At a cast party in 1970, actors Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey came up with the idea to write a show featuring the music of the 1950s, set in high school with characters based on people they went to school with. Together they wrote a play and original music, however Grease did not start out as a musical. In February of 1971 the pair mounted their first production of the show with a non-professional cast of 18 and a budget of only $171 at Kingston Mines Theater, an obscure venue in Chicago. The four night run played to sold out houses and was extended for many weeks following its initial premiere. During the initial run, two young theatre producers, Ken Waissman and Maxine Fox, saw the show and offered to produce it in New York providing Jacobs and Casey would agree to rewrite it as a musical with a full score. The pair quickly agreed, quit their day jobs and headed to New York where they worked daily on the rewrite. A year later the new musical Grease premiered off-Broadway at the downtown Eden Theater. It earned seven Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical of the Year and then moved to Broadway to play at the Broadhurst Theater and eventually the Royale. At 3,388 performances it set a record as the longest-running show on Broadway until 1980, when A Chorus Line took that title.

The first National Tour of Grease followed the New York debut and took the U.S. and Canada by storm. In the cast was a young newcomer named John Travolta playing Doody, the nerdy kid who idolizes Danny Zuko. In 1973, the show opened in London’s West End with the then unknown American actor Richard Gere as Danny Zuko. In 1978, Grease was made into a major motion picture starring John Travolta, by then a rising television star, in the lead role along with Olivia Newton-John as Sandy. The film catapulted Travolta to major motion picture stardom and it remains the highest grossing movie musical of all time. Grease has enjoyed many revivals since its initial success and continues to be a favorite show for theatres and audiences around the world.

Grease takes place in a fictional high school during the late 1950s, a time that ushered in a new phenomenon that resulted from the post-World War II economic boom – the teenager. This new era allowed teen-aged children the freedom of leisure time, independence and cash to spend. For the first time in history teens displayed their rebellion against the adult world’s conservative dress and behavioral codes by experimenting with cigarettes, alcohol and sex, by wearing leather jackets and tight pants and by slicking back their longer hair. Rebellious youth culture was on the rise in the form of the “Greasers,” the young men in working class neighborhoods who affected an image of “cool,” a poised, disinterested disdain. The root cause of all this “decadent” behavior was attributed to a new form of music called “rock n’ roll.”

In 1958 there was no way to know where the seeds of social revolution would lead or just how profoundly the world was about to change. During the 1970s, in the aftermath of the turbulent cultural-revolution and the Vietnam War, the 1950s were looked back upon as an innocuous and innocent time and often idealized as a happy decade. Perhaps this accounts for the revival of 1950s pop culture in the 1970s. In addition to Grease, there were films such as American Graffiti and The Lords of Flatbush and the television show "Happy Days," all celebrating, with varying degrees of seriousness, the first glimpses of an authentic youth culture in America. The persistent charm and joy of Grease lies in the fact that it restores us, for a short while, to a state of blissful ignorance.

The Ogunquit Playhouse has taken a fresh look at this popular classic and is melding favorite elements of both the film and the Broadway musical to create a unique production of the rock n’ roll show. DJ Salisbury has returned to the Ogunquit Playhouse as the Director/Choreographer, (2012 and 2013 D/C for Buddy, the Buddy Holly Story) and he has delivered a thrilling injection of pure fun, along with astounding dancing to match the iconic songs.

MO GAFFNEY (Ms. Lynch) Mo Gaffney wrote and starred in the Off-Broadway comedy sensation, The Kathy and Mo Show: Parallel Lives. Her performance earned her an Obie Award. Her two specials on HBO, “Parallel Lives” and “Kathy and Mo: The Dark Side” each won two Cable Ace Awards, “Best Comedy Special” and “Best Performance in a Comedy Special.” Mo has appeared in the films, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Happy, Texas, Other Peoples’ Money, State Of Grace, Bogus, The Wedding Band, Inconceivable, The Out-Of-Towners, Jailbait, God Bless America and the soon to be released A Better You among others. On television Mo starred on the sitcoms “Normal, Ohio” and Run of The House.” She was Bo in the BBC sitcom, “Absolutely Fabulous” for 4 seasons and 2 specials. Mo was a regular on the BBC show “The Full Wax,” played Sheila Kleinman for three seasons on NBC’s “Mad About You” and Joanne Stupak for 3 seasons on “That 70’s Show.” She has been seen on “Friends,” “Tracey Takes On,” “Veronica’s Closet,” “Roseanne,” “Without A Trace,” “State of Mind,” “Justified,” “Shameless,” “House of Lies,” “Super Fun Night,” “Mike & Molly” and “Bad Teacher” among others. Mo hosted and co-produced comedy/talk shows, “Women Aloud!” on Comedy Central and “The Mo Show” on Fox. On stage she has appeared in the three incarnations of The Kathy and Mo Show: Parallel Lives, The Dark Side and Afterbirth. Starred in Minneola Twins with Swoozie Kurtz and the New York production of The Vagina Monologues. In 2011 she appeared with Harvey Feinstein in Hairspray at the Hollywood Bowl. She loves Maine and is delighted to be at the Ogunquit Playhouse.

