Info on original "Grease"?
Info on original "Grease"?
#1Info on original "Grease"?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 11:42am
Hey guys,
I might be directing a production of Grease in the spring and wanted to get some info on the original production.
Can anybody tell me what the set and costumes were like (especially Sandy's final "All Choked Up" costume)?
Any info or insight would be great. If we end up doing the show we want it to be closer to the original the the movie or the revivals!
Thanks
"If we don't live happily ever after at least we survive until the end of the week!" -Kermit the frog "I need the money... it costs a lot to look this cheap!" -Dolly P. "Oh please, Over at 'Gypsy' Patti LuPone hasn't even alienated her first daughter yet!" Mary Testa in "Xanadu" "...Like a drunk Chita Rivera!" Robin de Jesus in "In the Heights"
"B*tch, I don't know your life." -Xanadu After that if he still doesn't understand why you were uncomfortable and are now infuriated, kick him again but this time with Jazz Hands!!! -KillerTofu
lightguy06222
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/3/06
#2re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 11:48am
the only information I can get you is that you would be much better off choosing a better show.
One that doesnt suck.
#2re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 11:57am
the only information I can get you is that you would be much better off choosing a better show.
One that doesnt suck.
The real (Original) Grease was a great show but very dirty and Bad Langauge but great music and much better then the revival on B-way now!
#3re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 12:03pmExactly! I have the original script and it's so much fun. The movie and the revivals kinda ruined it.
"If we don't live happily ever after at least we survive until the end of the week!" -Kermit the frog "I need the money... it costs a lot to look this cheap!" -Dolly P. "Oh please, Over at 'Gypsy' Patti LuPone hasn't even alienated her first daughter yet!" Mary Testa in "Xanadu" "...Like a drunk Chita Rivera!" Robin de Jesus in "In the Heights"
"B*tch, I don't know your life." -Xanadu After that if he still doesn't understand why you were uncomfortable and are now infuriated, kick him again but this time with Jazz Hands!!! -KillerTofu
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#4re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 12:15pm
I found thse on wikipedia...no idea how good they are:
Essay:
http://www.newlinetheatre.com/greasechapter.html
Chart of the changes from 72 to now:
http://www.newlinetheatre.com/grease-dialogue.html
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#5re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 12:30pmActually those are really helpful... Thanks!
"If we don't live happily ever after at least we survive until the end of the week!" -Kermit the frog "I need the money... it costs a lot to look this cheap!" -Dolly P. "Oh please, Over at 'Gypsy' Patti LuPone hasn't even alienated her first daughter yet!" Mary Testa in "Xanadu" "...Like a drunk Chita Rivera!" Robin de Jesus in "In the Heights"
"B*tch, I don't know your life." -Xanadu After that if he still doesn't understand why you were uncomfortable and are now infuriated, kick him again but this time with Jazz Hands!!! -KillerTofu
#6re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 12:42pm
the only information I can get you is that you would be much better off choosing a better show.
One that doesnt suck.
Internationally, one of the most popular and profitable musicals ever written? If only every show would suck so bad.
I did find the TV broadcast of Summer Nights from the original cast. I remember the TV special was called "That's Singing!" hosted by Tom Bosley. I have it on VHS, but it was never released on DVD.
Photo is original cast performing "All Choked Up".
Check out the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOSfp3vkXHU
Original Grease Photos
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
Updated On: 8/27/08 at 12:42 PM
#7re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 12:49pm
Awesome, awesome, awesome!
Thanks a bunch!!
"If we don't live happily ever after at least we survive until the end of the week!" -Kermit the frog "I need the money... it costs a lot to look this cheap!" -Dolly P. "Oh please, Over at 'Gypsy' Patti LuPone hasn't even alienated her first daughter yet!" Mary Testa in "Xanadu" "...Like a drunk Chita Rivera!" Robin de Jesus in "In the Heights"
"B*tch, I don't know your life." -Xanadu After that if he still doesn't understand why you were uncomfortable and are now infuriated, kick him again but this time with Jazz Hands!!! -KillerTofu
#8re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 12:52pm
Barry Bostwick was hot back then!
"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
-Kad
"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
-bjh2114 (on Michael Riedel)
#9re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 1:03pmYeah he most certainly was!
"If we don't live happily ever after at least we survive until the end of the week!" -Kermit the frog "I need the money... it costs a lot to look this cheap!" -Dolly P. "Oh please, Over at 'Gypsy' Patti LuPone hasn't even alienated her first daughter yet!" Mary Testa in "Xanadu" "...Like a drunk Chita Rivera!" Robin de Jesus in "In the Heights"
"B*tch, I don't know your life." -Xanadu After that if he still doesn't understand why you were uncomfortable and are now infuriated, kick him again but this time with Jazz Hands!!! -KillerTofu
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#10re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 1:12pm
Why is he shirtless in "All Choked Up?"
Personally I like that song 1000x more than "You're the One that I Want"
Did anyone see Randy Graff or Judy Kaye as Rizzo?
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#11re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 2:10pm
You are all refering to the original BROADWAY version of "Grease".
The ORIGINAL version of "Grease" was performed in Chicago at a small space called Kingston Mines, which later became a jazz and blues club. It was VERY raunchy and raw. The cast was a rag-tag group of YOUNG performers.
When the show was optioned for Broadway, only one of the cast members, Marilu Henner (who played Marty), was asked to be in the Broadway cast. She chose not to, since she was still a student at Northwestern, and she thought she show would flop on Broadway. After graduating, she did the national tour.
