Kimball Community Playhouse set records this past weekend with their seventh musical production, “Grease.” Thursday opening night performance was the largest in KCP history, with more than 300 patrons attending. By Sunday’s matinee performance, approximately 950 people attended the production. The show opened with Miss Lynch (played by Sarah Messer) teaching the audience Rydell’s alma mater song for the reunion of the Rydell class of 1959. Kimball’s 1959 graduates received special invitations from KCP and were acknowledged during the introduction. The musical centered around the goings-on at Rydell High and the students who attend the school. Leading the cast as Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko were Kelsey Klein of Kimball and Scott Babbitt of Watkins. Appearing as the Pink Ladies were Jesi Mancini as Frenchy, Holly Latham as Marty, Collette Hagen as Jan and Vanessa Gillman as Betty Rizzo. They were joined by Camen Markgraf as Doody, Kody Taylor as Sonny, Zach Luedtke as Roger and Shawn Kendrick as Kenickie – the Burger Palace Boys. Kayla Hinkemeyer played cheerleader Patty Simcox and Sammi Stewart-James played Cha-Cha DeGregorio. Jared Capes played the nerdy Eugene Florcyzk, Matt Mayala played rock star wannabe Johnny Casino, and Ryan Rice and Dave Markgraf made cameo appearances. Supporting cast members included Katie Brugger, Tabitha Capes, Chelsie Colwill, Tyler Dockery, Maria Donnay, Colton Gettler, Whitney Gunnerson, Victor Hewitt, Kate Hoff, Albert Holker, Erin Holker, Torrey Hook, Alissa Jones, Ashley Kalkbrenner, Dan Kriedeman, Lybbi Labeau, Katey Luedtke, Kaylyn Mancini, Chelsey Maus, Kate Oster, Sarah Powell, Riley Rice, Lisa Stein, Ryan Stein and Kenzie Traurig. If the onstage relationships between the cast appeared strong to the audience, it is because they were based on friendships off-stage. The young people in “Grease” spent many hours together outside of rehearsals – hanging out at Perkins, going to the drive-in, slumber parties – and the fun that they had together translated into having fun on stage. KCP states “it is proud to have provided this opportunity for our young people and grateful to the community for sharing in it.”
