Theater Review: "Grease" by Naugatuck Valley Performing Arts

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

NAUGATUCK - Naugatuck Valley Performing Arts is back onstage this weekend only for a wonderful production of “Grease.” The group is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the theatrical development of area students in grades 7 through 12, culminating in a strong theatrical production. The final performance is today at 1 p.m. at Naugatuck High School.

Chairman/Producer Bob Rosa notes that this 1971 Broadway version, which ran for eight years, is not exactly the same as the beloved 1978 film. The production team decided to include some of the new songs that were added to the movie adaptation, alongside the original musical’s lesser known songs like the “Alma Mater” (and its parody,) “Those Magic Changes,” “It’s Raining on Prom Night,” and my personal favorite “Freddy, My Love.” The show was written by Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs, with the movie songs arranged by Robert Stigwood.

Rosa, who has been producing theater for over ten years, writes that this talented group of teens have been working extremely hard for the past four months to bring their show to the stage in the Naugatuck High School Davis Auditorium, and it certainly showed in their performance.

Christina Mason was the director of the show, with Kerri Morris (who has taught in public schools for 37 years) serving as music director. Mrs. Morris’ lovely daughter Kennedy was the choreographer and her husband Scott was in charge of set construction. Bob Tansley of the Golden Years Theatre Company loaned the group the set pieces from last summer’s production of "Senior Citizen Grease" and it was a treat to see them onstage again.

Geno Bascetta, now an 8th grade student at Waterbury Arts Magnet School, made his NVPA debut in the role of Danny Zuko and crushed it. Bascetta is often seen on the Seven Angels Theatre stage, where his love of live theater began six years ago. He most recently appeared as Winthrop in Seven Angels’ “The Music Man” and will be appearing in the spring production of “Newsies” at WAMS.

I was so proud of Ivy Wallace, a 10th grade student at Northwestern Regional High School, who played the role of Sandy Dumbrowski. Wallace, who I most recently saw in “Head Over Heels” at the Warner, has appeared in a whopping 23 productions, this being her first with this group. She was marvelous as Sandy.

Jayden Greenlaw, who is in the 11th grade at WAMS, was very strong as both Kenickie and Teen Angel in a silver sparkly jacket. Greenlaw, who was Jim Conely in “Parade” at WAMS and Barry Glickman in GUSCO’s “The Prom,” has an amazing singing voice and great stage presence.

WAMS 10th grade student Billie Labriola, who calls herself a “theater kid” since the age of seven, stood out as Rizzo. She played Mama Morton in “Chicago” in 2023 and is a longtime member of the Main Street Ballet.

The talented Dance Captain Sara Gilchrist did very well in the role of Marty in her third NVPA show. She previously played Velma Kelly in “Chicago” and has trained with Brass City Ballet. Nora Grealis, an 8th grade student at Memorial Middle School who also appeared in “Chicago,” played the role of Frenchy, the “Beauty School DropOut.”

Mia McConnon, who played Mrs. Potts in “Beauty and the Beast” with Newbury Musical Theater and shared the stage with me in their production of “Fiddler on the Roof” in the role of Bielke, was a delight as Patty Simcox, “the Little Lulu of Rydell High.”

Madeline Meeker, a 9th grade student at WAMS where she recently played Iola Stover in “Parade,” played the role of (always hungry) Jan in her NVPA debut. Camila Reyes, an 8th grader at Memorial Middle School who was a wonderful Belle with Newbury, covered the role of Roger (“Rump”) with aplomb.

Watertown High School senior Aspen Hogrefe played guitar as “Jenny” Casino in her 12th theatrical production. WAMS senior Samuel “Osmo” Hoyt covered the role of Eugene.

Ninth grade student Reagan Baxter, who played the role of Beast in “Beauty and the Beast” with Newbury Musical Theater, covered the role of Sonny LaTierri. Kiley Pienczykowski, a Watertown High School 10th grade student, got to pull him offstage by the ear in the role of Miss Lynch.

Woodland 10th grade student Isabella Peralta played the role of “Viv” Fontaine in her second theatrical performance.

Addison Batoon, a junior at Pomperaug, danced up to play Cha-Cha; she has choreographed both “Willy Wonka” and “Puffs” at her high school. Claire Cummings, a senior at Woodland High who appeared in “SpongeBob” in the title role and in “Clue: On Stage” as Wadsworth, played the fun role of Doody. Anna Gilchrist, an 8th grade student at Memorial Middle School, sang as the radio singer in “Prom Night.”

The ensemble included City Hill Middle School student Leila Illas, and Memorial 8th grader Jamaryz Ruiz in her theatrical debut.

The choreography was exuberant throughout the two acts, with a few nods to the dancing in the film. Miss Kennedy made sure that the dancers were spot on. The set changes were carried out by backstage volunteers.

It was so much fun watching the teens perform the show that I knew so well, the antithesis of the senior citizen version that I appeared in last summer. The young performers were very well rehearsed and demonstrated their considerable talent in their performances.

Keep watching the group’s Facebook page for opportunity updates about their spring cabaret, summer camp and their production for next fall.

Tickets are available at the door, day of the show, or online at https://nvpa.ticketleap.com/grease-the-musical/

$25 for General Admission
$20 for Students and Seniors 65+

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.
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