Jared Camacho and Jake Ropka have been double cast to play the role of Danny Zuko in Mainstage Center for the Arts’ performance of the musical.
Two Cherry Hill students are teaming up to play a lead role in a Mainstage Center for the Arts show beginning next week.
Jared Camacho and Jake Ropka are both playing the lead role of Danny Zuko in Mainstage’s summer production “Grease.” The show will run from July 22 through July 29 at Camden County College’s Dennis Flyer Theatre.
Written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Grease is one of the world’s most popular musicals. It originally ran on Broadway for eight years and has had two revivals, numerous international productions, a movie, and live TV event. The Mainstage production involves nearly 80 local actors and main parts are double-cast.
Both Camacho and Ropka are looking forward to their roles in the show.
“It’s a unique situation for me to play a character who’s familiar to everyone out there. I like working on Danny’s different dimensions such as when he plays it cool and holds back. He’s also a fun character to portray, especially when he’s messing around with the guys,” said Camacho.
“A good deal of portraying Danny is just silly,” Ropka said. “It’s a great summertime show.”
Grease is directed by Angela Longo, who said, “’Grease’ is such a fun show with fantastic dance numbers and music that everyone enjoys. The cast is having a great time exploring life in the 1950’s as they prepare for the performance. We’ve been talking about the gender roles and sexism of that time and comparing how society today is much more socially aware. Presenting ‘Grease’ today naturally lends itself to satire and we’re taking that on a bit. It will be fun for the audience.”
The show will be performed on July 22, 28 and 29 at 7:30 p.m., and July 23 at 2 p.m. For tickets visit www.mainstage.org. or call (856) 227–3091.
