Wilson Memorial High School students will present “Grease” this weekend in the high school’s auditorium.
Austin Gilbert, who teaches piano and choir at the high school, said “Grease” was chosen last year after students performed in “Once Upon a Mattress” and previously performed “Little Women” in 2023.
“We had a fun time with that, but we wanted something a little bit more modern and recognizable for the kids. The music for this one is much more sing-able and similar styles of music to what the kids listen to [in 2025],” Gilbert said.
“Grease” provides an upbeat and fun escape from the two previous productions.
“‘Grease‘ was a pretty good option for the cast we knew that we were going to have,” Gilbert said of the 35 actors, stage crew and pit orchestra. This year’s cast includes several male students with plenty of talent for “Grease.”
Gilbert said he hopes audience members take away from the show the fun and love the students have of “Grease,” which Wilson Memorial students made their own.
“They have really taken everything and made it their own, adding their own personality to the characters and taking ownership of it every step of the way,” Gilbert said.
Some students knew of the 1978 film starring John Travolta and the late Olivia Newton-John, but some were not familiar.
Stage Director John Tindall said he hopes the show “sparks a few memories” for audience members and that they have a good time. He has helped educate the students on the details and nuances of the show so that they understand what was considered a joke in the 1950s and the vernacular of the time.
According to Gilbert, audience members will have a glimpse of the 1950s in America. A few songs in the musical production were not in the film.
“It’s been awesome. I think, I would say the most fun role I’ve ever played,” said Joe Pincock, who brings “Danny Zuko” to the stage. Pinock’s mother portrayed a member of the ensemble cast of “Grease” when she was in high school. Pincock said he appreciates musicals as an actor because “what everyone is here for is the singing and dancing. And that’s what I love. It makes it so much more fun.”
Audiences recently saw Pincock as “Capt. Alexander Smollett” in “Treasure Island” at ShenanArts, a production which was interrupted during rehearsals because of snow. Performance dates for “Grease” have also been altered because of today’s snow day.
Pincock has prepared for his role as “Danny” by listening to the music of his favorite artist, Steven Sanchez, who created an album with a 50s and 60s feel.
“I want them, if I were to be specific, I want them to see the chemistry that the Greasers have,” Pincock said of what he hopes audience members take away from seeing the show. “We’ve worked so hard together.”
Pincock said that “Grease” is the fourth production in which he and Miley Thomas have been cast as couples. Pincock and Thomas have been friends since 5th grade.
The youngest member of the lead roles, Marissa Spencer, 15, will bring “Jan” to the high school’s stage. “Grease” is her first high school production. Marissa was completely unfamiliar with the film before the production and rented the film from the library.
“I hope they’ll think it’s good and fun that that they’ll like the music,” Marissa said. She enjoys the song “Mooning” in the musical which is not in the film.
Thomas is in 11th grade at Wilson Memorial and will bring “Sandy Olsson” to the stage. She performed in Wilson’s “Little Women” and “Once Upon a Mattress.”
“It was kind of scary at first,” Thomas said of preparing her role, because everyone has an image of who they think “Sandy” should be. “It was really intimidating for me to try to be who everyone wants me to be, but I think I had to find the “Sandy” that I want to be.”
She said she has made “Sandy” into her own and given her a little more sass than audiences will remember the character having in the movie. Thomas thought it was important as an actor to make the character more believable and give her a little bit of herself as an individual off stage.
“I think it’s really hard to act as a character you have nothing in common with so that was one of my techniques to bring myself into her a little bit,” Thomas said.
Thomas said “Grease” is still relevant to teens in 2025, who need to know how to enjoy life. Life in high school can be difficult for teenagers who are trying to figure out what to do with their lives after high school.
“I think the show is a great reminder that life isn’t that serious,” Thomas said.
If students return to Augusta County Schools on Wednesday, Gilbert said the show will open February 14 with an evening performance on Saturday, Feb. 15, and matinee and evening performances on Sunday, Feb. 16. If school is out again on Wednesday for snow, however, “Grease” will open on Saturday with matinee and evening performances on Sunday and an evening performance on Monday, Feb. 17.
Wilson Memorial High School is at 189 Hornet Road, Fishersville. Tickets are available online.
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Rebecca Barnabi
