Don’t let your summer dreams be ripped at the seams–Come on out and see the Carnegie production of Grease! You don’t want to miss!
Review by Shelby Coleman
This week, The Carnegie opened their production of Grease playing through August 24. Welcome to Rydell High, where romances are budding, cliques are all the rage and “Grease” is the word.
The Story of Grease
From the opening musical number, Grease is the Word! It is clear to see that the Carnegie has gone above and beyond with set, costumes and talent alike. The classic movie Grease that we all know and love is brought to life on the stage in this non- stop musical extravaganza!
Grease follows the romance between Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko. These two summer lovers who suddenly find their lives intertwined in the fine social nuances of the high school social scene. Full of songs and quotes that we all know and love, the Carnegie breaths new energy into this larger than life production. Can Danny keep his roving roustabout status AND the heart of Sandy? Join the entire gang as they sing and dance through the rollercoaster high school romance.
Fabulous Leads
Monique Churchill leads this fabulous cast, playing the role of Sandy. Although Churchill is no newcomer to the Carnegie stage, she soars to new heights in this role. (She was previously seen as Gertude in Seussical and Lauren in Kinky Boots.) Churchill brings the perfect mix of naivety and sincerity to “Sandra Dee”. It is no secret that Churchill’s vocals are always magnificent, yet in this new role she is still able to surprise us. Hitting notes with power and grace in Hopelessly Devoted and It’s Raining on Prom Night, Churchill shows her incredible skills and technique that allow her to take on any role. Churchill is exceptional in conveying Sandy’s innocent personality and confident attitude.
The chemistry she creates with Danny (Nick Abouzeid) and the understanding of their characters’ relationship is strong. This gives their characters’ scenes the freedom to be as fun and tumultuous as they deserve. Churchill’s switch into the Pink Ladies during Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee shows her flawless intuition and choices as an actress. It is fantastic to see bits and pieces of the old Sandy interspersed with this new bad girl persona to win what’s most important, her summer love.
Designers Elevate the Show
From the opening musical number in Grease is the Word, the audience is thrown right into the world of TBirds and Pink Ladies, the Burger Palace and Rydell High. The set design by Tyler Gabbard and lighting design from Julie Cowger is truly world-class, working in unison to create spectacular full cast numbers pieces that gathered collective awe from the entire audience. Cowger’s lighting design is especially impactful in giving the production the flashy edge that pushes a more reserved and resourceful set over the top. Gabbard and Cowger have worked together on many productions and have found the perfect formula for creating breath taking worlds on the Carnegie stage.
It is clear from the costumes, large groups and excited faces of multiple generations within the audience, the title Grease alone pulls you in. So what makes this production the must see musical of the summer? It’s one unforgettable hit after the next. From upbeat tracks that make you want to hand jive in the aisles to heart wrenching melodies, the music is the driving force of the production and the Carnegie did not skimp out on talent to fill these musical numbers.
Solid Ensemble
New faces on the Carnegie stage provide many sStand out performances. The performers in the TBirds such as Anthony J Contreras as Doody, Evan Blust as Kenickie, Carter Minor as Sonny, Nick Abouzeid as Danny and Jack Haroutunian as Roger captured the BIG personalities on the gang. They bring a childish and playful spirit to the sometimes-crude humor of the TBirds. This makes the production perfect for audiences members of all ages. Contreras’ wide-eyed and positive outlook in life brings a sense of innocence that infects other members of the TBirds. Although tough and uncaring on the outside, each TBird has a moment to show us their tender and unsure boy underneath. This juxtaposition between the personas they put into the world and who they are behind closed doors, brings a new level of understanding and authenticity to the audiences.
Jack Haroutunian as Roger and Grace Baker as Jan are other stand out performances. They provide hilarious moments throughout the production. When these two actors take center stage in Mooning, we are able to see the masters of comedy they truly are. Haroutunian gives a crowd pleasing performance in this comedic number that had audiences crying from laughing. It is these hilarious interludes plus the non-stop, electrifying full cast numbers that keep audiences begging for more.
Excellent Casting
Whoever was in charge of casting this production deserves a pat on the back for how every cast member matches their more-famous film counterparts in personality yet somehow supersedes them in understanding of their characters. Specifically, Evan Blust and Indya Lincicome in their exceptional performances as Kenickie and Rizzo, capturing the loud, rowdy attitude of their characters perfectly. These two command the stage whenever they enter. Lincicome gets her moment to shine in her emotion-driven rendition of There Are Worse Things I Could Do, which gave me a clearer understanding to the meaning behind those lyrics than I have ever had before. Lincicome’s vocal chops matched with her impeccable empathy towards Rizzo brings new light to this much-loved musical number.
Blust brings to life the infamous number from this production and the film, Greased Lightnin’. Blust’s commitment to the bad boy and belief in what the “hunk of junk” can become mirrors his belief in the TBirds. Blust gives a boisterous and eye catching performance that is sure to be remembered.
Solid Production Details
Throughout the entire production, the glitz and glamour of the 50’s is evident in the utterly stunning costumes by costume designer Cat Schmeal-Swope. Schmeal-Swope adds a modern spin on the 50’s inspired fashion to create some vibrant, dashing looks. The dresses of the Pink Ladies and other Rydell students during the school dance is everything an audience can hope for. The attention to detail in costumes such a the sleepover looks for Freddy My Love fully immerse the audiences in the world of the production that we know and love.
Eric Byrd graces the Carnegie stage again as Director and Choreographer of this high octant production. Byrd is well known for his high energy dance moves and great use of space. His flashy full cast numbers had audiences hand jivin’ in their seats while his doo-wap smaller numbers allowed us to bop along. He even gives the audience their own time to become a part of the production which this opening night audience was screaming for. The medley at the end of a show feels like a celebration of Grease with how it has cycled through the decades. A fitting farewell to an exceptional night.
Overall
Take advantage of these last summer nights and join this incredible cast and crew at the Carnegie. Grease is a non-stop extravaganza of dazzling choreography, big laughs and a dive into one of our favorite 50s classics. The Carnegie has set yet another high bar with the atmosphere that filled the theatre on opening night. This musical is electrifying and is sure to leave you ‘mooning’ for more. With a soundtrack of iconic hits that’ll have you wanting to sing along, this is one celebration that’s you just can’t miss. Send the summer off the right way, with Grease.
Tickets to Grease at the Carnegie
Grease runs through August 24th 2025 at the Carnegie at 1028 Scott Blvd, Covington, KY 41011. Purchase tickets at the box office, online at GREASE – The Carnegie, or by calling 859-957-1940.
