A look at the work behind the productionof MC Theatre’s ‘Grease,’ opening April 16

Maryville College’s full-scale musical production of Grease will debut on Thursday of this week and continue through Sunday, no small feat for a small liberal arts college

At Maryville College, the cast and crew working on the upcoming production of Grease prove that limited resources and a busy student schedule are no match for creative problem-solving and a whole lot of passion. 

Andy Vaught, the show’s director and assistant professor of theatre, said the decision to stage Grease after the company’s previous production of The Crucible was a deliberate tonal shift. With so much heaviness in the world, he was drawn to a story rooted in youth and joy. His vision for this production centers on the very public nature of high school life, weaving the ensemble more deeply into action than audiences might expect from a traditional staging. 

“I think it’s about finding moments for them to feel included, to contribute to the story, and above all, to try very hard to respect people’s time,” Vaught said. “It’s a great honor to get to work with the students on this show, and we want to make sure that they are aware of how special we think they are.”

Rehearsals spanned roughly two months, structured around the demanding schedules of MC students. The theatre department typically rehearses Sunday through Wednesday, with a full week reserved for nightly run-throughs as opening night approaches. Vaught said the goal throughout was to help each performer build a character with a distinct point of view – something that makes a familiar show feel personal and alive. 

While Vaught was careful not to stray too far from what audiences love about Grease, he acknowledged that some beloved songs, including “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” actually originated with the 1978 film rather than the stage production. For Vaught and this production, leaving them out was never a consideration. 

Filling the seats of the Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theatre, a large venue by any college’s standards, adds another level of pressure. Vaught and his team have pursued an ambitious outreach strategy, partnering with WDVX radio for a Blue Plate Special performance, inviting WATE Channel 6 to film a rehearsal, and organizing special matinees for area schools. 

A free beer night on Friday, April 17, will spotlight the work of MC’s Brewing and Fermentation class led by Dr. Nathan Duncan, and classic cars are planned to appear outside the Clayton Center on Saturday, a strategy aimed at making the show a community event, not just a campus one. 

On the technical side, the Technical Director for the Division of Fine Arts, Kevin Grigsby, faces a distinct set of challenges. With a single staff member overseeing the entire set construction process, he relies heavily on student labor in a way that larger institutions simply don’t have to. 

“A big part of how we design everything is about designing to the skill level of our students,” Grigsby said.

That philosophy shapes everything from material choices to construction methods. Budget constraints also demand constant creativity – reusing, recycling and repurposing materials wherever possible.

Transforming an empty stage into the diners, school hallways and drive-ins of Grease takes days of incremental work, with adjustments made continuously as the production comes together.

Grigsby said collaboration between designers, the director and the choreographer is the cornerstone of the entire process – one that requires constant conversation. 

“It can be frustrating,” Grigsby said, “but the best collaborators learn to roll with the punches.”Grease opens at the Clayton Center for the Arts in the Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theatre at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 16, and evening shows will continue through Saturday, April 18. The final showtime will be a matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 19. Tickets are $25 plus tax for general admission, but MC students and faculty may obtain one free ticket to the show.

The cast of Grease, rocking their 1950s-style attire, stands out in front of the Hot Rods Diner, taking promo photos for the production. Left to right: Julius Hobbs (‘29), Kathryn Bornhoeft (‘28), Felix Juarez (‘29), Madeline Yalove (‘29), Soda Cline (‘29), Kalli Wilson (‘27), Ian Bailey (‘26), Jenny Ribble (‘27), Tristan Hall (‘29), Eden Carnes (‘27), Sasha Hoenie (‘26), Sarah Christy (‘28) (Photo Courtesy of Maryville College Theatre Department)