Photo Coverage: Meet the Cast of Paper Mill Playhouse's GREASE!
By: Jennifer Broski May. 21, 2014
Paper Mill Playhouse concludes its 75th Anniversary Season with America's favorite musical, GREASE. With book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Grease will be directed by Daniel Goldstein with original choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Additional songs are by John Farrar, Barry Gibb, Scott Simon and Louis St. Louis. Grease will play the Millburn, New Jersey, theater from May 28 through June 29, 2014. The official press opening night is Sunday, June 1, at 7:00pm. The cast just met the press, and BroadwayWorld brings you photos below!
The world's No. 1 musical bursts on to the Paper Mill stage in an all-new production. Grease is a rock-n-roll celebration of growing up and falling in love set in the fabulous fifties. Grease strikes a universal chord with an irresistible mix of fast cars and first loves. It's Danny and Sandy, Frenchy and Kenickie, and don't forget about Rizzo. Grease is a thrilling injection of pure fun with astounding dancing and amazing songs. On Broadway, Grease won seven Tony Awards, a Drama Desk Award and a Theatre World Award.
Grease brings a young, experienced cast to the Paper Mill Playhouse stage. Taylor Louderman (Sandy Dumbrowski) recently starred on Broadway as Campbell Davis in Bring It On: The Musical. Louderman made her feature film debut in 2007's Alice Upside Down opposite Luke Perry. Bobby Conte Thornton (Danny Zuko) appeared in regional productions of LES MISERABLES, The Light in the Piazza, 8 the Play with Dustin Lance Black and Equus. Thornton appeared at the Venetian Room in San Francisco, opening for Laura Benanti and performing in their birthday tribute toMarvin Hamlisch, as well as debuting his solo concert at the Metropolitan Room in New York City. Paper Mill Playhouse alumnus and two-time Tony Award nominee Robin De Jesús (Doody) appeared on Broadway in La Cage aux Folles, In the Heights and Rent. Telly Leung (Teen Angel) was seen on Broadway in Pacific Overtures, Godspell and Rent and on Fox's Glee. Both Leung and De Jesús appeared in Paper Mill's highly lauded revival of Godspell in 2006. Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award winner Morgan Weed (Betty Rizzo) performed in productions of The Last Five Years, Rent and Next to Normal. Shane Donovan (Kenickie) was featured in the national tours of South Pacific and Cinderella Rock. Dana Steingold (Frenchy) appeared in the Encores production of Anyone Can Whistle and the national tour of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Tommy Bracco (Sonny) originated the role of Spot Conlon in Newsies at Paper Mill Playhouse and on Broadway.
Joey Sorge (Vince Fontaine) returns to Paper Mill Playhouse, where he last appeared as The Fonz in Happy Days: The Musical. Sorge has several Broadway credits including Nice Work If You Can Get It, The Drowsy Chaperone and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Paper Mill Playhouse favorite Donna English (Miss Lynch) of Montclair, NJ, returns to the Millburn stage following her critically acclaimed performances in Lend Me a Tenor, Hairspray and The Sound of Music. On Broadway, English was featured in Lend Me a Tenor and Nice Work If You Can Get It. Tess Soltau(Marty) appeared on Broadway in The Addams Family and in The Public Theater's production of Into the Woods. The role of Roger will be played by Matt Wood, who performed regionally in productions of South Pacific, Sweeney Todd, The Who's Tommy and Hamlet. Leela Rothenberg (Jan) was seen in productions of Hair, Fame! and Footloose.Eloise Kropp (Patty Simcox) was recently seen in Encores productions of Little Me and The Most Happy Fella. Sean Patrick Doyle (Eugene) recently took part in a reading of The Chocolate Legacy at Playwrights Horizons, Kat Nejat (Cha-Cha) was featured in Paper Mill Playhouse's production of Miss Saigon in 2002. On Broadway, Nejat appeared in Lysistrata Jones and West Side Story.
Kevin Santos (Ensemble) was seen on Broadway in In The Heights and performed in regional productions of West Side Story and A Chorus Line. Gillian Munsayac (Ensemble) was seen in regional productions of A Chorus Line and The Music Man. Mike Longo (Swing) appeared in the world premiere of Tamar of the River and in the international tour of Hair. Kate Bailey (Swing) recently appeared at Paper Mill Playhouse in Oliver!
The creative team features JoAnn M. Hunter (Choreographer), Brad Simmons (Music Director), Derek McLane (Scenic Design), Martin Pakledinaz (Costume Design), Charlie Morrison (Lighting Design), Randy Hansen (Sound Design), Thomas Charles LeGalley (Costume Coordination & Additional Design), Leah J. Loukas (Hair & Wig Design) and Andrea Cibelli (Production Stage Manager).
Tickets may be purchased by calling 973.376.4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.PaperMill.org.
Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski
Robin De Jesus, Shane Donovan, Bobby Conte Thornton, Matt Wood, Tommy Bracco
Daniel Goldstein
Morgan Weed, Leela Rothenberg, Tess Soltau, Dana Steingold, Taylor Louderman, Eloise Kropp
Robin De Jesus, Bobby Conte Thornton
Taylor Louderman, Bobby Conte Thornton
Leela Rothenberg, Tess Soltau, Telly Leung, Taylor Louderman, Morgan Weed
The cast of GREASE
The cast and creative team of GREASE
Leela Rothenberg, Dana Steingold, Tess Soltau
Bobby Conte Thornton, Taylor Louderman
Robin De Jesus, Matt Wood, Shane Donovan, Tommy Bracco
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