![grease cover [3-26].jpg](javascript:Site.openWin('/polopoly_fs/1.149250!/image/1034095459.jpg', 250, 365) "Photo: Daniel Canales / Special to <i>The Breeze</i>")
With opening night approaching like greased lightning, the massive cast of students, faculty members and community actors performing in the Spring production of Grease work hard to do one of America's most persistently beloved plays justice. Director Christa Havenhill is dedicated to making her first musical at Chaffey a memorable one.
"I wanted to do something that included a large cast, something very fun and I wanted it to be a musical," Havenhill said. "This is my first year at Chaffey so I really wanted to open with something big."
The five-day event will be complete with 50's themed exhibits and raffles with prizes like Coca Cola memorabilia, tickets to Roller City and a Stratocaster guitar up for grabs.
"I wanted this to be a really fun family event. Everyone selling concessions will be dressed in '50's costumes, and I wanted to have classic cars parked outside near the theater," Havenhill said.
Aside from making the production as eventful as possible, one of Havenhill's biggest challenges was compiling the perfect cast to bring the classic story to life. The diverse cast of 45 singers, dancers and actors had to have chemistry, energy and talent. This is exactly what Havenhill believes she found.
"I was very fortunate to find the big cast that I wanted," said Havenhill. "They are really all so talented, they blow me away."
Lead actors Briana Griott (Sandy) and Daniel Kwon (Danny) were both surprised to learn that they had received the starring roles in the play. Griott, who was 16 at the time of the audition, recalled her feelings of excitement upon learning the role was hers.
"This was my first audition, so I would have been stoked just to be in the chorus," Griott said. "I wasn't even thinking about the lead. When I found out I was Sandy, me and my mom just jumped up and down, we were so happy."
Kwon, however, was specifically interested in the lead when he auditioned as Danny, but was every bit as surprised and elated to find that he had gotten the role.
"I was really in disbelief. It took awhile for it to sink in, especially with me being Asian playing a traditionally white character." Kwon Said. "The diversity brought into this play and all of us being from different backgrounds is a very exciting thing."
Another major highlight in the already multi-faceted cast is the addition of Chaffey Superintendent / President Dr. Marie Kane (playing Miss Lynch), who was approached by Havenhill to do a supporting role. The soon-to-retire Kane gladly accepted the chance to perform with her students and has thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
"I'm very excited about performing in this play. This has been the most fun thing I've ever done at this school, and I had no idea there were so many talented students here," Kane said. "Being a part of this has made me even sadder to leave, but at the same time I am delighted to have this experience."
As of now, in addition to getting their lines, stage movements and character mannerisms down, the cast mostly enjoys hanging out together and the fun of bonding on and off the stage.
"I was doing a play before this so the one thing that worried me about coming into the play late was that I would miss out on all of the cast bonding, but when I showed up they were like, hey, it's Rizzo, it's like we immediately became friends," Annie Curasi (Rizzo) said.
Grease is expected by all involved to be extremely well received. The events planned around it, Kane's involvement and the overall popularity of the play are expected to draw a crowd.
"I think people will respond well to this play," cast member Kawika Opuni (Kenicki) said. "Although it's set in the '50's the music and the message is timeless. With President Kane being in the cast, I think people are definitely going to see it, and they're going to love it!"
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