MARY LITTLE (Sandy) is thrilled to make her debut at the Ogunquit Playhouse! She recently graduated from the University of Michigan for Musical Theatre and is honored to be a part of this production. Favorite credits include Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (The Wagon Wheel Theatre), Polly Baker in Crazy for You (The University of Michigan) and most recently, Eponine in Les Miserables (The Arkansas Repertory Theatre). She thanks friends and family, BRS/Gage, her husband, and faculty from Michigan. Thanks also to God for enriching her life with many blessings and opportunities.

MATT RAGAS (Danny) is thrilled to be back at the Playhouse for the third summer!!!! He was previously seen as Warner in Legally Blonde and last summer as The Pharaoh In Joseph! Matthew is a proud native of New Orleans, LA! He was last seen playing Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages on the NCL Breakaway. National Tours: Link Larkin in Hairspray, Warner in Legally Blonde. Thanks to my all my many amazing super friends and to my WHOO-HOO girls Emily and Sandy Lee, LOVE Y’ALL! Love and Light to everyone!

MADELEINE BARKER (Rizzo) is ecstatic to be appearing for the first time on the Ogunquit Playhouse stage. She recently performed in the Riverside Theatre and Moonlight Amphitheater productions of South Pacific. Some of her favorite experiences include Jane Eyre (Counter Balance Theatre), and Merchant of Venice (The New Swan). She has played a variety of roles including Vanessa from In the Heights, Jo in Little Women, Hannah Kennedy in Mary Stuart, and Judy Garland in the new musical, Tinseltown Christmas. She recently graduated with Honors in Acting and a BFA in Music Theatre from UC Irvine. She sends many thanks and much love to DJ Salisbury, the Ogunquit community, Judy Boals, Inc., and her ever supportive parents.

DJ BUCCIARELLI (Sonny) is excited to be making his Ogunquit debut! Recently he was seen in Miss Saigon at the Riverside Theatre and coming up he will be playing Joseph Hewes in 1776 at the Cape Playhouse. Thanks to DJ, Jayme, and Brad for this amazing opportunity. Love to his friends, family, and Jeff. djbucciarelli.com

PRESTON ELLIS (Kenickie) is so greased to be the one that DJ and Ogunquit wanted! You may have seen him go together with “Law and Order SVU”, as Corny Collins in Hairspray on the 2012 Tony Awards, singing Sandy at Tuacahn, or hand-jiving on the Taylor Hicks’ Grease tour. There are worse things I could do than thank that rock n’ roll party queen McBern and Craig at Avalon, that hound dog voice teacher Lucas Richter, and as always hopefully devoted to summer nights with supportive family and great friends. I cry tears on my pillow when I think of how thankful I am to DJ for letting me drive this ol’ hunk of junk. Check out PrestonMEllis.com and follow me at Instagram Prestonellis1 and Twitter Prestonellis! Thank you for coming and let’s all go Blue Mooning after!

JILLIAN GOTTLIEB (Frenchy) is so excited to get to drop out of high school like she always wanted to! Recent stage credits include Prospect Theatre Company’s Unlock’d (Belinda) at The Duke on 42nd Street, Les Miserables (Cosette) at the Surflight Theatre, Das Rheingold at The Metropolitan Opera, Teeth: The Musical (Dawn), and the NY premiere of ThanksKilling (Ali the Slut). Jillian attended The Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University for Classical Vocal Performance. Jillian would like to thank her wonderful friends, family, everyone here at Ogunquit, and her agents, for wholeheartedly believing that her blank stares and ridiculous voices can make them money. JillianGottlieb.com

MITCH MCCARRELL (Doody) is thrilled to be in beautiful Ogunquit! Most recently seen Off-Broadway in The Bardy Bunch (Chris Partridge). Toured with the Unexpected Boys singing hits from The Beach Boys, and performed as Aladdin and Quasimodo with Disney Cruise Line. Regional credits include Hello, Dolly! (Barnaby), Bat Boy: The Musical (Bat Boy), Hair (Claude), All Shook Up (Dean), Forever Plaid (Jinx), Songs for a New World (Man 1), The Secret Garden (Dickon), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Starveling), and the world premiere of Simeon’s Gift (Fish), with Julie Andrews. Big thanks to DJ and Luedtke Agency, and lots of love to Andy and my dad!

