Grease takes center stage at Plaza this Friday
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

The "beauty school drop-outs" chorus members in Grease include, from left, Melody Kirschke, Janice McDonald, Betty Vick and Debbi Dimmick. Grease is the Word opens at the Plaza Theater Friday through Sunday, Feb. 8 to 10, and Feb. 15 to 17 and Feb. 22 to 24. Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $15, $13 for seniors 65 and up, students to age 24 and groups of 10 or larger. For tickets, call 282-2970 or visit whartonplazatheatre.org.

Sexy, sassy and with just a touch of the innocence of a simpler time, the Pink Ladies from Rydell High will be taking over the stage of the Plaza Theatre for the next three weekends as the Theatre's Footeliters and Litefooters present the musical Grease.

For those not familiar with the play, the Pink Ladies are made up of Janice McDonald in the role of Rizzo, the leader of the girls; Stephanie Kutach as Frenchy, Quinn Wrench as Jan and Melody Kirschke as Marty Maraschino. Presented as typical teens of the 1950's, they offer to help the female lead Sandy to adapt to high school in America.

Grease has been offered in a variety of different Broadway productions along with a popular movie. The various ladies playing the roles said they relied heavily on the movie to help develop their own interpretations of the characters they will present to the Wharton audiences.

"I was 11 when it came out in the theatre," Wrench said. Kutach said that she was a little young to see the movie in the theater but went out and bought a copy of the film.

"I actually saw a stage production of the musical but I was only five at the time so I didn't remember a lot of it," she said.

Three of the four women are veterans of previous Plaza productions. Kutach said she's been with four productions.

"When I auditioned, all I really was looking for was a speaking part," she said. "I've been in the chorus and I've worked backstage."

Quinn has been in nine productions ranging from the lead female role to being part of the chorus.

"I prefer a character like this," she said. "A lot of the time, the supporting characters are actually the most fun to play."

The one rookie among the group is Kirschke. Although rookie is not a fair term to apply to someone who is a recording artist who has produced a number of CDs and been on stage most of her life.

"But this is my first musical," she said. "And while I've been on stage performing, the dancing is new to me. I'm excited about the opportunity."

Kirschke added that she auditioned with the role of Marty dead in her sights.

"I wanted to be Marty," she said. "Part of that is the role calls for her to be act a little older than the others and acting older than I am is something that I've always done, something that came naturally to me. I was a lot like Marty as a teen."

As a result, Kirschke concentrate more on appearance than behavior in building her character.

"I did my research," she said.

"My character is supposed to have a distinctive look. So I looked at old photos of my grandmother who really dressed the part in the 50s and look up the fashions of the era on the Internet."

While the others talked about having to do some research into teen behavior, Mc- Donald said she had a handle on the teen scene before the play was even announced.

"I teach Junior High School so I'm around it every day," she said.

"Personally, that's what I used to develop my character. And while I see the kids in school, I also tend to observe them when I'm out or at the store. You're always in teacher mode."

One of the interesting aspects of the production for each of the ladies was that the play isn't a dramatization but rather an exaggeration of the 1950s. As a result, they are allowed to play things a little bit over the top and really enjoy the production. And as with many on stage, each has a moment they are really looking forward to during the performance.

For Wrench, it's the opening number "Grease is the Word."

"I really like the song and it just sets things up so perfectly," she said. "You can really get into it right from the start."

Kutac is looking forward to the dance contest sequence because it will give her an upportunity to strut her stuff.

"It's not a hard choice for me," she said. "I always liked the dance number. I'm a goofy sort of dancer anyway and this gives me the chance to get away with some crazy stuff."

McDonald and Kirschke both picked the sleepover scene as being their moment for the most fun.

"I really like that scene," McDonald said. "We get to act really 'girly' and play and talk like we did when I was young."

Kirschke also liked the girly aspect of the scene as well as it being her opportunity to show off her skills as a singer.

"The pajama party takes place in my room," she said. "So I get to sing and have the main song. And it gets real girly."

The performance is being p resented by Betty and Sylvan Miori and based on the script and music of Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey with additional music by Robert Stigwood.

Grease runs Friday through Sunday, February 8-24, at the Plaza Theatre on the Square in Wharton. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $13 for seniors 65 and older, students 24 and younger, or groups of ten or more. Curtaintime is 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays.

For tickets, call 282-2970 or visit www.whartonplazatheatre. org.