High School South’s spring musical will be nostalgic in more ways than one. “Grease,” beginning Thursday, March 2, is one of Broadway’s longest running musicals, taking a nostalgic look at what it was like growing-up in the 1950s when hot-rod-loving boys in black-leather jackets chased boy-crazy girls in white bobby socks and pedal pushers. The musical includes drive-in passion pits, sock hops, pajama parties, hubcap stealing, and sneaking cigarets at the senior prom.##M:[more]##
The musical will also be the last directed by High School South drama teacher Demi Ashton, retiring after 30 years at the end of the school year. Over the years she has directed 29 musicals, 18 plays, and countless recitals and dramatic performances. “I have so many wonderful memories that I would be hard-pressed to pick any favorites,” she says.
After Ashton graduated from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) with a degree in theater education in 1971 and began working as an eighth grade language arts teacher in West Windsor-Plainsboro in 1973. “One year later I was lobbying to teach drama, since that is what I studied,” she says. “For the past 25 years I’ve taught only drama.”
She is married to Charles Ashton, the producer of the show, who teaches calculus and statistics at South. The couple met when he was asked to do tech work on the show “Oliver.” “I will remain at the high school as a math teacher, but it would be very strange to work for a director other than Demi,” he says.
Their son Jesse, 24, is a graduate student in the Newhouse School of Syracuse University, studying photo-journalism. Their daughter Brett, 21, is a student at Utica College, currently studying abroad in Wales, University of Wales at Aberystwyth, majoring in Communications.
“I do not know exactly what I will be doing immediately after retiring, but I expect I will teach acting again — perhaps open a studio,” Ashton says. “I will cherish the memories of the students and productions we’ve created together, but when I move on the school needs a talented, energized person to make the theater program his or her own.”
Choreographer Marilyn Stoddard is a West Windsor-Plainsboro High School graduate. Janice Chapin is the vocal music director. Scott Collins is the pit orchestra director. Costumes were created by Pat Riley and “cast moms.” Alex Zuckerman is the stage manager and Amita Maram is assistant stage manager.
Cast members include Ryan Alonzo, Emily Bostrom, Evan Callahan, Rose Dzugan, Blake Eisenberg, Sarah Esmi, Melanie Fernandez, Kelly Fischer, Jimmy Fitzpatrick, Kevin Fuller, Stephanie Gati, Alissa Gay, Stacey Greenberger, Mike Gruener, Isabella Hager-Johnson, Elaina Hahn, Brooke Hardy, Matt Hasling, Zac Howes, and Alexa Hoyne.
Also Miki Leong, Ethan Levy, Maureen Ludington, Ryan Lupo, Marc Lyons, Ted Mahoney, Elizabeth McClees, Dan McElwee, Tara McGuinness, Andy Meltzer, Christina Mendez, Crawford Miller, Stephanie Mischell, Sami Mitgang, Manish Modi, Julie Moorman, Steve Odachowski, Christine Oglesby, John Presutto, Chris Reil, Alex Sasson, Meggie Schmidt, Nick Sciortino, Caroline Seghers, Katia Sherman, Dave Sidari, Eric Spiegel, Nicole Stoddard, Annie Stuart, Caitlyn Stuart, Allison Taaffe, and Catie Taaffe.
The group producing stagecrafts, props, and costumes includes Alec Gioseffi, Aditi Latey, Becky Sgouros, Pooja Kulkarni, Angela Mukkadan, Jessica Caricato, Kasia Hozer, Jason Chuang, Nikhita Thaper, and Laura Kuhlman. Also, Jenn Chin, Gaby Dall’Asta, Kyle Schwartz, Alison Stroczynski, Amanda Troger, and Yana Kupava.
Lighting booth members include Michael Hasling, Stephen Karasik, Becky Altman, Bethany Hoffman, Maddie Weiss, Rachel Sartor, Amanda Troger, Jason Chuang, Michael Perl, and Jessica Loren.
Orchestra pit members include Eitan Paul, Eric Kwong, Dan Blum, Ally Trevorrow, Greg Steiner, Jeff Groves, Eugene Kang, Jason Sher, and Josh Suslak.
— Lynn Miller
Grease, High School South, Clarksville Road, West Windsor, 609-716-5050. Preview, Thursday, March 2, 5 p.m., $5; Friday, March 3, at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, March 4, at 2 and 8 p.m. $10.
At the preview performance on Thursday, March 2, at 5 p.m., a $5 donation is requested. Other performances are Friday, March 3, at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, March 4, at 2 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $10.
