College of Arts and Sciences Newsroom
"Grease" is the Word at UD
The University of Dayton will present the musical Grease Nov. 10-12 in the Kennedy Union Boll Theatre on campus. Set in 1958, the musical enjoyed a successful 1970s Broadway run and several revivals. It was adapted into a 1978 feature film.
Performances are 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12. Tickets are $12 general admission; $8 with a University ID. For tickets, contact the University Box Office at 937-229-2545 or visit tickets.udayton.edu.
The production, a collaboration between the department of music and the theatre, dance and performance technology program, includes students from all academic majors.
“In many theater programs, only students who are majors could typically participate in something like a musical,” said director Linda Dunlevy, assistant professor of theatre, dance and performance technology, who will retire at the end of this academic year. “But here at the University of Dayton, our theater productions are open to every single student. You can be an engineering student or a math major; it doesn’t matter, the musical is open to everyone.”
Musical theater is one of many creative outlets available to University students. The participation of students from many academic disciplines in the musical demonstrates the College’s commitment to a liberal arts education, regardless of a student’s chosen academic major.
“Your college experience isn’t just your major, I think everyone should try to focus on having not just their major, but also broaden their horizons and try new things,” said Marcus Nitschke, a sophomore biology major from Botkins, Ohio, who is involved in the production of Grease. “Theater is one way for me to have my horizons broadened.”
Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey wrote Grease, which was first performed in 1971. The musical is set at fictional Rydell High School and focuses on the lives of working-class teenagers during the 1950s. During Grease’s initial Broadway run, it was performed more than 3,000 times. It is considered one of the most successful Broadway shows in history.
- Aaron Alford, communication assistant, College of Arts and Sciences