Gryphon Gallery: Grease at GNS (1988 & 2009)

March 10, 2023

Alumni

Stuart Brambley, Archivist Stuart Brambley, Archivist photo

Named after the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as greasers, the musical is set in 1959 at the fictional Rydell High School and follows 10 working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of peer pressure, politics, personal core values, and love. It was first performed on February 5, 1971, at Kingston Mines nightclub in Chicago. The movie was released in 1978 starring John Travolta and British- Australian singer and actress Olivia Newton-John.

Grease the GNS production was first presented in March 1988 in the Old Norfolk House School Gym (now the Fitness Centre). It was directed by Val Chatterton, Madeleine Humer (music), and Kim Breiland of Stages Performing Arts School (choreography). The cast included Lucas Corwin & Hara Lay; Darren Parfitt, Matthew Brooks, Philippe McLean, Malcolm Bauld; Linda Bauld, Jennifer Kay, Kate Gibbs, Casey Russell, Anya Adams, Monica Fisi, Rob Hollis, Kadriye Graham, Dr. Steve Johnson, Joel Spicer, Brett Jones. Dancers: Meg Ross, Shaune Corrigan, Jennifer Druce, Aleta Crawley, Shannon Hazell, Darcey Doell, Karma Miller, David Piercey, Sean McNeill, Richie Pearson, George Erskine, and Maila Williams.

The second production was in 2009 at the Performing Arts Centre (now the Music Centre) in the Henderson Building. It was directed by Judy Treloar, Cheryl Tradewell (music), and Heather-Elayne Day (choreography). The cast starred Kevin Eade, Sarah Tradewell, Jesse Lupini, Heather MacLeod, Cameron Elwood, Sarah Miller, Emily Harris, Ashish Sudhakaran, Emily Blokker-Dalquist, Alexander Fyfe, Niki Powers, Dobby Gordon, Jessica Pickersgill, Leanne Wallace, Sally Yu, Anne Drury, Lief Gustavson, Matthew Kelly, Dale Hughes, Brianne Aberdeen, Leanne Wallace, Jackie Romeyn, Nimmie Mots, Cameron Poncia, and Iain Belcher.

From March 8 to 11, GNS students are once again presenting Grease. There is an evening performance on Friday, March 10 at 7 p.m. and one on March 11 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors and are available at the door.

Parent Advisory: contains moments of brief cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption; some mild language.