Fall Musical

What happens if it rains?

In the occurrence of inclement weather (ie – high winds, rain, thunderstorms, etc.), our outdoor performance of Grease will be rescheduled. Tickets for a rescheduled performance will automatically be moved to the corresponding Sunday (June 13 or June 20). If, for some reason, you are unable to attend the rescheduled rain date, please email tickets@theloftstage.org for a refund of purchase price; unfortunately, patrons cannot be refunded the processing fee. While rescheduling a performance is not ideal, we know this decision is in the best interest of student, staff, patron, and equipment safety.

How long is the show?

Grease runs approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. There will be a 15-minute intermissions between Acts I and II.

Do I have to bring a chair?

No, folding chairs will be setup for guest usage. Some chairs may have padded seats; others will be traditional metal folding chairs. If you are concerned about comfort, consider bringing a seat cushion.

Do I need to wear a mask?

Per the most recent governor’s orders, guest in our open air theatre are not required to wear masks; however, masks are strongly encouraged in more congested areas (i.e. bathrooms, box office lines, concessions, etc.).

Will the performers be masked?

As part of our district-approved COVID protocols, performers wore masks for the majority of rehearsals, but will be unmasked for performances.

Why perform outside if Governor’s orders are lifted?

Our production team has been planning this show for MONTHS, so by the time the orders were lifted, we were already too far along in the process to change venues. Additionally, the show, Grease, lends itself to a “Summer Night” show and open-air theatre is something our program has never tackled. We are excited for both students and guests to experience this one-of-a-kind show!

Can I bring snacks and/or beverages?

Unlike our indoor theatre, food and beverage are allowed outdoors. We kindly ask that guests be respectful and courteous, making sure that refreshments don’t become distracting and that any messes made are thoroughly cleaned. The production will take place on school grounds, so use of alcohol and tobacco products are strictly prohibited.

Where do I park?

The student lots, nearest the activities entrance (see image below), will likely be your best bet.

If, for some reason, parking is limited on that side, the bus lot, nearest the main entrance (see image below), is another close option.

Where can I drop off if I’m attending the show with someone in a wheelchair or with mobility issues?

Depending on where your seats are located, you may choose to drive up to either the main entrance or the student lot. House left is nearest the main entrance, whereas house right is nearest the student lot (indicated in red below).

Are there bathrooms on site?

Yes, guests will have access to indoor bathrooms just inside the activities entrance doors.

Stage Manager Leo Ouradnik
Deck Captain Casey Christensen
Assistant Deck Captain Hanna Meinders
Props Captain Morgan Gilboe
Stage Running Crew Ava Meinders
Haejin Lee
Emily Anderson
Grace Ballard
Sound Board Crew Ann Winston
Riley Gisch
Pit Sound Board Crew Caleb Doran
Mic Crew Mikayla Gillard
Shridula Arun
Lighting Crew Ethan Olson
Alex Ireland
Video Crew Cheney Yao
Maddie Gerber
Mikayla Gillard
Katelyn Renner
Costume Crew Kendall Rander
Ava Cyr
Kaia Heltne
Amelia Kullman
Grace Ballard

Grease is hands down one of the most popular musicals to ever exist; in fact in the process of making the show we learned that it is, in fact, the most-produced musical in the world. A lot of this can probably be credited to the iconic movie and the rest to the relentlessly-catchy music. Even if you’re not a regular theater goer, you’ve probably heard a slightly off-key but enthusiastic “Summer Nights” at karaoke or watched your third cousin pull a muscle dancing to “Greased Lightning” at a wedding.

Despite its popularity and formative role in my own childhood, I had my doubts about selecting Grease as our musical. At first glance, I didn’t love the “change yourself for a man” moral that has received (fair) criticism across the internet in the past 10 years. However, after a bit more digging and some discovery about the original show (did you know it was a musical before it was a movie?!) I started to see Grease in a different light. To be clear, I still don’t think you should change yourself for a man, or for anyone for that matter, but at its core, this quintessentially teenage show is about so much more. 

Grease is a story about being true to who you are. I think it’s easy to see Sandy as a stereotypical All-American, 1950s teenager corrupted by Danny, Rizzo and the gang. But with a slightly closer look at the cultural and societal norms of 1959, it’s clear that when we meet Sandy she is a product of these external forces. Between prescribed gender roles, age discrimination, and culture war, Sandy enters into adulthood with a narrative that’s already been written for her. The Greasers don’t require her to change: they give her permission to be who she is, something that’s still not easy to do, 60 years later. 

This crew of misfits, rough around the edges but loyal to the core reminds us that growing up is messy. They’re imperfect but we love them for it. And Grease is like that too. There certainly are moments in the show that don’t align with our current social values; however, not everything we put onstage is meant to be a model for behavior. Instead, it gives us an opportunity to look at our past with clear eyes and see it for what it was — the good, the bad, and the in between. 

This process has been an adventure in every way, but well worth it to be making theater again. It’s been so long since we’ve all been able to gather and we are so glad to see you under the stars for a “Summer Night” you’ll surely remember.

–Kajsa Jones, artistic director

The spring musical, Grease, needs technicians in order to make the production look and sound its best. If you’re interested in lighting, sound, video production, costuming, or set design and construction, join us Friday, March 26th at 3pm via Zoom for an informational meeting. You’ll learn about the production and the many different ways you can participate.

Zoom Meeting Link

Thank you to each and every one of you who auditioned for Grease. We so admire your bravery and hard work; you made this a difficult task for us all! Cast members will meet via Zoom at 4:00pm tomorrow for an informational meeting and preliminary sing through. Please check your email for important information. If you were not cast and are interested in helping the production on the technical crew, please attend the tech crew informational meeting on Friday at 3:00pm via Zoom.

Danny Zuko Carter Bannwarth
Sandy Dumbrowski Victoria Pommalath
Betty Rizzo Lauren Nelson
Frenchy Natalie Engh
Marty Allison Benjamin (understudy Sandy)
Jan Olivia Voerster
Doody Benjamin Sayers
Kenickie Ethan Kalafatich
Sonny Latierri Luke Pfluger
Roger Erik Haering (understudy Danny)
Vince Fontaine Connor Hestwood (understudy Kenickie & dance captain)
Cha-Cha Alexa Grace LaFontaine Larson (& ensemble)
Eugene Florczyk Alex Doran
Johnny Casino/Teen Angel Adam Garrity (understudy Doody)
Miss Lynch Alexa Sandberg (understudy Frenchy)
Patty Simcox Aubrie Owen
Ensemble Andrew Sayers
Anna Avent (understudy Rizzo)
Ava Bartel
Ava Hattenberger
Boon Yang
Brooklin Giddings
Chandler Schmitz
Enya Brett (understudy Miss Lynch)
Erik Rasmussen (understudy Vince Fontaine)
Grace Smith
Haleigh Smith (understudy Patty)
Henry North
Hunter Fizel (understudy Eugene)
Jason Chang (understudy Roger)
Kianna Yasis
Lawson Sharrer (understudy Sonny)
Lindsey Seif
Maren VanDeest (understudy Jan)
Marie Finch-Koinuma
Olivia Vue
Reed Williams (understudy Johnny Casino/Teen Angel)
Savannah John
Sydney Baxter
Sydney Bramel (understudy Marty)
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