Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

APRIL 13-29

Rehearsals are underway at Western Canada Theatre for the iconic musical Grease

Apr 4, 2023 | 4:38 PM

KAMLOOPS — Starting with a preview on Thursday, April 13, Western Canada Theatre will present the iconic musical Grease. However, if you’re hoping to hear a snippet of one of the many iconic songs from the classic musical, you’ll have to buy tickets.

“Our licensing agreement for the show doesn’t allow you to use the audio from the presentation,” Director James MacDonald told the assembled media at Tuesday’s press bash for Grease, “so we thought we’d give you something that has a little action to it.”

The show runs until April 29 and will feature all the great songs fans know and love from the beloved motion picture. However, you won’t see and hear any of them on CFJC Today.

“It’s funny when you do something this well-known, you know?” MacDonald says. “People don’t want to see the film, but they also don’t want to be like, ‘Woah, where’s that coming from?’ The cool thing about the stage production is that it’s got four songs that aren’t in the movie, and then all the movie songs, as well. You’ll be expecting one song, and then another song will pop up, and you’re like, ‘What happened to that song?’ and then you find out it’s later in the show and in a different context.”

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Eva Tavares plays Sandy, the female lead in the show. After 15 years as a professional dancer, and a degree in opera from UBC, she’s excited to sing her heart out for audiences in Kamloops with her beautiful singing voice. (You’ll just have to trust she’s very good.)

“They know every word. They’re going to get up and dance in the aisles, which is what we want. Please do that,” Tavares says, addressing the camera. “Definitely there’s that pressure, especially given that Olivia Newton-John, she’s so iconic, just passed away. Her memory is floating around in my head. But it’s exciting! It’s also really special because I get to bring me to it, which is really a gift.”

Here would be a great time to show you, the audience, a clip of Eva singing the classic song ‘Summer Nights.’ While many folks watching likely know all the words to that song, Eva didn’t consider herself a superfan before landing this role.

“I wasn’t someone who knew all the words, and knew the story intricately,” Tavares says. “This is a surprise — a welcome surprise — because I’m having the best time. I didn’t know what to expect, and now that we’re in it, I don’t want to leave!”

For MacDonald, directing a show as iconic as Grease is a great opportunity to travel down memory lane. He expects audiences to enjoy themselves.

Image Credit: Western Canada Theatre

“It’ll call to memory so many things to so many people,” MacDonald says. “Whether it’s from the movie or the stage play, or just hearing it on the radio. I have a great time in rehearsal because I just get to listen to great music all day, with super, super talented people doing it — so I have fun.”

Do yourself and your earholes a favour, and go watch Grease. Tickets are available at Kamloops Live! Box Office.