Viewfinder: Birmingham's Got Talent at 'Grease' Auditions

"Rule No. 1 is have fun," choreographer Debbie Tedrick of Bloomfield Township told dozens of energetic youngsters at the start of Grease auditions.

Still, it was serious business at as she and three other local theater professionals assessed abilities to cast 20 speaking roles and 20 chorus members for , which opens Nov. 5-6 by The Community House Youth Theatre.

"This is a pretty heavy dance show," Tedrick told aspirants in a basement studio, "so I do expect a lot in terms of dance skills."    

More than 50 novice performers and youngsters with stage experience showed up Sept. 9 for the first of two open auditions. Performers age 8 to 18 delivered brief monologues, sang part of any song and learned a short dance routine.

Grease was written in 1971, back when these prospects' grandparents were in school. It was a hit for eight years on Broadway, inspired the hugely-popular 1978 film starring star John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, and was back on screen as a 1982 sequel. A sanitized version remains a perennial staple of community theaters and school drama groups.

Set in 1959 at Rydell High, Grease follows 10 teens exploring summer love, cool cars and drive-ins. The title comes from 1950s slang for working-class boys, called greasers for their slicked-back hair and hands-on hot rod work.

At fast-paced auditions spread over two days, director Mitch Masters of Bloomfield Hills, musical director Dan Greig of Troy, West Bloomfield producer Louise Hacker and Tedrick looked for budding performers with enough sass, movement skills and vocal ability to handle lead roles as Danny Zuko, Sandy Dumbrowski, Betty Rizzo and Frenchy, as well as more than a dozen other speaking parts in the generation-spanning rock show.

"Be yourself, be loud and be clear," Greig said as he accompanied singers on an electronic keyboard while the director and producer sat alongside.

More than talent and a time commitment is required to earn a spot on stage. Each cast member's family pays $180 for what amounts to a training program, as well as community entertainment costing $10 to $30 per ticket.

For those chosen to be in the spotlight, the opportunity seems priceless — and occasionally is the first step toward a career, Tedrick said. A few young performers she worked with earned college musical theater degrees and now work professionally — including singer-dancer Bridget Leary of Bloomfield Hills, a 2009 Adrian College graduate.