Atlanta Lyric Theatre Presents GREASE, 4/20-5/6

Atlanta Lyric Theatre presents the Jim Jacobs and WarRen Casey hit musical GREASE April 20 through May 6 at The Earl Smith Strand Theatre at 117 North Park Square in Marietta. Tickets are available now at 404-377-9948 or www.AtlantaLyricTheatre.com.

After spending a hopelessly devoted summer with Sandy Dumbrowski, the new girl in town, Danny Zuko's world is thrown upside down when Sandy appears at Rydell High on the first day of school. What follows is a rock n' roll celebration of growin' up, cruisin' with friends and goin' steady. This new production of GREASE features “You’re The One That I Want” - the #1 Billboard hit from the 1978 motion picture. It will be heard in addition to the Jacobs/Casey songs made famous by the original stage production such as “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’” and “We Go Together.”

The Lyric production stars Anna Kimmell as Sandy, Maxim Gukhman as Danny, Bradley Bergeron as Kenickie, Alison Brannon Wilhoit as Rizzo, Jill Ginsberg as Marty, Jimi Kocina as Sonny, Nick Morrett as Roger, Findley Hansard as Jan, Kelly Schmidt as Frenchy, Michael J. Austin as Doody, Jono Davis as Eugene, Caroline Ann Freedlund as Patty Simcox, Elizabeth Wexler as Cha Cha, and G. Deavours as Rydell High School teacher Miss Lynch.

Local actor and Lyric veteran Jevares C. Myrick, as radio disc jockey Vince Fontaine, will lead a 1950’s dance contest twenty minutes prior to each curtain. Contestants will be randomly chosen from the audience and are eligible to win prizes.

GREASE originated in Chicago and made its premiere at The Kingston Mines Theatre in 1971 before making its New York premiere off-Broadway at the Eden Theatre on February 14, 1972. After 128 sold-out performances, the show made the transition to Broadway, taking up residence at the Broadhurst Theatre on June 7, 1972. GREASE was nominated for seven Tony Awards in its spectacular initial run. On November 21, 1972, the show moved to the Royale Theatre before making its final transfer on January 20, 1980 to the Majestic Theatre. It closed as the longest running show in Broadway history after playing 3,388 performances.

In 1978, GREASE became a hugely popular feature film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the lead roles. A Broadway revival opened on May 11, 1994 at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre where it played 1,503 performances and scored three Tony Award nominations. A new Broadway production of GREASE opened on August 19, 2007 and was nominated for a 2008 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.

The film version of GREASE produced one of the best-selling soundtracks in history and is the highest-grossing movie musical of all time. The two Travolta/Newton-John duets, "You're The One That I Want" and "Summer Nights" were both #1 hits. The song "Hopelessly Devoted to You" was nominated for an Academy Award (1979) for Best Music - Original Song and the film's title song, “Grease,” was a #1 smash hit single for singer Frankie Valli.

GREASE features book, music, and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and WarRen Casey. Directed by Brandt Blocker and Alan Kilpatrick and choreographed by Ricardo Aponte, the Atlanta Lyric production of GREASE features scenic design by Seamus M. Bourne, costume design by Lindsey G. Paris, lighting design by Bradley Bergeron, vocal music direction by Paul Tate, and sound design by Bobby Johnston.

GREASE replaces the previously announced THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. Lyric subscriber tickets for THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA will be honored for the same date of the performance of GREASE.

All performances are held at The Earl Smith Strand Theatre at 117 N. Park Sq., on the historic Marietta Square. For tickets and information call 404-377-9948 or visit www.AtlantaLyricTheatre.com.

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