylor  (“Jan”), and Alaina Wis (“Patty”), with ensemble members Nicholas Haas, Allison Sill and Kyra Sorce.

Creative Team:

Directed by four-time Jeff Award winner, Scott Weinstein (Something Rotten!, Murder for Two, Shrek), with musical direction by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson and choreography by Jeff Award winner William Carlos Angulo, Set design by Jeffrey D. Kmiec, costume design by Amanda Vander Byl, lighting design by Jesse Klug, sound design by Sarah Ortiz, wig design by Miguel A. Armstrong, and properties design by Sally Zack; with intimacy director Tonia Sina, stage manager Maegan Burnell and musical supervisor Patti Garwood.

When:

Through March 15, 2020

Wednesdays at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.,
Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.,
Fridays at 8 p.m.,
Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and
Sundays at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Where:

Marriott Theatre
Ten Marriott Drive
Lincolnshire, Illinois

Tickets:

$50+

For full price tickets and information, go to The Marriott Theatre website or call 847.634.0200

Check for Half-Price Deals from Hot Tix:

Photos by Liz Lauren

Note: Picture This Post reviews are excerpted by Theatre in Chicago

Lauren Lynch Photo by Sydney Saunders

About the Author:

Lauren Lynch is a Chicago-based theatremaker by night and education administrator by day. She has undergraduate degrees in Theatre and English from Austin Peay State University and an MFA in Arts Administration from Texas Tech University. When she's not at work or seeing/creating theatre, you can find her enthusiastically playing board games with friends or stealing cuddles from her dog, Harry Pupper.

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