Morton West’s stage is buzzing with 1950’s energy as the students prepare to bring Grease to life, but while the audience will see the dancing and rock & roll on stage, a lot more happens behind the curtains to make it all work. From set builders and tech crews to the cast and director, everyone is working to make this musical one to remember.
For Xavier Barajas, who plays Danny Zuko, one of the lead roles, the moment he got the part was exciting, yet nerve wracking. “Honestly it was shocking at first,” Xavier said. “But then you feel really excited because you know the experience is going to be so much worth it… just very happy and passionate.”
That passion is shared by the whole cast. Stephanie Hurt, who plays Frenchy, described the group’s chemistry as one of the best parts of the experience. “We’re all just a big group of friends,” she said with a smile. Like, everyone’s friends with everyone, it’s great.”
While the actors take the spotlight, the crew behind them play a vital role. Sophia Salas, head of costumes and makeup, summed it up perfectly, “We spend a lot more time here than people think,” she said. “A lot more work goes into it than other people mostly think. They think it’s mostly actors, but it’s also us back here, too.”
Isabel Butcher, who’s also part of costumes, explained how challenging and fast-paced the work can get. “For practicing costume changes, we have to undress this mannequin very quickly, and we have to turn all the lights off, and we have to do it under thirty seconds.”
The behind-the-scenes effort shows in every detail of the making of the musical. Leah Vasquez, who’s part of the construction crew, explained the technical side of it. “The rolling platforms were probably the hardest thing to build.” Leah said. “It takes a lot to get everything to move right.”
Even first-time performers are pushing past their nerves to be on stage. Alberto Bandera, who will be performing a solo, admitted his thoughts and feelings towards it. “I’m really nervous,” Alberto said. “It’s my first time having, like, a solo by myself. And I’m the center of attention, so it’s gonna be different this time…I’m kind of excited, you know?”
And overseeing it all is Teacher Steinhaus, who couldn’t be prouder of the students’ effort.
“We’ve got some cool dances going on…We’ve got a lot of freshmen, so there’s a lot of new energy.” Steinhaus said. “It’s a very loved show. It’s been a very popular one for a very long time. Our cast and our crew are working very, very hard to put this together. It’s got fun music, very fun characters. It’s very flashy, very fun if you’re looking for a good time, this is the thing to come to.”
From friendships forming in rehearsals, to the hours spent perfecting looks, sets, and choreography, Morton West’s Grease is a team effort. So, grab your poodle skirts and slick back your hair, because tickets will be available at the gate on the day of the performance.
Get ready to experience the magic of Grease on stage!