MAGGIE MCDOWELL (Marty) Ogunquit debut! Maggie is thrilled to come to Rydell directly from Disaster! Off-Broadway where she played Marianne. Recently: 9 to 5 (Doralee) at Theatre by the Sea, Annie Get Your Gun (Annie) and Legally Blonde (Serena) at Fireside Theatre. Other favorites: The Drowsy Chaperone (Janet), Urinetown (Hope) and Into the Woods (Cinderella). She earned a BFA in Musical Theatre from Belmont University in Nashville. Thank you to Ogunquit team and The Mine for this opportunity. Love to her family and friends for their continuous support, especially her husband, Stephen. maggiemcdowell.net

SHAWN PLATZKER (Roger) is thrilled to be joining the Ogunquit Playhouse for their production of Grease! This will be Shawn’s second engagement with the show and can’t wait to share it again. National Tours: The Buddy Holly Story Regional: Grease (As Doody), The Little Mermaid, Drowsy Chaperone, Miss Saigon and West Side Story. Shawn holds a BFA in Musical Theater from The Boston Conservatory. Enjoy the show and prepare to be mooned!

EMILY ROGERS (Patty Simcox) is thrilled to be making her Ogunquit Playhouse debut! Off Broadway: Jasper in Deadland (West End Theatre) and Unlock’d (The Duke). Other NY credits include: Mrs. Lovett cover for the New York Philharmonic production of Sweeney Todd, Dogfight (Pace University) and Spring Awakening (Shimmel Center for the Arts). Readings/workshops: We Foxes (Ryan Scott Oliver), Welcome to my Life (Bobby Cronin), and Island Song (Carner and Gregor). She is a proud member of the Pace Musical theatre class of 2015. Many thanks to the amazing cast and crew for this wonderful experience. Special thanks to Nancy Carson, Kaily Todd, Tati, Jeffy, Alex and most importantly to her rock star parents Mark and Peggy. Ecclesiastes 9:7.

DEREK ST. PIERRE (Eugene) is stoked to be hand jiving in Ogunquit this summer! Originally from Pittsburgh, Derek appeared on Broadway as Franz in Rock of Ages and played North America on the first national tour of Memphis. Regional credits include the MUNY, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, and Huntington Theatre Company. BFA Musical Theatre: The Boston Conservatory. Love and gratitude to Mom, Dad, Henderson-Hogan, and BoCoX. Proud AEA Member.

GABRIELLA SORRENTINO (Cha Cha DiGregorio/Dance Captain) is a born and raised native New Yorker. Gabriella is a graduate from Point Park University with a BFA in Dance. Recent credits include In the Heights (Walnut Street Theatre and Westchester Broadway Theatre), West Side Story performance for Rita Moreno (Palace Theatre), A Chorus Line, Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, and Sunset Boulevard (Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera). Gabriella is a proud member of Actors Equity Association. I would like to thank my family for always supporting and encouraging me. I would also like to thank my agency McDonald Selznick and Associates for always believing in my talents. I am so happy and so proud to be Cha Cha and Dance Captain!

JAMISON STERN (Teen Angel) Broadway/National Tours: By Jeeves (Bingo Little), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Palm Springs Who), Little Shop Of Horrors (Seymour/Orin), Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere). Regional: Young Frankenstein (Frederick Frankenstein) Fulton Theatre, Torch Song Trilogy (Arnold) Human Race Theatre, Sound of Music (Max) Westchester Broadway Theatre, Sweet Charity (Charlie, Vittorio and Oscar) Oklahoma Lyric Theatre. The BreakUp Notebook (Bob) Revision Theatre. (title of show) (Hunter) Theatreworks, Around the World in 80 Days (Passepartout) Triad Stage, Neil Simon’s Chapter Two (Leo) & The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Panch) Theatre Aspen. It’s Only Life & She Loves Me (Kodaly) Rubicon Theatre. Fully Committed Alley Theatre & La Mirada. The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (abridged) Cincinnati Playhouse. Black Comedy (Brindsley), Invention of Love (Pollard), As Bees in Honey Drown (Kaden et. al.), A Flea in Her Ear (Camille), A Comedy of Errors (Angelo) Alley Theatre. TV/FILM: “Law and Order,” “Day Zero,” “The Finger Lakes,” “Joke Bitch,” “The Entrepreneurs.”

ALIXE WARD (Jan) is delighted to make her Ogunquit Playhouse debut as Jan in Grease! Alixe moved to New York in 2012 after graduating with a BA in Musical Theatre from The University of Tulsa. Regional credits include Avenue Q (Kate Monster), The Drowsy Chaperone (Janet), and Hello, Dolly! (Minnie Fay). Off the stage, Alixe can be found working with children or eating mac and cheese. Alixe would like to thank the entire production team for this wonderful opportunity. Big love to Heather Botts, Mom, Dad, Carly, and Sean.

