Sleepy Hollow Ready for Opening Night | Video

Joel Porter | 7/8/2012

This week, Sleepy Hollow Summer Theatre in Bismarck will begin 24 consecutive nights of performances. The first show will bring to life the stage version of "Grease." With a cast of around 50 roaming the halls of Rydell High, both the cast and crew say they`re ready to blow the audience away.

As the sun is setting on Sleepy Hollow park, the cast and crew are busy at work, getting costumes in order, running lines and practicing steps.

"About a week before the show opens, we`re scrambling everywhere. How is this ever going to get finished in time for opening night? But it`s really come together in the past few days, so we`re really happy about that," said Melissa Thurn, who plays Ms. Lynch in the show.

Each of the cast of around 50 has spent the past five weeks memorizing their parts and preparing to welcome the audience for opening night of Grease on Monday.

"Opening night is always sort of an excited and scared moment," director Dan Walstad said.

It`s not just nerves the students will have to deal with for the next 24 nights. There`s also the July heat. Not just the threat of Grease lightning, but actual lightning.

"It`s very hot out, lots of humidity. So we`re sweating in our costumes. We have multiple costumes and a lot of people in Grease have a lot of wigs, so definitely keep ourselves hydrated," Thurn said.

"Sometimes we get rained out, which is a bum, but you work with what you got. And it`s fun to be outside, it`s really a different atmosphere, so it`s really cool," Heather Kaiser said.

A trade-off to performing outdoors. The cast is planning a few surprises, even for those who`ve seen the movie countless times.

"It`s a lot of caricature-type acting, which has been really fun for the students to really dig into and let go of themselves," Walstad said.

"Jan is just kind of an awkward Pink Lady. And no one really knows how she became a Pink lady. Her looks are kind of sloppy and she doesn`t care what other people think. She`s kind of the tomboy and she says what she thinks and that`s awesome," Kaiser said.

The show`s director says they attract a diverse group, both on stage and in the band.

"Every single high school in the Bismarck-Mandan area is represented. There are students from each high school coming together unified as artists to create these shows and I think that`s so special," Walstad said.

Which Walstad says he hopes will translate into a special night on stage for those who love outdoor theater.

The theatre will also be presenting "The Sound of Music."

The shows will alternate weeks until the final show on August 1.

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