This year’s musical season was remarkable for its record-breaking success and the outpouring of community support that ensued. All three performances of Grease completely sold out of tickets, a first in AHS history. 

“It felt like a goal we were striving for, but it never felt truly in reach until it happened,” said Grease lead Logan Badac (Danny Zuko) about the record amount of sold-out shows. Rumors even circulated the week before the performance that extra shows would be added to the itinerary. 

In less than two weeks, the TV Production department’s upload of Grease received over 2,000 views on YouTube — nearly half the amount of views the upload of last year’s The Music Man has received in one year. 

With that being said, it would be negligent to fail to address the elephant in the room: Grease’s formidable reputation as both a musical and a movie. Both leads were asked whether the reputation of the piece made it easier or harder to perform. 

“For me, incredibly harder,” said Grease lead Hannah Sperl (Sandy Dumbrowski). “Just because I feel like people associate Grease with Olivia Newton-John. It’s really hard to live up to an icon like that.”

The support Hannah and the entire cast had throughout the musical season was paramount to its success, she said. Logan agreed. 

“There were a lot of moments…where people would call me John Travolta. It’s so iconic — not just who did it, but the show itself. To get the support that we did was special.” 

The AHS production of Grease was also notable for its vast lineup of actors and ensemble members. “You can’t say some of them and leave some of them,” Logan said when asked to identify the most important characters of the production. 

Fitting all of the actors and ensemble members on the stage proved difficult, even despite its generous size. Director Emily Hilles, Assistant Director Jake Kanish, and Choreographer Hilary Heginbotham dealt with the spatial challenges in stride. 

Hannah and Logan enthusiastically agreed, as did many of Grease’s audience members, that “Beauty School Dropout” was their favorite scene. 

“[He’s] The definition of being born into a role,” said Hannah, of Zakk Boyer (Teen Angel). 

Overall, their favorite part of the show was the end. 

“It has to be walking out for bows at the end, just knowing what you accomplished with all of those people,” said Logan. “It’s just such a surreal moment once it’s all over.” 

Grease was Hannah’s eighth musical performance at AHS. Her favorite was Mamma Mia!, but she described this year’s as a close second. 

Of the two consecutive shows Logan has performed in, Grease was his favorite. 

Musicals are notorious for the amount of work they require and the unique pressures they inspire. Stage fright, a familiar fear for many, is a constant threat for some performers. Logan and Hannah, however, had overwhelmingly positive experiences being onstage. 

“I don’t think I’ve ever been nervous, except for the preview. I’ve never walked on stage feeling like I didn’t belong or that something was wrong,” said Logan. Hannah had a similar take. 

“I don’t like being the center of attention ever, but I’ve never had a problem being on stage,” she said.

Although the guys and the girls mostly formed their own groups, according to Hannah and Logan, the bonds formed during this year’s musical season were universal. 

“Everything just clicked,” Logan said. 

Logan and Hannah’s favorite memory from this year’s season was the Friday night practice during the weekend of the Pennsylvania Music Educator Association Region Chorus Festival. Logan, uncharacteristically, left his phone in his pocket during rehearsal. When he got a FaceTime call from Hannah, he answered it. 

The girls at Region Chorus were all on the phone, watching their partners dance during rehearsal without them. 

“Do it and don’t be afraid to do it with passion,” said Logan to the underclassman and anyone looking to perform in the musical in the future. “A lot of the guys knew that it would be fun, but once they realized how much work there was, it took them a while to find it in themselves that it’s not stupid or weird, it’s a blessing.” 

“Once you do it, enjoy every…second of it,” said Hannah. “You don’t realize how good it is until it’s over.”