It had not been announced what the play was yet, the hints seemed to point that it would be “Grease." Director Kevan Brown finally announced, "This is a show students have wanted to do year after year, and I finally gave in.” Grease is the word.
I remember when the signup sheet was posted last fall. Rachel was so excited and wanted to be a part of the high school play. So, she immediately signed up and informed Michael she had signed him up, too.
Before long the practices started. Some Sundays, Rachel and Michael were anxious and ready to go. Other Sundays they moaned that they had no free time. Nevertheless, they crawled into the van and off they went up to the gym at NCC every Sunday, for the next six months, where they faithfully met for several hours.
Before long Rachel and Michael learned the hand motions to the “Hand Jive” and the dance steps to “Grease Lightning.” We all started whistling the tunes in”Grease.”
Early spring brought on a new phase of practices, they were now meeting after school a couple days a week, in addition to the Sunday practices. Costumes from the late 1950’s were coming together. Michael with hair slicked, wore jeans, white t-shirt and leather jacket with Converse type shoes. Rachel wore a pair of pedal pushers, a 50’s type blouse, and chiffon scarf around her neck, along with bobby socks and white cloth gym shoes. Things were definitely coming together.
For several months, more than 150 students had been preparing for the school's musical performance of Grease. On Saturday, April 25th, our family went to see Grease. Amy, Jeff, Brandon, Philip, Katie, Nathan, Phil, and I sat in the third row as the speakers blared tunes from the 1950’s. Once the curtains opened it was a magical night, one that seemed to transport us back to Rydell High. We were taken back to a simpler time when youth, high school and love was all that mattered.
All those practices paid off, the performance was flawless.
I have now seen five performances, not once to be disappointed. I even know most of the lines and the words to most of the songs. Last night, Phil and I went to the last performance. The gym was jam packed with parents, family and friends. Again, another excellent performance, but with something noticeably different. There was a certain amount of melancholy, especially in the senior’s eyes. They must have realized what a very special performance this was. Something special, that they didn’t want to let go of.
As of last night, the play was over. No more practices, costumes or after play parties. Sundays are free once more. But, I think I know what the students were trying to hang onto last night. Yes, even I am sitting here with my pink Grease t-shirt, still humming the tunes and remembering, Grease is word.
I remember when the signup sheet was posted last fall. Rachel was so excited and wanted to be a part of the high school play. So, she immediately signed up and informed Michael she had signed him up, too.
Before long the practices started. Some Sundays, Rachel and Michael were anxious and ready to go. Other Sundays they moaned that they had no free time. Nevertheless, they crawled into the van and off they went up to the gym at NCC every Sunday, for the next six months, where they faithfully met for several hours.
Before long Rachel and Michael learned the hand motions to the “Hand Jive” and the dance steps to “Grease Lightning.” We all started whistling the tunes in”Grease.”
Early spring brought on a new phase of practices, they were now meeting after school a couple days a week, in addition to the Sunday practices. Costumes from the late 1950’s were coming together. Michael with hair slicked, wore jeans, white t-shirt and leather jacket with Converse type shoes. Rachel wore a pair of pedal pushers, a 50’s type blouse, and chiffon scarf around her neck, along with bobby socks and white cloth gym shoes. Things were definitely coming together.
For several months, more than 150 students had been preparing for the school's musical performance of Grease. On Saturday, April 25th, our family went to see Grease. Amy, Jeff, Brandon, Philip, Katie, Nathan, Phil, and I sat in the third row as the speakers blared tunes from the 1950’s. Once the curtains opened it was a magical night, one that seemed to transport us back to Rydell High. We were taken back to a simpler time when youth, high school and love was all that mattered.
All those practices paid off, the performance was flawless.
I have now seen five performances, not once to be disappointed. I even know most of the lines and the words to most of the songs. Last night, Phil and I went to the last performance. The gym was jam packed with parents, family and friends. Again, another excellent performance, but with something noticeably different. There was a certain amount of melancholy, especially in the senior’s eyes. They must have realized what a very special performance this was. Something special, that they didn’t want to let go of.
As of last night, the play was over. No more practices, costumes or after play parties. Sundays are free once more. But, I think I know what the students were trying to hang onto last night. Yes, even I am sitting here with my pink Grease t-shirt, still humming the tunes and remembering, Grease is word.
Michael (center) and Rachel (far right) take their final bow after the last performance.
