The halls of Mamaroneck High School have been transformed into Rydell High, and the T-Birds and Pink Ladies are ready to take the stage! With this year’s production of Grease, the MHS Music Department will have you ready to get up out of your seats and dance!

Every year, the music department puts on a school-wide musical production open to any student who wants to participate in the cast, crew, or pit orchestra. This year, they are performing the 1978 blockbuster movie turned musical, Grease! 

Director and PACE Dance teacher Allison Parsley chose Grease because she felt that even though the show takes place in the 50s, it’s still “relatable to teens today.” Parsley was focused on finding a show that “chose a show that students could connect to.” Besides the relatability for the performers, Parsley was drawn to Grease because so many people know the “iconic” music. She cited popular songs such as Hound Dog by Elvis Presley and Those Magic Changes by Sha Na Na as well-known hits that would provoke the audience to sing along.

Still, Parsley initially worried they would send the wrong message with the old views on gender norms present in Grease. 

“In the 1950’s women were expected to be quiet, polite, and demure,” notes Parsley. 

The general storyline of Grease is infused with some of these ideas. Mainly, Sandy changed herself for Danny. However, Parsley emphasizes that Sandy “also may have been breaking societal standards and becoming who she was meant to be.” With that undertone acknowledged, Parsley “want[s] this show to say, ‘We should be who we are no matter what other people think.’”

Once the show was chosen, it was time to get started. Parsley casted seniors Florence Haines (Sandy) and Jason Robalino (Danny) as the show’s central couple. Both Haines and Robalino have been a part of all four school musicals  since their freshman year, performing in Chicago, Footloose, Newsies, and now Grease. 

Although the show revolves around Sandy and Danny’s love story, it is  not exclusively focused on the couple; the story spreads the  spotlight between the entire group of boys, the T-birds, and girls, The Pink Ladies. Each character has their own development throughout the show. Other love stories blossom, such as that between Jan (Maryleigh Moroz) and Rodger (Chris Glider), and young adults debate their place in the world, such as Frenchie (Ashley Cosiver) who explores her desire to attend beauty school.

These plot lines are very relevant to their respective performers who are experiencing similar things as teenagers. Robalino echoes this sentiment, stating that it feels very natural “with the group of boys [in the show], the T-Birds,” it is easy because “we are kind of just a group of boys doing the same thing they’re doing.” This show allows students like Robalino to connect with their characters, on and off the stage. 

Since mostly juniors and seniors are playing the leading roles, the faculty creative team relies on these upperclassmen to guide the underclassmen. This year, Parsley remarks that the seniors have “risen to that occasion” and that she is “incredibly grateful” to them.

While a tremendous amount of work goes into the show from all the actors on stage, an equal amount of work goes into it from the crew backstage. The backstage crew’s job is to ensure the show goes smoothly and handle any mix-ups. For example, a prop or piece of the set could break, someone’s costume could fall apart, or someone could go missing. 

Stage Manager Lina Jimenez (’25), is in charge of posting schedules, creating plans for rehearsals on weekends, and set production. During the actual shows, she is backstage, giving directions to the lights and sound teams, and actors, and sometimes helps with costumes. She, along with the rest of the backstage crew, plays a crucial role in the communication between the cast and directors. She says the most challenging part about managing the stage is “being friends with everybody, but still having to be strict.” If the cast isn’t listening or is getting sidetracked, it is her “responsibility” to refocus them.

Crozier explains how the musical allows students to connect with singing in ways they might not have been able to in the past saying “So many kids love to sing at MHS. It’s just a matter of getting plugged into the right community. The spotlight isn’t for everyone, but there are so many opportunities. They just need to find their space.”

Accompanying the vocals cultivated by Crozier, the pit orchestra is another key part of the production. 

Directed by orchestra teacher Elyse Mullen, the Grease pit is made up of all instruments played by students in the band, choir, and orchestra at MHS. Violinist Isla Dapkins (’26) describes her experience in the pit as “an experience like no other.” It is uncommon to have a primarily student pit as most high schools use professional musicians, Grease allows MHS music students to connect with the show.

The student cast, crew, musicians, and faculty have been working tirelessly since October in rehearsals for three nights on stage. Catch the MHS Music Department’s performance of Grease The Musical, High School Edition February 6, 7, and 8 at the McClain auditorium. Tickets for and more information are available at cur8.com. 

“You don’t want to miss it” exclaimed Crozier. “It’s a very high-energy show…the students have put a lot of work into it, and I think everyone will be surprised with how [professional] it has turned out!”