The cast of Grease gave an unforgettable performance on their closing night—a musical that captured their hard work, showcasing their passion for the art of theatre to the audience in the Marshall auditorium, Jan. 17.

“Performing the first two shows were amazing,” senior Roman Rodriguez said. “There was so much positive energy on stage when everyone was moving in sync.”

The energy transcended the performances, as the cast members found joy in working together and forming stronger bonds throughout the production. 

“I enjoyed working with everyone and building chemistry with all my cast mates,” Rodriguez said.

One of the leads speaks on her cherished moments from preparing for Grease.

“My favorite part about this entire process has for sure been getting to see all the visions come to life,” Aubree Hernandez, the actress for ‘Sandy’, said. “From marking things in rehearsal, playing pretend with nonexistent sets and trying to picture costumes, wigs, makeup and so much more.” 

For the cast, the long journey from preparing for Grease to final production has been an unforgettable experience, allowing each performer to embrace their roles mentally and physically, bringing the story of Grease to life.

“I felt so honored and blessed that I got a chance to play the role of Danny Zuko,” Rodriguez said. “Playing a role that has been portrayed by John Travolta is something that you can’t take lightly and I was ready for the challenge.” 

Rodriguez recognized that playing this role would require higher energy, so he immediately started preparing.  

“I’ve played basketball for 12 years and it took a lot on my body, so when I got back into playing a very physical character like Danny, it made me get back to training,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez’s physical preparation for his role was just one of many challenges the cast faced during production.

“A challenge I faced during this show was remembering my part of the songs,” senior Carmen Larish, ‘Frenchie’, said. “I focused and I learned the songs well enough that I instinctively sing my parts now.”

And although the cast mentioned that there were challenges to overcome, each member worked hard to improve their skills. But of course, the support from each other was the most impactful. Rodriguez mentions how he is proud of everyone and their growth, especially ‘Sandy’, played by Hernandez. 

“I’m super proud of her and how she handled her character,” Rodriguez said. “She truly made her character iconic and one of a kind.”

There is nothing but unconditional support and love when it comes to theatre, but it doesn’t automatically stop the fear of failing.

“I was very, very, very nervous about playing lead,” Hernandez ‘Sandy’ said. “But everyone in the cast and crew were so kind and supportive and made me feel so comfortable and confident.” 

As the musical comes to an end, the cast is able to take a moment to interpret what this musical means.

“Everyone thinks of Grease as a story about a girl changing herself for a man and I disagree,”  Larish said. “I think it’s a story about finding your own sense of worth.” 

Larish’s interpretation of the musical reflects how much thought and heart the cast and crew put into producing Grease, shown also through other cast members’ commentary about the anxieties the characters face trying to fit in and be perceived in a certain way.

“It’s present in how Danny and Sandy both change themselves to make themselves believe they belonged with the other,” Hernandez said. “I think we all have a better idea today of how changing yourself to fit in shouldn’t be necessary.” 

The story deeply resonates with the cast beyond its iconic songs and dances. Hernandez and Larish’s interpretation paired with everyone’s hard work made the production into something extraordinary.

“Grease is the word!” Hernandez said.