Grease: The Intergenerational Pop Phenomenon Reignites Musical Mania in Italy

The show by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, directed by Saverio Marconi and with associate direction by Mauro Simone, is an overwhelming celebration that ignites Italian audiences and has kicked off a musical-mania, turning into a true "pop" cultural phenomenon: an intergenerational cult that, after surpassing 2,000,000 overall spectators since its debut, renews itself every season, is ever more relevant, and is also dearly loved by the new generations who identify with a timeless story of love and friendship, with an inclusive message. The musical debuted on Broadway in 1971, followed by the blockbuster film in 1978 that cemented John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the roles of the two protagonists, and after more than fifty years, the electrifying energy continues to live on stages around the world: the adolescent love between Danny and Sandy, which blossoms in the "summer nights" and resonates through the notes of the unforgettable soundtrack - including memorable songs like Restiamo Insieme, Greased Lightnin, and Sei perfetto per me, in the Italian version by Franco Travaglio and Michele Renzullo - to the rhythm of rock'n'roll. The new 2024 tour already boasts more than 50 performances and 21 cities until May 2024, often already sold-out, to unleash the #greasemania; all dates are always updated on grease.musical.it/tour It started with 5 sold-out performances, from Tolentino, "home" of the Compagnia della Rancia, which, under the forty-year artistic direction of Saverio Marconi, could only choose the Marche and in particular the Teatro Vaccaj, its historical headquarters, for the staging residence and national previews of its most long-lived title. In the 2024 season, Grease renews itself once again starting from the cast: Sandy has the angelic face and the overwhelming voice of Eleonora Buccarini, 26 years old from Urbino, graduated from the BSMT of Bologna, Danny, the irresistible heartthrob, that of Tommaso Pieropan, born in 2000, graduated from the SDM. Along with them, a very close-knit group of young and talented performers selected from over 650 candidates at the auditions last April at the Teatro Repower in Milan, to portray characters that have become true generational icons, Pink Ladies, T-Birds, and the students of Rydell High School. The young performers, all under 35, have an average age of 25 years and 12 out of 19 are under 25 years old, in line with Rancia's goal of promoting new talent. "It was stimulating and fun to work with the new cast - emphasizes director Saverio Marconi - in an atmosphere of great professionalism and new energies, in a continuous exchange. We approach every edition with the utmost seriousness to ensure the success of this show with the "Rancia brand" made of these keywords: quality, talent, emotions, involvement." "Every staging of Grease is an opportunity to introduce new directorial ideas, in concert with the entire creative team and the performers on stage - continues associate director Mauro Simone - to bring to the stage what is now a classic of musical theater, but which remains open to always new and current suggestions and insights." The highly prepared cast worked intensely with choreographer Gillian Bruce who "tailor-made" the choreographies on them, making them even more energetic and explosive. For the new costumes (over 80), Chiara Donato relied on the main Italian theatrical tailors - like the Costume Workshop of the Piccolo Teatro di Milano - Teatro d'Europa and FG Teatro of Udine - without forgetting to enhance the craftsmanship of the Marche region like the Sartoria Tul.Ma. of Massimo Eleonori. Some shoes were specially made "made in Marche" for Grease: this is the case of Tranky Shoes, an artisan company from the footwear district of Fermo designed for Boogie Woogie and Rock 'n' roll dancers that takes its name from the Tranky Doo, a jazz choreography from the '40s. Tranky Shoes has been in the business for three generations, combining quality, innovative research, and comfort with a passion for the music of the '40s and '50s. The languages of dance, singing, and acting integrate perfectly with the scenography, signed by Gabriele Moreschi; the creative team also includes Valerio Tiberi who creates the colorful lighting design together with Emanuele Agliati and in collaboration with Francesco Vignati; the musical aspects are handled by Enrico Porcelli for the sound design, Gianluca Sticotti for the musical direction and vocal arrangements, Riccardo Di Paola for arrangements and orchestrations.