WARREN CASEY (Book, Music and Lyrics) was born in Yonkers, New York, and received his Fine Arts Degree from the Syracuse University School of Visual and Performing Arts in 1957. In the mid-1960s, Mr. Casey met Jim Jacobs while acting with the Chicago Stage Guild, and the two began collaborating on a play about high school life during the golden age of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s. Grease premiered in 1971 at the Kingston Mines Theater in the Old Town section of Chicago. Producers Ken Waissman and Maxine Fox saw the show and suggested to the playwrights that it might work better as a musical, and told them if the creative partners were willing to rework it and they liked the end result, they would produce it off-Broadway. Mr. Casey quit his day job as a department store lingerie buyer and the team headed to New York City to collaborate on what would become Grease, which opened at the Eden Theatre in downtown Manhattan, moved to Broadway, and earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Book of a Musical. The show went on to become a West End hit, a hugely successful film (for which he and Mr. Jacobs wrote additional songs), and a staple of regional theatre, summer stock, community theatre, and high school drama groups. Casey’s acting credits included the original production of David Mamet’s Sexual Perversity in Chicago in 1974 at the Organic Theater Company. That same year, he fronted $1,000 to help start Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago.

JIM JACOBS (Book, Music and Lyrics) was born in Chicago, Illinois, and attended Taft High School, during which time he played guitar and sang with a band called DDT & the Dynamiters. In 1963, he became involved with a local theatre group that included Warren Casey. For the next five years he appeared in more than fifty theatrical productions in the Chicago area, working with such people as The Second City founder Paul Sills, while earning a living as an advertising copywriter. He also landed a small role in the 1969 film Medium Cool. Mr. Jacobs’ Broadway acting debut was in a 1970 revival of the play No Place to Be Somebody, followed by the national tour. At the same time, he and Casey were collaborating on a play about high school life during the golden age of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s. Grease premiered in 1971 at the Kingston Mines Theater in the Old Town section of Chicago. Producers Ken Waissman and Maxine Fox saw the show and suggested to the playwrights that it might work better as a musical, and told them if the creative partners were willing to rework it and they liked the end result, they would produce it off-Broadway. The team headed to New York City to collaborate on what would become the phenomenon that is Grease today, which opened at the Eden Theatre in downtown Manhattan, moved to Broadway, and earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Book of a Musical. The show went on to become a West End hit, a hugely successful film (for which Mr. Jacobs and Warren wrote additional songs), and a staple of regional theatre, summer stock, community theatre, and high school drama groups. Mr. Jacobs served as a judge on the NBC reality series “Grease: You’re the One That I Want!” in 2006, designed to cast the lead roles in an August 2007 Broadway revival of Grease via viewer votes. Grease and its school version are both published by Samuel French.

DJ SALISBURY (Director/Choreographer) has set shows for theatre companies across the USA among which are Paper Mill Playhouse (NJ), Dallas Summer Musicals, Arkansas Shakespeare, Ogunquit Playhouse (ME), TOTS-Atlanta, Kansas City Starlight, Sacramento’s California Musical Theatre, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, and Riverside Theatre (FL). Favorite Directing experiences: Man of La Mancha, Into The Woods, La Cage Aux Folles, The Full Monty, Evita, Ragtime, and 9 productions of The Will Rogers Follies. Select choreographic endeavors: White Christmas, Christmas Rappings at Judson Church, the film Lifeless and several New York and national touring events for the television shows “Dancing with the Stars” and “Dance your A** Off” as well as the ‘DWTS’ episode of “The Rachael Ray Show.” For Sally and Jeff.

JEFFREY CAMPOS (Musical Director) Ogunquit Playhouse: Joseph…Dreamcoat, Thoroughly Modern Millie, 9 to 5, Damn Yankees, South Pacific, Legally Blonde, Summer of Love, Sunset Boulevard. National Tours: A Chorus Line, The Wizard of Oz, Oklahoma, Annie, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Regional: Too Darn Hot, The Prima Donnettes (Florida Studio Theatre), Spelling Bee (Summit Playhouse), Mame (Cohoes Music Hall). Off-Broadway: A Stoop on Orchard Street. New York: NYC Mayor’s Awards for Arts and Culture, Street Scene (Prospect Theatre), Jack Perry is Alive (and Dating) (Ars Nova), Show Choir (NYC Fringe), A New Generation of Song (NYMF), The Secret Garden, Human Comedy, Lucky Stiff, Triumph of Love, A New Brain, Forever Plaid, Proof (incidental music)(Astoria Performing Arts Center),Violet, The Wild Party, Like You Like It, City of Angels (Gallery Players), Jesus Christ Superstar (Producer’s Club), Bat Boy, Seussical, How to Succeed... Orch/arr. for Broadway Backwards. Assisted Andrew Lippa with music for Asphalt Beach. Recipient of a developmental grant from the Queens Council for the Arts for his musical, The Man in the Iron Mask.

