To begin the 2025 school year, RMU Colonial Theatre will perform “Grease”, one of the most beloved musicals of all time.
The musical is set in the 1950s and centers on whether the relationship between the T-Birds gang leader and the James Dean-esque hero Danny Zuko, and the innocent Sandy Dumbrowski, can survive the influence of their cliques.
Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey wrote the original musical. It debuted on Broadway in 1972 and was later adapted into a film in 1978, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in breakout roles.
The announcement was made before the end of the 2025 Spring semester, but with tryouts in the books, the cast list for the leather-clad hooligans of Rydell High has been announced:
Danny – Cooper Bruce
Sandy – Olivia Garofalo
Marty – Gracie Durzo
Jan – Zoe Hansen
Rizzo – Anna Gerlach
Frenchy – Jenna Kolaczynski
Sonny – Ethan Herr
Roger – Luke Weiland
Kenickie – John garrubba
Doody – Camden Rockcastle
Patty – Grace Hartnett
Eugene – CJ Mitchell
Vince Fontaine – Clayton Houser
Cha-Cha – Kirisi Platt-Murasco
Teen Angel – Alex Wolfe
Miss Lynch – Jorji Goldstein
Johnny Casino – Jarret Thompson
Ensemble – Ana Fascik, Kaleigh Brenner, Hailey Murray, Jazelle Rodriguez, Jenna Shingledecker, Kayla Gary, Josie Wilkins, Sage Ospina, Adyson Hiwiller.
“I’ve dreamed of doing this show,” Garofalo stated about Grease.
“Sandy is a dream role for me”.
“I take great pride in earning this role,” Bruce said.
“I’m beyond excited to be able to perform this and connect with the role, share the beauty of theatre with the audiences that come see us.”
Kathy Hawke will direct RMU Colonial Theatre’s production of Grease. Hawke is a veteran of the theatre scene in the Pittsburgh area, having worked on shows in the past with Cooper Bruce.
The Colonial Theatre is offered to every student at RMU, regardless of their major or minor. The organization puts on roughly three shows per year, with Grease opening the 2025-26 season.
“Everyone here at Robert Morris University does theatre because they love theatre,” Bruce added. “[Colonial Theatre] creates an even bigger family.”
“Everyone is so amazing, everyone is so talented, and everyone cares about the program,” Garofalo said.
The Colonial Theatre will perform the show from October 24-26 and October 31-November 2, marking the first time a show at RMU has been held on multiple weekends.
“You don’t want to miss the opportunities to see the show,” Bruce stated.
“I can’t say enough that you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the talent we have here at Robert Morris University.”
The show will be held at Massey Hall, and tickets are now on sale at www.rmu.edu/why-rmu/campus/theatre. Tickets cost $20, but RMU students will receive a discounted price of $10.
