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Through a dozen years of staging Chisago Lakes High School’s fall musicals, from “Bye Bye Birdie” to “Annie” to “The Sound of Music,” director Dave Seaburg has heard one particular word frequently from the manystudents who have grown through this performance program.

What is that word? “Grease” is the word.

During a cast dinner last November between performances of the school production “White Christmas,” Seaburg teased the underclassmen that he would hint at his plans for this year’s project with just four words.

“‘Grease’ is the word.”

The director offered this calmly in the school cafeteria, but the students who had gathered there erupted with excitement.

“Grease” will open in the CLHS Performing Arts Center with a presentation 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, followed by 7 p.m. shows Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20 and 21. Matinee performances are scheduled for 2 p.m. that Saturday and also Sunday, Nov. 22.

To watch Seaburg give instruction to his students at an evening rehearsal, or to see him interacting with guests before or after a performance, one knows that this director brings all of his vibrant personality into every step of the annual process.

But he told the Chisago County Press, after rehearsal last week, that throughout his many years with the program, he has never been as gung-ho as his students were over the thought of producing “Grease.”

Fans of the 1978 film or other stage productions of the story mostly may remember fun and lively tunes such as “Summer Nights” and “Greased Lightnin’.” Seaburg notes, however, that there are dark themes throughout the script including plenty of high school bullying.

He received his own share of esposure to teasing as a teen, he says, and for that reason he does not recall his own high school years as fondly as other times in his life.
He says that “Grease,” at its core, is a story of acceptance.“We all scream for that acceptance,” he said.

Seaburg told his current cast and crew in early September that their production would succeed only if they would follow his direction more closely than ever before, and hesays he is pleased to have seen that commitment.

As this group is full of students who are near the top of their classes academically and often involved in other enriching school activities, Seaburg says much of the cast has had to work hard to get into character as the goof-offs or ne’er-do-wells of the fictional Rydell High.

Some of those characters are just struggling to mature. “The story is about kids going into that next world of adulthood,” the director said. “We all know that we made mistakes along the way. That’s how you learn.”


Most of the student characters in “Grease” are not pure and innocent, and although the original stage musical and film were produced around 40 years ago, there are moments of script dialogue and song lyrics that required editing for a school production.

The plot involves a teen pregnancy scare. “This is the story we’re telling,” says Seaburg. “These issues were real.”

Among the Chisago Lakes seniors in this year’s cast, John Frischmon plays Kenickie, the Rydell boy who might be a father. The role is vastly different from his appearance as teenager Friedrich von Trapp in “The Sound of Music” from Frischmon’s freshman year at CLHS.

“He was in lederhosen, now he’s in leather,” says Seaburg.

“From (my start here), I hoped that we would be able to perform ‘Grease,’” said Frischmon, “and Kenickie is the role I envisioned for myself.

“In the past, I’ve had a lead role but I’ve never been a front-runner,” he added. “This year, I’m right out there. There are scenes that I’m leading all by myself. It’s been very meaningful.”

Students in leading roles for “Grease” also include Elijah Land (as Danny Zuko), Sarah Trandahl (as Sandy Dombrowski), Megan Malaski (as Betty Rizzo), Dylon John (as Doody), Matt Braun (as Sonny LaTierri), Phil LaPlante (as Roger), Lila Dabill (as Frenchy), Elizabeth Glenna (as Jan) and Karley Hennen (as Marty).

Students in other featured roles include Amy Schreyer (as Miss Lynch), Mandy Rochel (as Patty Simcox), Karl Pliscott (as Eugene Florczyk), Carter Duncan (as Vince Fontaine), Derek Frank (as Johnny Casino), Kayli Schneider (as Cha Cha DiGregorio) and Tanner Marquardt (as the Teen Angel).
The cast and crew involve nearly 50 active students.

“We have a great group of kids,” said Bridget Budig, a district teacher, CLHS alum and also the staff production coordinator.

“It’s electrifying, the way they grasp this work and material. They can relate to these characters,” she added.

Admission prices to any of the five scheduled performances of “Grease” are $10 for adults, $8 for students and senior citizens. Advance online seating reservations are available at www.wildcatstix.com. The theater box office is also open for advance sales 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays.

Doors will open 30 minutes prior to each performance.

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