RICH LATTA (Lighting Design) In a long and varied career, Richard is proud to have The Ogunquit Playhouse as a constant, designing well over 100 plays and musicals. In NYC he has designed Off Broadway including: A Majority of One (Obie nomination), The Jazz Singer, Little Ham, the Arthur Laurents plays Home of the Brave and Big Potato, Nunsense Amen, Lava, Young Rube, Dudu Fisher, In Dreams, Pageant, And Nite Club Confidential. Broadway: Assistant projection designer on Thurgood starring Laurence Fishburne and The People In the Picture, also- The opera Moby Dick (Dallas Opera, Kennedy Center) and Mazeppa (Met Opera). Regional: Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof, The 39 Steps, Jekyll & Hyde, Annie, Joseph starring Andrea McArdle, Songs for A New World with Jason Robert Brown, Forever Plaid, 9 to 5 and many Shakespeares. Corporate Events: GM, Apple, IBM, General Foods, Hasbro Inc (5yrs) Jack Morton Productions, Encore Productions NY. (Associate Producer/Lighting Director- 5yrs), PDA (10yrs). Teaching artist for American Ballet Theater (10yrs). Tech consultant and designer for Newark Arts High (10yrs). Richard is grateful for the opportunity to help grow the Ogunquit Playhouse and salutes the hundreds of others who have participated through the years.

CLIFF SIMON (Set Design) In New York Cliff designed the original off-Broadway production of Fame (in its pre-Broadway run) at the Truck and Warehouse Theatre, as well as sets for Playwrights Horizons and T. Schreiber Studios. He’s designed many shows at the George Street Playhouse in New Jersey, a children’s musical version of The Nutcracker at the Cleveland Play House and many shows for Zach Theatre (winner B. Iden Payne Award for Present Laughter) in Austin as well as for the Riverside Theatre in Florida, and the Walnut Street Theatre in

Philly. Presently his design for Les Mis is now touring the country. He also designs edibly painted cakes (cliffcakes.com) and teaches young and upcoming designers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. So happy to be part of the terrific Grease company in Oguinquit.

DUSTIN CROSS (Costume Design) is pleased to be back designing for Ogunquit Playhouse after last year’s successful season which earned him a Broadway World Award for Best Costume Design (Joseph...Dreamcoat) as well as a Broadway World nomination for West Side Story. Credits include: Broadway: The 24 Hour Plays (American Airlines); Off-Broadway: Forbidden Broadway Comes out Swinging (Davenport Theater),The Other Josh Cohen (SoHo Playhouse), Cougar The Musical, Zelda at the Oasis (both St Luke’s Theater); Regional (select): In the Blood (Baruch) and The Christmas Rose (Carnegie Hall), The 24 Hour Musicals (Irving Plaza), The Countess of Storyville (Signature Theater). Enjoy!

ERIC MARTIN (Sound Design) Eric has been working at the Ogunquit Playhouse since 2011 as an assistant in the audio department and is now very excited to return this season as the Sound Designer. He is based out of Oklahoma and most recently worked a production of James and the Giant Peach as an alumni designer at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Prior to that he was the sound designer for a tour of A Christmas Carol (Palace Theatre). He likes to stay busy in between theatre by bartending, substitute teaching, or playing music. He would like to thank his family from Ogunquit to Oklahoma and everywhere in between that has supported him.

EMILIA MARTIN (Hair and Make-Up Design) is thrilled to return to Ogunquit Playhouse. Recent credits on Broadway: Bronx Bombers, Nice Work If You Can Get It, A Gentleman’s Guide, Motown and Evita. Previous OP designs include Legally Blonde, Sunset Boulevard, and The Producers. Emilia is a NYC based hair stylist and a member of IATSE 798. Ogunquit playhouse is an integral part of her success and deeply thanks Brad and Jayme, and my extended OP family. Let’s ROCK N’ ROLL!

TRACEY WOOLLEY (Production Stage Manager) is excited to return for another summer at the Playhouse! Some of her favorite places to play are Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York and now – Ogunquit. Recent Stage Management credits include: Thoroughly Modern Millie, Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story, South Pacific (Ogunquit Playhouse); Blue Man Group (Las Vegas, Norwegian Cruise Lines); Cirque Du Soleil’s Mystere, Franco Dragone’s LE REVE (Las Vegas). A proud member of Actors Equity, Tracey would like to thank her family and friends for their kind love and support. And her Heavenly Father who makes everything possible.

