For Oconee Youth Playhouse, 'Grease' is the word

Oconee Youth Playhouse will present the ever-popular musical "Grease" at the Oconee County Civic Center on two consecutive weekends, Jan. 8-10 and 15-17.

With book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, "Grease" premiered on Broadway in 1972, became a smash-hit movie in 1978, and has had two recent Broadway revivals.

The show is set in the late 1950s at fictional Rydell High School and follows the up-and-down romance of Sandy Dumbrowski, the new girl at school, and "greaser" Danny Zuko.

"The '50s was a great era for music, and 'Grease' has so many fun numbers for the cast to perform," said Shane Hannon, who is co-directing the show with his wife, Terra. "We have a terrific cast, and I know the audience will enjoy the high-energy, large-ensemble dance numbers."

Two students from North Oconee High School have the lead roles: sophomore Jackie Raye is Sandy, and senior Nate Squires is Danny. Abbey Hufstetler, a freshman at the University of Georgia, plays bad girl Rizzo, while the other "Pink Ladies" are Collier Cobb, an NOHS sophomore; Anna Cail, who is home-schooled; and Kelli Bull, a UGA sophomore.

Other local high school students with featured parts include Dayne Joyner, an NOHS junior; Chase Brantley, a junior at Athens Academy; Adam Leed, an NOHS freshman; Emmeline Hale, a sophomore at Athens Academy; Wendy H

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