The cast of “Grease” at Bucks County Playhouse through September 8.
Hunter Foster, who appeared in the original Broadway cast of the long-running, 1994 revival of the show, is director.
Bucks County Playhouse opened its new production of “Grease” last weekend and it continues on the historic stage through September 8. Hunter Foster, who appeared in the original Broadway cast of the long-running, 1994 revival of the show, is director. Alison Solomon, who most recently choreographed the national tour of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is choreographer. “Grease” is the third production in the Playhouse’s 2024 Season. A link to an assortment of photos by Joan Marcus can be found above.
With a hip-shaking rock ‘n’ roll score featuring hits like “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’,” and “We Go Together,” “Grease” celebrates the 1950s, high school, and the friendships we believe will last forever. It’s Rydell High in 1959 and the duck-tailed, hot-rodding “Burger Palace Boys” and the gum-snapping, hip-shaking “Pink Ladies” rule the roost. After a summer romance, Danny and Sandy are unexpectedly reunited for their senior year, but can they survive the good and bad times at Rydell High?
From left: Stanley Martin, Lorenzo Pugliese, Keaton Miller, Hank Santos, David Nick Alea in “Grease” at Bucks County Playhouse through September 8.Keaton Miller (“Jersey Boys” at Timberlake Playhouse) is Danny Zuko and Stephanie Prestage (Mac-Hayden’s “The Marvelous Wonderettes”) is Sandy Dumbroski. The Greasers include Hank Santos (Paper Mill Playhouse’s “Gun and Powder”) as Kenickie, Lorenzo Pugliese (National Tour of “The Cher Show”) as Sonny, David Nick Alea (National Tour “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”) as Roger, and Joe Montoya (Arena Stage’s “Newsies”) as Doody. The Pink Ladies include Giuliana Augello (BCP’s “Bridges of Madison County”) as Betty Rizzo, Alyssa Wray (BCP’s “The Rocky Horror Show”) as Marty, Sunayna Smith (NCL’s “SiX!”) as Jan, and Erin Kommor (NBC’s “Rise”) as Frenchy. Brianna Ascione (BCP’s “Dames at Sea”) is Patty Simcox, Seth Clayton (Manhattan Theatre Club’s “The Madrid”) is Eugene Florczyk, Toni DuBuono (Broadway’s “Funny Girl”) is Miss Lynch. Nathan Cockroft (Fulton Theater’s “Jersey Boys”) is Vince Fontaine and Sherrod T. Brown (National Tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar”) is Teen Angel. Brianna Brito Mooney (Katerine Howard in NCL’s “SiX!”) is Cha Cha DiGregoria. Stanley Martin (BCP’s “The Rocky Horror Show”) is Johnny Casino. The ensemble includes Johnny Jordon Bollwerk (National Tour of “Hadestown”), Tiffany Engen (“Rock of Ages”), Maya Kazzaz (National Tour of “Disney’s Aladdin”) and JP Qualters (National Tour of “School of Rock”).
The creative team for the production consists of Seth Howard (Scenic Design), Nicole V. Moody (Costume Design), Sarah Norton (Hair and Wig Design), Kirk Bookman (Lighting Design), and Jeff Sherwood (Sound Design). Jackie Mariani is production stage manager. Luke Molloy is music director. Jeffrey Campos will conduct performances from September 3 – 8. Casting is by Paul Hardt.
For full details, and to purchase tickets, please visit buckscountyplayhouse.org, call 215-862-2121, or visit the box office at 70 South Main Street, New Hope, PA.
Bank of America is the 2024 Season Sponsor for the Playhouse. “Grease” sponsors include Nurture Spa (Production Sponsor) and Logan Inn (Opening Night Sponsor).
ABOUT BUCKS COUNTY PLAYHOUSE
Steeped in a theatrical history that stems back to its founding in 1939 by a roster of theatrical royalty, Bucks County Playhouse is celebrating the eleventh anniversary of its 2012 re-opening and restoration. With more than 75,000 patrons walking through its doors every year, the Playhouse is leading the economic resurgence of New Hope and the surrounding community. In 2014, Tony Award-winning producers Alexander Fraser, Robyn Goodman and Josh Fiedler took the helm of the Playhouse, reclaiming its reputation of attracting Broadway and Hollywood artists. Playhouse productions of “Company” starring Justin Guarini, and William Finn’s “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” were named by Wall Street Journal to its “Best of Theatre” list for 2015. In 2018, the Wall Street Journal again hailed the Playhouse and Artistic Associate Hunter Foster in its Best of the Year listings for its production of “42nd Street” and in 2019 labeled the Playhouse “one of the best regional theaters on the East coast.” Box office records have been repeatedly broken by signature productions of “Steel Magnolias” directed by Marsha Mason, “Mamma Mia!” directed by John Tartaglia and “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,” “Million Dollar Quartet,” “42nd Street,” and “Guys & Dolls” (all directed by Hunter Foster). In 2021, the team developed and presented Candace Bushnell’s “Is There Still Sex in the City,” which the Playhouse then partnered to move to New York. Recent critically acclaimed productions include “Tick, Tick .. Boom!” with Andy Mientus and “The Bridges of Madison County” with Tony-nominee Kate Baldwin and Nicholas Rodriguez. The creative teams who come to create new productions at the Playhouse are among the most talented artists working in the professional theatre today and relish the opportunity to work on the historic stage where Grace Kelly, Robert Redford, and Jessica Walter began their careers.
