REVIEW: Grease at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
Grease is playing at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre now through October 4th
We go together like... dinner and a show? Truly, there is no better combination than that, and that’s exactly what the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre is serving up this spring and summer with the production of Grease.
Growing up, Grease was never really on my radar; however, I always felt like everyone had this “special memory” with it. Mine, ironically, didn’t come until later in life when I was in Chicago on a trip with some friends. It was around the time Olivia Newton-John had passed away, and a channel was playing the movie nonstop for the entire weekend. We had it on in the hotel room constantly, each of us taking turns at specific parts and songs.
The cast of Grease at the Chanhassen is now bonded forever with their own special memory of this show. After weeks of rehearsals leading up to opening night, tragedy struck when the Twin Cities’ beloved artist Michael Brindisi passed away. Brindisi served as the Chanhassen’s President and Artistic Director and had directed countless productions. The performance started with a dedication and a toast to him on his final production, while also sharing how Grease held a special place in his heart after the show saved him from throwing in the towel on this business.
While many know Grease as the typical story of a girl meeting a boy, the staged musical version is so much more than that. While the movie focuses on the two and their relationship, what I love about the musical is the extra layers it provides. I truly believe Grease is a love letter to the people who made us who we are today, and for many, that’s the people we went to high school with. I’m still extremely close to those people. Our group chat thrives, we get together all the time, and we are all celebrating one of us getting married this fall.
What I love about Grease is that it genuinely is just a good time. While the lessons of the show are there, they aren’t overly heavy. There is great music, phenomenal dancing choreographed by Tamara Kangas Erickson, and a ton of laughs. I can’t imagine how much fun it must be to perform this every night. While the show does focus on Danny and Sandy, played by Sam Stoll and Dayle Theisen, what I really want to dive into is the incredible ensemble that is... the Pink Ladies.
I want to say that the whole cast is wickedly talented, but there was something about the Pink Ladies that just had me laughing and smiling the entire time. They are phenomenal. As a group, they play off each other so well and have such a camaraderie on stage. Angela Steele plays Marty and has such a sharp wit that it’s refreshing to watch, especially with a role that the movie doesn’t explore as much. Katemarie Andrews plays Frenchy and is delightfully sweet in a role that has so much heart. Jan is brought to life by Suzie Juul and is absolutely hilarious with fantastic comedic timing. Her duet of the song “Mooning” with Evan Tyler Wilson, who plays Roger, was a highlight of the evening.
Last but certainly not least is their fearless leader, Rizzo, played by Anna Hashizume. Rizzo is an extremely underrated role in musical theatre. Not only does she have the greatest song in the show, “There Are Worse Things I Could Do,” but she also has such a lovely arc that we get to see throughout the performance. Hashizume plays her brilliantly, finding vulnerability in the tough chick who is one of the original Queen Bees of the school.
If you’re looking for something fun to do this year, I highly suggest taking a night off, gathering some friends, and enjoying dinner and a show. Grease is a fun, energetic night that really took me out of the dark world we’re living in right now, and isn’t that what we all need? As always, a special shout-out to the dining and wait staff at the Chanhassen. I’ve never had a bad meal or bad service when I’m there. Incredibly warm and welcoming staff.
Grease is playing at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre now through October 4th. Tickets can be purchased here.