Close to 150 young singers, dancers and actors from Port Stephens will take part in the arena spectacular Grease in July, a figure that surprises even them.
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“I had no idea that many were in it,” Hunter Stevens, 14, from Tanilba Bay said.
All up, the musical will feature 800 children from the Hunter and Central Coast.
The large ensemble, featuring children of all ages, are students of Rydell High School.
They will support the main cast which includes Meghan O’Shea (Singing in the Rain) and Drew Weston (Ghost the Musical) as the iconic Grease lovers Sandy and Danny.
Grease the Arena Experience is produced by Harvest Rain.
It follows in the footsteps of its previous arena spectaculars Cats and Hairspray.
For Stevens and Enyah Farmer, 13, from Salamander Bay, Grease will be their second arena spectacular experience after appearing in Hairspray last year.
But for other young performers such as Jordan Lovelace, 16, Isla Farmer, 17 (from Salamander Bay), Charnice McGrath, 17, Jade House, 12 (Tanilba Bay) and Clare Moir, 10 (Seaham) Grease will be their first big production experience.
“The practices are pretty hectic,” McGrath said. “But I’m really enjoying it. I’ve been able to meet so many people I wouldn’t have otherwise.”
Grease is the timelessly funny story of 1950s teen love, cliques, and peer pressure.
The arena spectacular will include all the favourite Grease characters – Kenickie (Barry Conrad), Rizzo (Ruby Clark) and Frenchie (Stacey de Waard) – plus songs such as You're the One That I Want, Greased Lightnin', Summer Nights and Beauty School Drop Out.
Also billed in the line up is triple CMAA Golden Guitar winner Travis Collins as Johnny Casino, plus Nick Gill, one half of the Hit 106.9FM breakfast radio show Nick and Sophie, as radio announcer Vince Fontaine.
The production has just left Brisbane. Practice is now underway in anticipation for the Newcastle shows.
Grease the Arena Experience will be performed at Newcastle Entertainment Centre in the July school holiday.
Just four shows will be performed: Friday, July 14 from 7.30pm, Saturday, July 15 at 2pm and 7.30pm and on Sunday, July 16 at 1pm. Tickets, available from Ticketek, start at $75.
The Examiner has one double pass to give away to the Friday, July 14 (7pm) show.
To win, send your name and daytime contact number in an email titled “Grease” to news@pse.fairfax.com.au.
The winner will be notified by 5pm on Monday, July 3.
