This review was written by Sheryl Jensen for the Duluth News Tribune on July 12, 2019. // Photo by Nicole Modeen Photography
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Opening night of the Duluth Playhouse’s musical Grease had lots of women screaming, hooting and whooping, both onstage and in the audience. And that included Amber Burns, the show’s masterful director/choreographer, who was clearly enjoying this joyful celebration of the ’50s as much as everyone else.
With Burns’ sure-handed direction and featuring her creative choreography, Danny, Sandy, the Pink Ladies, the Burger Palace Boys and the class of 1959 at good ol’ Rydell High tore the place up on a particularly beautiful Duluth summer night.
The pace was fast, and the iconic songs just kept on coming: “Greased Lightning,’” “Born to Hand Jive,” “We Go Together” … with audience members often singing along to their favorites.
Not only the leads, but each of the supporting players had chances to shine and show off their powerhouse voices and their dancing feet, flying from beginning to end.
Highlight solos from the supporting players included Jake Nelson as Doody with “Those Magic Changes,” “Freddie My Love” from Jorie Ann Kosel playing Marty, and Corey Reilly as the feathered and sequined crowd favorite, Teen Angel, in “Beauty School Dropout.”
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