Musical Director Melissa Hindt, who is the St. Edmond sixth through 12th grade vocal director, and Assistant Director Kylee Hayek bring the show to the stage along with 45 cast members. “This is a very special opportunity,” Hindt said. “I taught many of the cast members when they were in elementary school, as the kindergarten through fourth grade music teacher from 2015 to 2020 and returned last year to teach them again as young adults.”

“There has been a long history of outstanding music ensembles at St. Edmond,” she added. “Over the last few years, we have recommitted to rebuilding that legacy once again. The students’ excitement and energy have been contagious, and it has been so fun living in the ’50s era with them.”

A reincarnation of Rydell High School, Danny, Sandy, the T-Birds, and Pink Ladies will take to the stage at Monsignor Kelly Auditorium.

“We have18 speaking parts with the rest being singers and students of Rydell High,” Hindt said. “There is dancing, singing, and teamwork led by 16 seniors.”

-Submitted photo
Lilah Reed, left, and Avenlee Hayek rehearse a scene from “Grease” recently at St. Edmond Catholic School.

Junior Jonah Carlson and sophomore Avenlee Hayek play the memorable roles of Danny and Sandy. Danny’s famed friends, the T-Birds, are voiced by Levi Odor-Westrum, Matthew Crimmins, Quintin Jaeschke, and Logan Reed. Cecilia Galvan, Hadley Oswald, Emily Mosier, and Sophia Schlienz play the Pink Ladies. While the students filled the on-stage parts, Hindt admitted the pit band and other stagehand roles came along with some creativity.

“With the loss of our band for the 2024-25 school year, we reached out to some professionals in the area (Shelly Bottorff, Steve Kelleher, Rollie Jensen, and Denny Simon),” Hindt said. “Jacque Batz, our elementary school music teacher, stepped forward to direct them. Brady O’Brien and Ashley Garst are bringing in their talents for lighting and sound, while Amy Johnson and Rae Lynn Larson have taken on the large task of costuming everyone, and Dave Odor has been remarkable as our set creator which includes a spectacular reproduction of the car the T-Birds have.

“It doesn’t stop there, though,” she added. “Our boosters have been amazing with sponsorships and putting together receptions for the show nights and meals for the cast and crew at some rehearsals. It has been so great to be a part of all this coming together.”

Show times are 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 3 p.m. March 22. Admission is $10 per person with the cast and crew asking March 22 attendees to be in their best ’50s attire.

-Submitted photo
Sophia Schlienz, left, Levi Odor-Westrum and Jonah Carlson rehearse a scene from the upcoming musical “Grease” at St. Edmond Catholic School. The show will be performed Thursday, Friday and March 22.

-Submitted photo
Jonah Carlson, left, playing the role of Danny, works next to Avenlee Hayek, playing Sandy, during a practice for St. Edmond’s upcoming musical adaptation of “Grease.”