Cast of Grease rehearsing. Photo: Supplied.
Illawarra’s rising stars are stepping into the spotlight this October, as Encore Productions brings Grease: Teen Edition to the stage — with director Kristy Williams pulling out all the stops to give her young cast unforgettable opportunities.
Already she’s managed to secure a workshop with Annelise Hall, who played Sandy in the Australian production of Grease earlier this year.
Now, she has her sights set on the cast meeting the original Danny Zuko himself, John Travolta, after reports he will be launching one of his upcoming films at Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) in Albion Park.
Stepping into the Figtree studio in 2002, Kristy said she grew up in the studio space, going on to teach there, before buying it at age 21.
She‘s offered group and individual classes through Encore Performing Arts Studio, and two years ago started musical productions under Encore Productions.
“We’ve always had a really big focus on giving the kids more than just a singing lesson or just a drama lesson and giving them the opportunity to perform on stage, to work in a group and learn choreography, rather than it being only on their one skill,” she said.
“The love for musical theatre has just boomed so much over the last five years and the students were looking for more opportunities.
“I thought this would be a really great way to expose them to other things outside of the studio, work in a professional setting, work with industry professionals and get them ready for what comes after school.”
She said many students hoped to go on to pursue musical theatre or music professionally, with Encore aiming to set them up with all the right information, opportunities and connections.
For Grease, she’ll be directing a powerhouse cast of Illawarra talent already well-known in musical theatre circles.
Leading the production are Jagger Leith (son of Australian Idol winner Damien Leith) as Danny Zuko and Ella Coccia as Sandy, alongside other experienced Illawarra performers Chelsea Kokden as Rizzo, Tahlia Borg as Marty, Fabian Coppola as Roger and Jade Woods as Jan.
“We’re working with some of the biggest teen talent in the Illawarra,” Kristy said.
“These kids have done this for a really long time – this isn’t their first rodeo.”
She said the production promised to be “packed with energy” featuring all the iconic songs and high-energy dance numbers that have made Grease a beloved classic for generations.
As a family-friendly show suitable for all ages, she said it wasn’t simply tailoring to nostalgia for older generations, with younger people talking about their love for the musical and its songs.
Annelise Hall (white top), who played Sandy in the Australian production, with Ella Coccia who will play Sandy in the Encore Production performance. On the right, Ella rehearses with the cast. Photo: Supplied.
But Kristy has ambitions beyond putting on a great show.
She’s actively working to arrange a meeting between the cast and Travolta, who immortalised the role of Danny Zuko in the 1978 film.
Kristy said meeting someone of his calibre, gaining insights from his industry experience, and receiving his encouragement would mean the world to the cast.
“It would be so unreal,” she said.
“The cast would just be beside themselves. They would never forget such an iconic moment. We’re doing what we can to try and make that happen.”
It reflects Kristy’s broader mission to provide her students with professional opportunities beyond the classroom.
Last weekend, the cast got to work with Annelise Hall, who played Sandy in the Australian tour of Grease earlier this year.
“They got to chat to her and understand what the process was like and what she did to land that role and how it is working in the professional musical theatre realm,” she said.
“We’re really looking to have industry connections come down and work with the kids and give them a real understanding of what to expect when they leave school, what the right paths are for them, and that’s spilling over into our productions as well.”
Encore Productions has built a reputation for thinking big, having previously staged major productions including Heathers and Legally Blonde.
“We like to go big – I don’t really do things in halves,” she said, laughing.
“When the opportunity comes up to do shows like Heathers, Legally Blonde or Grease, you just jump at it, because we know what we can do.”
Encore plans to stage two productions annually – Bring It On is scheduled for April with a cast aged 15 to 25, followed by a junior production next October.
For Kristy, it’s about bridging the gap between Illawarra talent and big-city opportunities.
“In Wollongong, we have the talent, but it’s not the same exposure as living in Sydney. We’re trying to bridge that gap,” she said.
Tickets for Grease the Musical Teen Edition are now available for shows to be performed at the Bruce Gordon Theatre, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong from 3 to 5 October. Learn more about Encore Performing Arts Studio.
