Kelrik Productions Presents GREASE, 6/22-7/8

Rydell High visits San Luis Obispo as Kelrik Productions presents the 1950's musical, Grease. This "gritty musical is packed with explosive energy, vibrant 1950's pop culture and all those unforgettable songs including Summer Nights, Hopelessly Devoted, Greased Lightnin', Beauty School Dropout, We Go Together and many more! Come see the 'Burger Palace Boys' and 'Pink Ladies' sing and dance their way across way across the stage of Unity June 22 - July 8 ! It's the most ELECTRIFYING EXTRAVAGANZA on stage! Be there or be square!"

After spending a hopelessly devoted summer with Sandy Dumbrowski (Ali Peters), the new girl in town, Danny Zuko's (Brady Beckstead) world is thrown upside down when Sandy appears at Rydell High on the first day of school. What follows is a rock n' roll celebration of growin' up, cruisin' with friends and goin' steady. 

Directed by Erik Austin and choreographed by Holly Patterson, GREASE features costume design by Keith Wetzel, lighting design by Ryan Manus and musical direction by Lacey McNamara. GREASE features book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and WarRen Casey. Everywhere it opened, Grease struck a universal chord with its irresistible mix of adolescent angst, vibrant physicality and 1950s pop culture. Jim Jacobs and WarRen Casey created a perfect period piece - a pastiche of the 1950s - which is "fast, furious and thrilling, an injection of raw energy ... and fun, fun, fun" (Hilary Bonner - Daily Mirror) GREASE has maintained its everlasting popularity - proving that teenage angst and love's young dream remains timeless and universal.

GREASE originated in Chicago and made its premiere at The Kingston Mines Theater in 1971 before making its New York premiere off-Broadway at the Eden Theatre on February 14, 1972. After 128 sold-out performances, the show made the transition to Broadway taking up residence at the Broadhurst Theatre on June 7, 1972. GREASE was nominated for seven Tony Awards in its spectacular initial run. On November 21, 1972, the show moved to the Royale Theatre before making its final transfer on January 20, 1980 to the Majestic Theatre. It closed as the longest running show in Broadway history after playing 3,388 performances.

In 1978, GREASE became a hugely popular feature film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the lead roles. A Broadway revival opened on May 11, 1994 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre where it played 1,503 performances and won three Tony Award nominations. The new Broadway production of GREASE opened on August 19, 2007 and was nominated for a 2008 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.

The film version of GREASE produced one of the best-selling soundtracks in history and is the highest-grossing movie musical of all time. The two Travolta/Newton-John duets, You're The One That I Want and Summer Nights were both #1 hits. The song Hopelessly Devoted to You was nominated for an Academy Award (1979) for Best Music - Original Song and the film's title song, Grease, was a #1 smash hit single for singer Frankie Valli.

Tickets to GREASE can be purchased online at www.kelrikproductions.org, or at Cheap Thrills 563 Higuera Street in San Luis Obispo.   Grease will perform at Unity, 1490 Southwood Drive in San Luis Obispo, from June 22 - July 8. Please note the family-friendly performance schedule: Friday and Saturday evening performances at 7PM and Sunday matinees at 2PM  Ticket prices are $14 -$20. Discounts are available for full-time students, seniors and groups of 15 or more.

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