CASTING COMPLETED FOR “GREASE” AT THEATRE 29

Casting has been completed and rehearsals are under way the for summer hit Blockbuster Musical production of “GREASE” at Theatre 29.

The Broadway smash, which went on to become a massive movie success with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John is the 5th show for the Theatre 29 2008 season.

“GREASE” is Directed by Gary Daigneault as the Artistic director and Ed Will as the Musical Director. Shelby Art is the Choreographer and Thomas Highfill is the Technical Director. Mary Phelps is serving as the “Directors brain”, the Assistant Director. The lighting designer is Ken Palmer and Cheryl Gilon is the Stage Manager with Charlotte Williams as the Costume coordinator.

Cast as the “Bad Boy” male lead Danny Zuko, the epitome of cool, is Theatre 29 veteran Graham Cooley, Cooley is currently playing the lead role in the Romantic Comedy “Scapin” and was Conrad Birdie in the recent production of the musical “Bye-Bye Birdie”.

Selected for the female lead Sandy Dumbrowski, the innocent new girl in town, is newcomer Julia Ortman. Ortman just moved to the Morongo Basin when her Marine husband was attached to the Twentynine Palms Marine base.

The tough and jaded (but with a good heart) Betty Rizzo is played by Theatre 29 veteran Shelby Art. At 16, Art has racked up an impressive list of credits with Theater 29 and 29 Palms High School.

cast as “Kenicke”, the car-loving burger palace boy and proud owner of “Greased Lightning” was Peter Roeleveld, on summer hiatus from U.C. Riverside where he is a music student. Roeleveld made his stage debut last year as sidekick “Chad” in Disney’s High School Musical.

The good-natured “Frenchy”, who dreams of becoming a beautician, will be played by Yucca Valley High School Freshman Lauren Schmelling. Schmelling has appeared in productions at the Hi-Desert Playhouse, La Contenta Middle School and was also in the cast of “High School Musical” at Theatre 29 last year.

The part of the good-natured compulsive eater “Jan” will be played by 29 Palms High School student and “High School Musical” veteran Jessica Lomeli.

The perpetually effervescent High School cheerleader Patty Simcox will be played by Yucca Valley High School student Melissa Phelps. Phelps is also a veteran at Theater 29 with numerous appearances there.

Local theater legend, the multi-talented actor and Director Charles Harvey, will make a cameo appearance as the local WAXX Radio personality Vince Fontaine. Musical Director Ed Will also takes on a cameo as entertainer "Johnny Casino"

Making his first-time ever stage appearance is 29 Palms High School student Jose Mendoza as the hanger on Doody. Roger, the goofy “King of the Mooners” is being played by Troy Conway, also a Theatre 29 veteran and 29 Palms High School student.

Rounding out the cast is Sabrina Hughes as Cha-Cha DiGregorio, Cindy Ross as Mrs. Lynch, Cathy Inscore as the coach, Colleen Eskridge as Agnes, and Brynn Tooman as the School Secretary.

“GREASE” will open July 18th and run five weekends on Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:00pm through August 16. A Thursday performance will be offered at 7:00pm July 31, with a Sunday Matinee August 10th at 2:30pm.

The opening night gala will be sponsored by the Hi-Desert Medical Center Foundation as a fund-raiser.

The John Calveri Theater of Theatre 29 is located 73637 Sullivan Road, just off Adobe Road South of State Route 62 in Twentynine Palms.

Tickets are $10.00 for Regular admission, $8.00 for Seniors and Military, and $6.00 for Children under 12 and Students with ID.

Tickets are available by calling the Theatre 29 Box Office at 760-361-4151 or online at www.theatre29.com .

Theatre 29 was founded in 1999 as a non-profit Community Theatre and is an IRS 501(c)3 registered tax-exempt organization (ID# 55-0808217). They operate in a building provided “In the Public Good” by the City of Twentynine Palms.