November 23, 2024: Saturday: 7:30 p.m., Bowling Green, Kentucky, Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center, Ramsey Theater Company: “Grease” https://www.theskypac.com/
This was my first attendance at a Ramsey Theater Company production and I was very curious to see and hear just what this is all about. “Grease” is a great show to cut your teeth on and it offers the audience a show with music that was a huge part of pop culture in the 70s. I have seen a lot of theater, from the best that Broadway has to offer to great productions by small companies in places you’ve never heard of. Admittedly, I am not an easy audience, but I am a fair audience…I think.
Having said that…I was overwhelmed by the quality of this production and the performance altogether. The SKYPAC is as good as any theater that I have been to and it has everything it needs to be a first-class venue. The quality of lights, sound, and the ample size of the theater give it a real big time feel. So, if you have never been to Broadway and have no intention of going now is your chance to see good productions right in your backyard. In fact, it could be argued that SKYPAC is bigger and better than many theaters on Broadway.
The good news is that I believe both evenings, Friday and Saturday nights, were both very well attended. I had to take a back row seat in the Mezzanine because everything else was sold. It does my heart a lot of good to see people going to the theater and having such a great time. I’m quite proud of my town having accomplished this monumental feat. Things will only get better and better.
Now, to the show.
There was no program available and to give credit where credit is due I added these from SKYPAC’s website for your reference.
Diane DiCroce, the newly hired Producing Artistic Director for the Ramsey Theater and BG OnStage, directed the show with obvious knowledge and skill for the genre. The show was excellently paced, the dialogues were crisp and the choreography was effective. The characters were clearly defined and staged in a very fluid manner. The show can be graphic for the southern Kentucky audience but it seemed well balanced to give the effect without ‘going there’ all the way. The set, costumes, and make-up were well done and carried even into the last row of the theater.
Sandy, Olivia Peavler, was well sung and acted performance. She delivered in every sense of the word and wasn’t a shy performer in playing a “Shy girl.” Danny, Jared Goodwin, met all of the demands of the role vocally and physically. Rizzo, Jackie Bonsignore, is dead on in every facet of her performance. From voice, to dancing, to speaking, her every manor displayed the character as well as it can be done. Kenickie, Noah Carson, was a good ole ‘tough guy’ to Rizzo’s ‘tough girl’.
The supporting cast around the quartet was very well chosen and filled their roles vocally as well as in their characters. It was a joy to watch them work so well together in the ensemble piece that Grease is. Dilly Kim Doherty, as Marty; Jake Dukes, Doody; Hallie Slouch, Frenchie; Dale Magee, Roger; Laura King, Jan; Nate Simpson, Sonny; Ashlee Wilson, Miss Lynch; Johnnie Mikel Boswell, Teen Angel; Tony Rose, Vince Fontaine.
Abby Murphy, Patty, having seen her perform several times in the past was a pleasant surprise as the proper nerd cheerleader. Christian Petersen, Eugene; Lacey Steele, Cha Cha; Benjamin Carter, Johnny Casino rounded out the named cast members and did them well.
Ensemble members: Amelia Bowen, Bern Miranda, Kyndrah Shoulders, Billy Durbin; Swings Erin Burtchaell, Zachary Dyer were solid additions to the cast. Cadence Stilz and Morgan Cook are listed as understudies.
The band was on a platform above the stage over the ‘garage’ doors which was an excellent idea. They were very good but I don’t know who they are since there is no program for the evening. They didn’t miss a beat.
In the opera Aida they have elephants. I guess in musicals its cars! “Grease Lightning” was definitely a hit and the floor of the stage was a checker board resembling black and white tiles of the classic days at the Ice Cream Parlor. The use of neon lighting and moving sets were both clever and effective.
The question is: “Can I evaluate this production as a professional production?”
The answer is a resounding ‘yes’. That is a huge accomplishment, make no mistake about it. It is only a shame there are only 2 performances. It deserves more. Well done, everyone!
Visit https://www.theskypac.com/ to find out more about the upcoming Christmas season offerings and beyond!