DANIEL EVERETT (Assistant Stage Manager) saw his first production at the Ogunquit Playhouse at the age of eleven. Ogunquit Playhouse: Young Frankenstein, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story. Off-Broadway: The Exonerated, Golda’s Balcony, Savage Acts. Regional: The King and I, 42nd Street (both at West Virginia Public Theatre), The Sound of Music (Paper Mill Playhouse). Special thanks to his family for all their support.

CAMDEN GONZALES (Associate Choreographer). As a choreographer and assistant Camden has had the pleasure of working with Utah Festival Opera, New York University, El Camino College, Reprise Theatre Company, and Goodspeed Opera House. Camden is also a performer and will be seen later this summer in Mary Poppins at Alabama Shakespeare Festival. She received her BA in Theater Arts from UCLA. Special thanks to DJ and Ogunquit Playhouse for this opportunity. camdengonzales.com

RYAN NEELY (Production Manager) is thrilled to be returning to Ogunquit Playhouse for his second season. Previously Ryan was the Producing Director at THEATREWORKS in Colorado Springs, Adjunct Professor of Stage Management at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and the Assistant Production Manager at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Ryan has also worked as Stage Manager for many theaters across the country including the Disneyland Resort. Ryan has his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of California Irvine. Ryan is looking forward to his biggest production to date: the birth of his first child

this summer.

GEOF DOLAN (Technical Director) is returning for his 8th season as the Playhouse’s Technical Director and his 3rd as the overall Scenic Coordinator. Immediately prior to Ogunquit he served as Technical Director for Worcester Foothills Theatre. He has done supplemental design work for several shows and received 2014 Broadwayworld.com’s Best Scenic Design in Maine for his work on Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. (Robert Kovach original design.) He is also the technical supervisor for the Children’s Theatre program. Geof began his technical career working backstage for both of his parents who are theatre directors and began his professional career at Sierra repertory Theatre in California. For 5 years he split his seasons between Maine and Florida, working the same technical areas for the Orlando Shakespeare, but now he fills his off-season drafting, engineering and developing tour trollies for Molly Corp. His wife Cheryl, (Scenic Charge artist for the Playhouse) has designed award winning parade floats and designs many of the Children’s Theater Shows. His “born-in-a trunk” 13 yr. old daughter Ashlynn is an aspiring actress, musician and artist who hopes to make her Main Stage debut in the near future!

JOHN MCDANIEL (Music Arrangements) is a Grammy and two-time Emmy Award winning Music Director, Composer, Arranger, Orchestrator, Theatrical and Record Producer and is the Artistic Director of the O’Neill Theater Center’s Cabaret and Performance conference. Broadway credits include: Bonnie and Clyde (Drama Desk Nomination, Best Orchestrations), Catch Me If You Can, Brooklyn (Producer and Orchestrator), Annie Get Your Gun (Grammy Award, cast album Producer), Taboo, Chicago, Grease, Patti LuPone on Broadway and Company – the Original Cast in Concert at Lincoln Center. John is perhaps best known as the bandleader on “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” for its entire 6 year run, for which he won 2 Emmy Awards. Recent credits include: Daughter of the Regiment (Opera Theatre of St. Louis), Happy Days (National Tour), Pirates! (St. Louis Muny Opera). John was music director & arranger for concert appearances with Cab Calloway, Shirley MacLaine, George Burns, Al Jarreau, Tyne Daly, Joel Grey, Carol Burnett & Frederica von Stade, Betty Buckley and most recently, Bette Midler. He has been guest conductor at many Symphony Orchestras including San Francisco, Indianapolis, Utah, Buffalo, Colorado, Baltimore, Phoenix and his hometown St. Louis Symphony. He holds a BFA in Drama from Carnegie Mellon.

JAYME MCDANIEL (Associated Producer) 2014 marks Jayme’s 4th season as Associate Producer for the legendary Ogunquit Playhouse. Last season he directed and choreographed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starring Clay Aiken and was awarded 2 Broadway World awards for his efforts. He also directed and choreographed the audience favorite Singin’ in the Rain here in 2009 and received an IRNE nomination for his choreography. Previously he acted as the Associate Artistic Director at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul, MN where he had the fortunate opportunity to produce and direct several highly acclaimed and commercially successful productions. While in residence at the Ordway the Minneapolis Star Tribune lauded him as the Outstanding Director of a Musical for The Rocky Horror Show. As a Stage Director he has directed and/or choreographed Rebecca, the musical at the LG Arts Center in Seoul, South Korea; Joseph… at North Shore Music Theatre, Singin’ in the Rain, Grey Gardens, The Sound of Music and Yankee Doodle at the Ordway; The Student Prince at Paper Mill Playhouse; Zorba & H.M.S. Pinafore for the Berkshire Theatre Festival, Violet, Candide & Drood with Connecticut Repertory; Always Patsy Cline, Evita, It’s a Fabulous Life, Chicago, Zombie Prom, The Merry Widow, People Like Us, They’re Playing Our Song and many others. As an Associate Director and/or Choreographer: Laughing Room Only (Broadway), White Christmas, Wonderful Town, Sound of Music, Yankee Doodle Dandy (5th Ave Theatre), Singin’ in the Rain (Theatre of the Stars) Camelot and Rags (Paper Mill), Nefertiti (Parker Playhouse), Crazy for You (Musical Theatre West) and The Music Man (CLOSBC). He’s enjoyed a career on the stage as well, most notably in the final national tour of Hello, Dolly! with Carol Channing.

