Grease may be one of the most popular stage musicals of all time but it is set to be performed in a whole new way next Thursday and Friday night in Tourmakeady when the students of Coláiste Mhuire Tuar Mhic Éadaigh bring the Sandy and Danny Zuko love story to life as Gaeilge.
The students and faculty at Coláiste Mhuire Tuar Mhic Éadaigh are no strangers to showcasing thespian talent, but usually in the form of plays by Irish writers.
This represents the school’s first foray into musical theatre.
“A musical is something we have always wanted to do and we decided to go for it this year,” said teacher Aoife Loftus.
“We got the help of translator Edel de Paor and got working on casting last December.”
Rehearsals started in February and the novel musical production, which will celebrate 1950s teen romance in an American high school and the Irish language, all at the same time, is now just days away from the stage.
Musical fans who do not have the cúpla focal need not worry too much about not being able to follow the antics onstage, added Ms Loftus.
“The script is in Irish but we decided to keep the songs in English,” she outlined.
“We felt that people are so familiar with the songs of this musical that maybe we would be losing a bit in translation otherwise.
“The script is a very central part of this musical though so there is more Irish than English.
“I think it will be a real treat to see it performed in Irish and as the songs bring the show along, people who have a fear that they won’t understand what it going on, don’t need to worry.”
Ms Loftus said ticket sales are going very well so far and excitement is at an all-time high in the school in the build-up to the opening show.
The show is being directed by Marcus Ó Gaoithín and choreographed by Robert O’Neill.
Past pupil and music teacher-in-training, Sheona Ní Mháille, is the musical director.
Local musicians, The Cool Cats Collection, made-up of Mairtín Stundún, Eoin Stundún, and Marc Mac Giobúin, are providing the musical accompaniment for the show.
Grease is a tale of teen romance set in an American highschool in the 1950s.
It follows Danny Zuko, the ringleader of the cool school gang the T Birds, and the shy new student at Rydell High School, Sandy Olsen.
The two meet and fall madly in love one summer only to have to navigate the choppy waters of high school popularity contests, cliques, and peer pressure when the school term re-opens.
Grease as Gaeilge is being staged in the Hall Thuar Mhic Éadaigh for two nights only on Thursday and Friday next (March 26 and 27 ) at 7.30pm.
