Grease is the (Gay) Word [video]
The Gay Men's Chorus mounts a production of Grease unlike any other at GWU's Lisner Auditorium.
Correction: The actor identified in the video as Cory Claussen in the role of Danny Zuko is Clint Novotny in the role of Kenickie.
You’ve never seen Grease like this. On the weekend of March 19, at GWU’s Lisner Auditorium, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., produced an all-male production of the hit musical based on the original 1972 Broadway version (the one without “Hopelessly Devoted to You” and “You’re the One that I Want,” both of which were written for the movie version).
GMCW is the only gay men’s chorus in the country that produces fully-staged Broadway productions, and they mostly stuck to the original script, set in a high school in the late-1950s and featuring the hits ”Greased Lightning” and ”Summer Nights.” The twist, however, was that this Rydell High School is comprised of all-gay students. Seems like 1959 was a year ahead of its time after all.
”We are a mission-based organization, and one of the facets of our mission is to affirm the place of gay people in society,” says actor Eric Peterson. ”And because we’re all gay people ourselves, I think we all feel that mission very strongly at our core. So, when we do a big, gay ‘Grease,’ it just means we’re fulfilling that mission in every way. And it adds even more joy to what’s already a really fun, silly show.”
This video features interviews with: Clint Novotny (as Kenickie), Jay Garvey (as Patty Honeywell), Eric Peterson (as Rodger “Rump”), Richard Weinberg (as Betty Rizzo)
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