BRADFORD T. KENNEY (Executive Artistic Director) is a New England based artistic director, producer, stage director and artist. Since joining the Ogunquit Playhouse in 2005, the Playhouse has doubled its audience growing from a single season summer stock theatre into one of the Northeast’s pre-eminent regional theatres with a three season performance schedule. During his stewardship, the Playhouse has garnered a number of awards and honors including the Moss Hart Award, Regional Theatre Award for Outstanding Achievement in the American Theatre from the New England Theatre Conference, multiple IRNE award nominations and a number of BroadwayWorld awards including Best Musical and others. Mr. Kenney is also noted for his work at Carnegie Hall including directing the holiday special, The Christmas Rose starring Jane Seymour and producing An American Christmas Carol with Tim Janis also at Carnegie Hall. In New England, Mr. Kenney has been proud to be associated with a number of different theatre companies. Ogunquit highlights include Damn Yankees starring Carson Kressley, Sunset Blvd starring Stefanie Powers, Charles Shaughnessy and Rachel York in Monty Python’s Spamalot, Jefferson Mays in My Fair Lady, Lorenzo Lamas in The King and I, Rue McClanahan in Crazy for You, Sally Struthers in Hello, Dolly! and Andrea McArdle in Cabaret. He was also formerly the Artistic Director of the Foothills Theatre and Wachusett Theatre Companies in Massachusetts. He is a fourth generation plein air landscape artist, having studied with Beth Ellis, Rhode Island School of Design, Heartwood College of Art, and Maine College of Art. His artwork is represented by the Sea Bell Gallery, Shore Road, Ogunquit, Maine.

Grease Opens the 82nd Season of the Ogunquit Playhouse! Beloved Musical Features Mo Gaffney of "Absolutely Fabulous"

For Immediate Release:

May 8, 2014

The Ogunquit Playhouse, America’s Foremost Summer Theatre, kicks off its 82nd season with Grease, the musical that Ogunquit audiences rated as the No. 1 show they wanted to see in 2014. It’s the beloved rock n’ roll celebration of teen angst, fast cars and first loves all set in the fabulous fifties. This all-new production is on stage May 21 to June 21 and features the irresistible songs from the Tony Award nominated Broadway show and hit movie, including "You're The One That I Want," "Grease Is The Word," "Summer Nights," "Hopelessly Devoted To You," "Greased Lightnin'" and many more.

The Ogunquit Playhouse is delighted to announce that television and film star Mo Gaffney joins the cast as Miss Lynch. Ms. Gaffney has numerous television credits including her recurring role as Bo in the BBC hit sitcom Absolutely Fabulous. She gained national attention when she wrote and starred with her friend Kathy Najimy an off-Broadway show, The Kathy and Mo Show: Parallel Lives. She won an Obie Award for her critically acclaimed performance in Parallel Lives which was taped and aired on HBO and Comedy Central, and then went on to win two Cable Ace Awards, "Best Comedy Special" and "Best Performance in a Comedy Special." She won the same awards again when she produced and starred in her second HBO special The Kathy and Mo Show: The Dark Side .Ms. Gaffney hosted and co-produced the ground breaking half-hour comedy/talk show, Women Aloud! on Comedy Central, earning her two Cable Ace Award nominations and produced and starred in the Fox talk show The Mo Show. Included in her many television credits are recurring roles in That 70s Show as Joanne Stupak and in Mad About You as Dr. Sheila Kleinman. Her guest appearances include Friends, Hart of Dixie and Justified. In addition, she has appeared in many films including Drop Dead Gorgeous and Other People’s Money. On stage she starred in the award-winning off-Broadway production of Paula Vogel’s Minneola Twins with Swoozie Kurtz for the Roundabout Theater in NYC and the New York production of The Vagina Monologues with Marsha Mason and Lynn Whitfield.

Grease follows love-struck bad-boy Danny and girl-next-door Sandy in a thrilling injection of pure fun with astounding dancing and amazing songs. Matthew Ragas returns to the Ogunquit Playhouse to play Danny. He appeared last year as the Pharaoh in the hit production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and as Warner in Legally Blonde in 2012. Mr. Ragas has performed in many National Tours including Hairspray and Legally Blonde and in regional theatres across the country. Mary Little is making her Ogunquit debut as Sandy. She is a recent graduated of the University of Michigan and has performed many roles including Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, Polly Baker in Crazy for You and most recently, Eponine in Les Miserables.

