Editor’s note: All Marriott Theatre performances of “The Princess and the Pea” and “Grease” after March 12 have been canceled.
Navigating the high school years has never been easy.
The situation is particularly challenging for Sandy Dumbrowski, who is new to Rydell High School. It’s even more complex because of her summer romance with classmate Danny Zuko. Their tale is told to a rock ‘n’ roll beat in the iconic musical “Grease” by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey Jan. 15-March 15 at Marriott Theatre.
Performances are 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 8 p.m. Fridays; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; and 1 and 5 p.m. Sundays; with select 1 p.m. performances on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
“It’s an American classic,” said Leryn Turlington, who plays Sandy. “The songs are so catchy.”
Turlington described her character as sheltered, noting that she envisions her as having attended Catholic schools all her life until she finds herself at Rydell.
“I think she’s open-minded and earnest because even when she’s peer-pressured — which happens a lot at this new high school — she has a lot of integrity,” Turlington said. “She wants to be herself, but also be accepted. I think that means taking in this new environment and deciding what is best. Everyone around her is doing the same because high school is about self-discovery.”
Jimmy Nicholas loves this show so much that he returned to Illinois to play Danny Zuko. Nicholas, who was raised in Johnsburg, Illinois, has lived in New York for five years since graduating from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
“I’ve always been a fan of ‘Grease,'” Nicholas said. He last performed in the show when he was in eighth grade and was disappointed because he didn’t get the role of Danny.
Nicholas said that society paints Danny as “a fun-loving, leading man, a bit of a clown, pretty boy.” But the actor believes there is more to him than that.
“He’s also pretty harsh,” Nicholas noted. “He’s very much a high-schooler. He’s cruel at times, as we all are at that age because we don’t realize the weight of our actions, but at times he can be empathetic and sweet. We see all the sides of him.”
Turlington particularly enjoys her “Summer Nights” duet with Nicholas because, “that’s the only taste we get of their summer.” Future encounters between the two of them tend to be contentious, “But in that song, Sandy gets to daydream a little bit and remember the fun summer that she had which was her first taste of this new independence.”
“Hopelessly Devoted to You,” which Turlington sings, is Nicholas’ favorite. “It’s the one that gets in my head and doesn’t want to leave,” he revealed.
“I grew up watching the movie and wore out the copy I had in VHS,” said director Scott Weinstein. When he discovered how different the musical is from the movie, Weinstein was anxious to direct it.
“The show is so fun and so funny but has a lot of heart to it,” the director said.
Even though the show is set in the ’50s, both actors and the director believe it is still relevant.
“High school has not changed one bit,” Turlington declared. “There’s still the same problems.”
Nicholas added, “When you’re talking about a sexual awakening and how boys and girls interact, that is probably one of the most relevant things you can talk about in a show right now.”
“It’s a show dealing with the kind of things that teenagers in the ’50s dealt with, that’s the same that teenagers in this generation are dealing with, and that teenagers will be dealing with for the next 50 years,” Weinstein said.
‘Grease’
When: Jan. 15-March 15
Where: Marriott Theatre, Ten Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire
Tickets: $55-$60
Information: 847-634-0200; www.marriotttheatre.com
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
![Residents and taxpayers of Barrington School District 220 rated safety and security, and a new auditorium at Barrington High School, as priorities for the school district, officials learned as community input was collected in preparation for a potential multi-million-dollar referendum that would be placed on the ballot in the November election. The data was shared with school board members April 2 by EO Sullivan Consulting, which was hired by the district to collect community feedback through phone and online surveys, four public engagement sessions and referendum advisory committee meetings. Information had been collected in three phases and began earlier this […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/PPN-L-bcr-district-220-feferend-002.jpg?w=390 "Residents and taxpayers of Barrington School District 220 rated safety and security, and a new auditorium at Barrington High School, as priorities for the school district, officials learned as community input was collected in preparation for a potential multi-million-dollar referendum that would be placed on the ballot in the November election. The data was shared with school board members April 2 by EO Sullivan Consulting, which was hired by the district to collect community feedback through phone and online surveys, four public engagement sessions and referendum advisory committee meetings. Information had been collected in three phases and began earlier this […]")
![For nearly a decade, the “Black Teen Empowerment Summit” in Township High School District 214 has included students from across the six-school district who take part in what has become an annual tradition. This year, the summit was held April 19 at Rolling Meadows High School, and featured motivational speakers and inspirational activities with goals according to organizers, to promote belonging, personal appreciation, wellness and self awareness. Principal Megan Kelly said approximately 150 students attended from across the district. The Arlington Heights-based school district has nearly 12,000 students, with 49% of them of minority heritage – including 2% African-American. “I […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PPN-L-AHP-Black-Teen-Summit-12.jpg?w=526 "For nearly a decade, the “Black Teen Empowerment Summit” in Township High School District 214 has included students from across the six-school district who take part in what has become an annual tradition. This year, the summit was held April 19 at Rolling Meadows High School, and featured motivational speakers and inspirational activities with goals according to organizers, to promote belonging, personal appreciation, wellness and self awareness. Principal Megan Kelly said approximately 150 students attended from across the district. The Arlington Heights-based school district has nearly 12,000 students, with 49% of them of minority heritage – including 2% African-American. “I […]")
![Glencoe’s Earth Day Clean-Up event on Saturday, April 20 left Glencoe Beach and the Robert Everly Wildflower Sanctuary along Linden and Jackson Avenues was renewed this year thanks to volunteers. The community clean-up began at 10 a.m. in partnership with the Glencoe Sustainability Task Force and the Friends of the Green Bay Trail. The two-hour event took place on a bright, breezy day with temperatures reported at Glencoe Beach at 9:51 a.m. at 40 degrees. The rain or shine event was free. Volunteers were asked to bring boots, gloves and buckets to collect debris. Refuse and recycling cans were placed […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PPN-L-GLN-earthdaybeachcleanup-0425241-4.jpg?w=548 "Glencoe’s Earth Day Clean-Up event on Saturday, April 20 left Glencoe Beach and the Robert Everly Wildflower Sanctuary along Linden and Jackson Avenues was renewed this year thanks to volunteers. The community clean-up began at 10 a.m. in partnership with the Glencoe Sustainability Task Force and the Friends of the Green Bay Trail. The two-hour event took place on a bright, breezy day with temperatures reported at Glencoe Beach at 9:51 a.m. at 40 degrees. The rain or shine event was free. Volunteers were asked to bring boots, gloves and buckets to collect debris. Refuse and recycling cans were placed […]")
![The Grammy-winning trio Time for Three will share their diverse repertoire when they perform at 7:30 p.m. April 27 at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. The performance is part of the Music Institute of Chicago’s performing series. “Time for Three is one of the most vibrant, dynamic, exciting young ensembles on the scene right now,” praised Mark George, President and CEO of the Music Institute of Chicago. “They are unique. These musicians are trained at the highest level, at the Curtis Institute and Juilliard. They have classical technique and they apply that to classical music, pop music, jazz, […]](https://www.chicagotribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PPN-L-EVR-timeforthree-042524-01.jpg?w=439 "The Grammy-winning trio Time for Three will share their diverse repertoire when they perform at 7:30 p.m. April 27 at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. The performance is part of the Music Institute of Chicago’s performing series. “Time for Three is one of the most vibrant, dynamic, exciting young ensembles on the scene right now,” praised Mark George, President and CEO of the Music Institute of Chicago. “They are unique. These musicians are trained at the highest level, at the Curtis Institute and Juilliard. They have classical technique and they apply that to classical music, pop music, jazz, […]")