In a mere 24 hours, Newman Elementary School traveled back in time to the 1950s, transforming into Rydell High for a special one-time performance of “Grease.” The Needham Community Theatre pulled off this feat over the June 7-8 weekend during its first “24 Hour Musical.”
The 44 actors only found out they were performing “Grease” on Saturday before the Sunday production and had to turn around a show in a very condensed amount of time. Not only did the participants need to learn their lines (although many had their scripts in hand), they also had to master songs and dance steps while 15 crew members created scenery, era-appropriate costumes and more.
“The beauty of the ‘24 Hour Musical’ is that it makes theater accessible to people from all over the area who may not have the ability to participate in full-length productions,” said Hannah Novack, who co-directed “Grease” with Marielle Sciore. “Actors auditioned for the project without knowing the show, ensuring that their participation was motivated by their desire to create theater and community rather than just their aspiration to play a given role.” Both Novack and Sciore have been involved with NTC as actors in several productions and were asked by the organization’s board to serve as guest directors.
“It was so much fun! I’m really impressed and proud [of] what we were able to create as a cast and a team in just 24 hours,” said Wellesley resident Nora Sullivan, who played the lead role of Sandy in the almost two-hour show. “Theater is magic, and we really got to experience that over the past 24 hours… The focus on creating a community in such a short period of time was such a gift, allowing us to make new friends and have such a fun time onstage together.”
“This is my first time participating in a project of this nature and I thought the experience was second to none,” said Boston resident Jason Nekritz, who played Roger. “The energy of my fellow cast members and crew was infectious and truly kept my adrenaline going through the whole process! Also, enough cannot be stated for how efficiently Hannah and Marielle lead us through the weekend.”
Had the audience in the packed auditorium not been told the one-night performance of “Grease” was a “24 Hour Musical,” they likely wouldn’t have known, as the show went smoothly overall. The T Birds, dressed in white T-shirts and jeans, and the Pink Ladies, sporting pink satin jackets, belted out the musical’s well-known tunes with impressive skill considering the lack of rehearsal time.
“Throughout the entire rehearsal, we pushed each other to learn the music and choreography every moment we could,” said Waltham resident Christopher Romero-Gutierrez, a member of the ensemble. “Even during breaks and meals, many of us would use the extra time to clean up choreography or get additional practice with our talented and generous music director.”
An hour before the show, Novack and Sciore gave the actors notes suggesting changes as well as a pep talk. Telling them it was OK to ad lib if they forgot their lines, Sciore added, “We want to see joy!”
When asked whether they’d consider putting on another show like this, Novack said, “This ‘24 Hour Musical’ was a lightning-in-a-bottle experience. While we know we will never have this exact moment ever again, we hope to do more creative projects in the future, ‘24 Hour Musicals’ and more.”
More information on Needham Community Theatre https://www.needhamtheatre.org/
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