The JP Stevens Theatre Company, organized by lead director Ms. Kathleen Troy, performed the play Grease from March 16 to March 18, stunning the audience with an impressive show. The cast utilized unique props, an outstanding pit orchestra, and beautifully sung solos to bring their memorable performance to life. The theater company advertised their show using social media and a theme day to attract many students and parents to the show, filling every seat and making the play a successful event.
Grease, named after the United States working-class youth subculture known as greasers, is a musical set in 1959 at the fictional Rydell High School. It follows the life of working-class teenagers as they navigate social pressure, love, and personal values. The musical’s central theme is based on a secret romance between Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski in the summer that gets complicated when Sandy joins Rydell High School, where Danny is known for his cool dude persona. The plot and theme of Grease have made it popular amongst high school students for over 50 years, and it has been a dream of many to play a role in Grease.
“Sandy has been one of my dream roles since I saw Grease as a child!” said senior Reva Bhalerao. “Working with the wonderfully talented cast and crew of Grease, the show turned out to be phenomenal and I was so grateful to end my senior show surrounded by my second family. JPS Theatre Company was not just a club to me; it was my home.”
The play began at 7 p.m. with an electrifying opening with the characters dancing along to the song “Grease”. The show featured many other amazing songs, such as “Summer Nights” sung by senior Nishanth Bhargava, who played Danny, and senior Reva Bhalerao, who played Sandy, and “Greased Lightnin’” sung by senior Sanath Saji, who played Kenickie. The construction of the set also added to the fantastic experience with great backgrounds and props such as Kenickie’s car Greased Lightnin’. The play had a lot of funny jokes to keep the audience entertained and it had many scenes in which members of the cast danced off-stage, right next to the audience. The play concluded with the cast bowing on stage and singing “You’re the One That I Want,” receiving many cheers from the audience for an amazing performance.
“Although I had never seen Grease before, the acting and songs whose melodies lingered in my head for hours after the musical ended surprised me,” said junior Gravit Bali.
The performances of the greasers, played by Sanath as Kenickie, junior Raghav Mathur as Sonny, senior Ishan Chitale as Doody, and senior Anish Dharam as Roger made the play enjoyable and funny for the audience with their humorous remarks. The greasers were accompanied by the outstanding performance of the Pink Ladies: senior Charlotte Tillery as Rizzo, senior Saachi Ramirthkar as Frenchy, senior Zara Diaz as Marty, and junior Casey Decker as Jan. Accompanied by cast members and stage managers, the on-stage chemistry and interaction between the Greasers and the Pink Ladies helped make the play a memorable experience.

“All of the character-building exercises we did and the nights we spent running through the show over and over again until we said our lines correctly,” said Zara. “I think we really managed to bring our characters to life. I’m so glad I could bring Marty to the stage!”
The production of the play Grease was incredible and was brought to life by the talented cast, musicians, and crew. They worked very hard every day to rehearse the musical’s various songs and dance moves under the guidance of their director, Ms. Troy. Ms. Troy was a significant figure in the Theater Company as she helped organize and coordinate all the parts involved in creating a memorable experience. Mr. Frank Saverino, the musical director and conductor, and Ms. Cara Stine, the choreographer, also helped bring each scene to life through music and exceptional choreography.
“As an actor, I must say that the preparation for the musical Grease was nothing short of exhilarating,” said Sanath. “The energy was lacking for a while but as soon as opening night came along, we set that stage on fire. The cast and I worked tirelessly to bring the characters to life and make the audience feel as though they were a part of the show. The feeling of connection between the actors on stage and the audience was palpable, and it was an experience that I will never forget.”
Overall, it was a great experience for both students and parents. The audience was mesmerized by the excellent performance of the cast and crew, making the play a memorable and exhilarating experience.