The other notable name in the cast was Polly Pen, who played Patty Simcox. The character had her own solo, called "Yuck!" Polly has gone on to write several Off-Broadway musicals.
husk_charmer
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
#12re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 2:11pmWho did Henner play on tour?
http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer
#13re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 8:34pm
I *like* the song You're the One That I Want.... I just don't think it (or any of the songs from the movie) fit in very well with the rest of the score.
Jon, That's really interesting. It's really quite sad how this show went from being raw and fun to be the theme park ride that it is now 
"If we don't live happily ever after at least we survive until the end of the week!" -Kermit the frog "I need the money... it costs a lot to look this cheap!" -Dolly P. "Oh please, Over at 'Gypsy' Patti LuPone hasn't even alienated her first daughter yet!" Mary Testa in "Xanadu" "...Like a drunk Chita Rivera!" Robin de Jesus in "In the Heights"
"B*tch, I don't know your life." -Xanadu After that if he still doesn't understand why you were uncomfortable and are now infuriated, kick him again but this time with Jazz Hands!!! -KillerTofu
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#14re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 8:41pm
John Ferrar (Oliva's songwriter at the time) wrote both Hopelessly Devoted to You and One That I Want for her and the film. Louis St. Louis wrote Sandy. The Beegees wrote Grease is the Word, which didn't really fit in with anything since it sounds so 70s.
The songs fit very well in the show, but not in this revival.
#15re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 9:12pm
The songs fit very well in the show, but not in this revival.
Haha, nothing fits in this revival!
"If we don't live happily ever after at least we survive until the end of the week!" -Kermit the frog "I need the money... it costs a lot to look this cheap!" -Dolly P. "Oh please, Over at 'Gypsy' Patti LuPone hasn't even alienated her first daughter yet!" Mary Testa in "Xanadu" "...Like a drunk Chita Rivera!" Robin de Jesus in "In the Heights"
"B*tch, I don't know your life." -Xanadu After that if he still doesn't understand why you were uncomfortable and are now infuriated, kick him again but this time with Jazz Hands!!! -KillerTofu#16re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/27/08 at 9:12pm
The songs fit very well in the show, but not in this revival.
Haha, nothing fits in this revival!
"If we don't live happily ever after at least we survive until the end of the week!" -Kermit the frog "I need the money... it costs a lot to look this cheap!" -Dolly P. "Oh please, Over at 'Gypsy' Patti LuPone hasn't even alienated her first daughter yet!" Mary Testa in "Xanadu" "...Like a drunk Chita Rivera!" Robin de Jesus in "In the Heights"
"B*tch, I don't know your life." -Xanadu After that if he still doesn't understand why you were uncomfortable and are now infuriated, kick him again but this time with Jazz Hands!!! -KillerTofu
gypsy4
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/07
#17re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/28/08 at 12:30amI remember reading the original chicago production was over 2 and 2 hours and they had tou cut alot of it.
#18re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/28/08 at 10:12am
This thread is making my long for the original Grease. I saw a local production of it ages ago and it was much closer to the original spirit - raunchy as hell & more foul language, which made it so much more raw and entertaining. And I have always preferred the OBC recording to the film or any revival (I also hated the fact that they took the "Grease Lightning" song away from Kenickie and gave it to Danny, John Travolta or not).
When I saw the current revival last December, I cringed. I made it through the entire show (though hard) and wondered since when were high school rebels this squeaky clean? No one's problems seemed real. And I couldn't believe how skinny Laura was in person when I saw her during "Raining on Prom Night."
I was discussing the revival with someone at the TKTS line this year and when I said I wished the current Grease were more raunchy, they gave me an odd look as if that word didn't belong in the same sentence as Grease. I guess the movie is ingrained in all minds these days.
Updated On: 8/28/08 at 10:12 AM
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#19re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/28/08 at 11:14amI've worked with one of the actors from the original Chicago cast. His name is Gary Houston. He played Roger. Since then, he's had a dual career as an actor and a newspaper writer. The gal who played Frenchie (her name is Hedda) hasd been his live-in girlfriend since 1972, but they never married.
#20re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/28/08 at 11:24amFYI - Marilu Henner was also a replacement Marty on Broadway in 1975.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
BradMajors
Featured Actor Joined: 8/11/08
#21re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/28/08 at 3:09pmYes, the original Broadway version of GREASE is definitely not for the kiddies, folk. It had more of an edge, it was raw and that's what the creators wanted. What's been revived on Broadway in 1993 and 2007 bears no resemblance to the original creators intentions but then most of them sold the show out when they allowed these changes to take place.
#22re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/28/08 at 4:15pm
Mister Matt - Yup... I saw GREASE in 1975 and Marilu Henner was in it. It was the very 1st Broadway show I ever saw, and I loved it. I still have the Playbill 
< Patty Duke (the original Neely O'Hara) & me (March 8, 2010)
Updated On: 8/28/08 at 04:15 PM
WOSQ
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/03
#23re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 9/10/08 at 3:46pm
Grease in 1972 was raunchy and also very, very funny and very quick. At about 2 hours it was just long enough.
When I saw it in the spring of 73, almost the entire original cast (save Adrienne Barbeau who was in Maude by this time) was still in it, and they made the audience have a good time.
It was produced on a shoestring. For example rather than have a full backdrop they painted the back wall of the Royale, and it worked just as well.
I haven't wanted to see any other productions because I heard the productions were just blown up in scale all out of proportion.
"If my life weren't funny, it would just be true. And that would be unacceptable."
--Carrie Fisher
#24re: Info on original 'Grease'?
Posted: 8/10/09 at 3:57amHas anyone seen or heard of a recording of the original Chicago version of Grease?
[title of show] on Broadway. it's time. believe.
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