Get out your leather jackets and pull on your bobby socks with Rydell High's senior class of 1959. Making her Ogunquit debut is Madeleine Barker who plays bad girl Rizzo. She has performed many roles including Vanessa in In the Heights, Jo in Little Women and Judy Garland in the new musical Tinseltown Christmas. “Greaser” Kenickie is played by Preston Ellis who performed as Corny Collins in Hairspray at the 2012 Tony Awards and on the Taylor Hicks Grease tour. Jillian Gottlieb plays high school drop-out Frenchy. She has performed in many theatres across the U. S. including Prospect Theatre Company, The Duke on 42nd Street, and at The Metropolitan Opera.

Director-choreographer for Grease is DJ Salisbury who helmed the record-breaking production of Buddy, the Buddy Holly Story for the past two seasons at the Ogunquit Playhouse. In addition, he hasdirected and choreographed for theaters nationwide, including Paper Mill Playhouse, Theatre of the Stars-Atlanta, Sacramento Music Circus and Riverside Theatre-FL. As director-choreographer he has worked on many shows including Man of La Mancha, Into The Woods, La Cage Aux Folles, Ain’t Misbehavin’, The Full Monty, Evita, Ragtime and nine productions of The Will Rogers Follies. In New York he directed numerous readings, workshops and concerts including a revised Mystery of Edwin Drood (featuring Sally Struthers) and the Lincoln Center solo concert of Disney composer Alan Menken, among others. Mr. Salisbury has worked in various capacities with Broadway heavyweights Jerry Mitchell, Kathleen Marshall, Lynne Taylor Corbett, Susan Stroman, Jeff Calhoun and Tommy Tune. As choreographer he worked on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars Road Trip and The Rachael Ray Show. He was also head writer/lyricist for the Emmy-winning Oklahoma Centennial TV special starring Reba McIntyre, Vince Gill, Kelli O’Hara and Shirley Jones. Mr. Salisbury is attached as director and contributing writer to the new musical CHIX 6 which is slated for a Broadway bow in 2015. He is currently the acting Artistic Director of Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts in Smithtown, NY.

Tickets and season subscription packages are on sale now. Buy early to guarantee the best seats for the best price. Single ticket prices start at just $39 per show and season tickets start at only $175 for a five-show subscription or $99 for a three-show subscription. To learn more about becoming a member, season subscriber or to purchase tickets and gift certificates, visit www.ogunquitplayhouse.org, call the Box Office at 207-646-5511or visit the new “Downtown Box Office” located at 102 Main Street (Route 1) just south of the Ogunquit village center.

Next on stage is the astonishing international musical sensation Billy Elliot the Musical running from June 25 to July 26. This inspirational story of a young boy’s struggle against the odds to make his dream come true is heightened by the unforgettable music by Elton John, sensational dance and powerful storyline. The practically perfect Mary Poppins will fly over the rooftops of London and into the Ogunquit Playhouse from July 30 to August 30. This beloved family musical features the delightful songs from the popular Disney film including “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “Chim Chim Cher-ee.” The Ogunquit Playhouse was selected by Cameron Mackintosh to be the American Northeast premiere of his hit musical stage adaptation of The Witches of Eastwick, on stage September 3 to 27. This sexy new musical comedy is based on the Warner Brothers hit motion picture starring Jack Nicholson, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon and Cher about small-town New England women who wish for the man of their dreams ― and get far more than they bargain for when the devil incarnate arrives to liven things up! “They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re altogether ooky!” The Addams Family closes the Ogunquit season October 1 through 26.

Here is Rydell High's senior class of 1959: duck-tailed, hot-rodding "Burger Palace Boys" and their gum-snapping, hip-shaking "Pink Ladies" in bobby sox and pedal pushers, evoking the look and sound of the 1950s in this rollicking musical. Head "greaser" Danny Zuko and new (good) girl Sandy Dumbrowski try to relive the high romance of their "Summer Nights" as the rest of the gang sings and dances its way through such songs as "Greased Lightnin'", "It's Raining on Prom Night", "Alone at the Drive-In Movie" recalling the music of Buddy Holly, Little Richard and Elvis Presley that became the soundtrack of a generation. An 8-year run on Broadway and two subsequent revivals along with innumerable school and community productions place Grease among the world's most popular musicals.

"A lively and funny musical-as well as the dancingest one in town. It's a winner...the songs are dandies [that portray] the early rockers with zip and charm. The sheer energy of Grease carries all before it." - New York Daily News

- SamuelFrench.com