Cameron Carter-Chan is a Year 13 drama student at Sancta Maria College who has been singing and dancing since the age of four and professionally for the past 3 years. This will be his second time taking on a lead role in a stage production, his first time at school.
Cameron tells us, “[In Grease] I play Kenickie, Danny Zuko’s best friend. This is a character that I feel very comfortable playing since a lot of his qualities and personality traits, I believe, are quite similar to my own.
When I found out I was playing Kenickie, I was especially excited. Not just because of how big the role was, but because it was Grease.
Grease, to me, is one of my favourite musicals I watched growing up. I used to watch it all the time and would dance to it quite often, but I never had the opportunity to act a role in it until this year.
I danced and sang to Grease throughout so many of the competitions and productions I have been in, so much so that when, walking up to the cast list, I had no expectations and would have been happy just taking part in the production.
Of course, finding that I would play a lead role just made me absolutely ecstatic.”
Cameron continued, “I hope the audience gets a new and fresh look on this classic musical that is so well known to audiences, young and old.
It has been amazing having the opportunity to be the assistant choreographer in this production.
I just hope the audience accepts and has a positive view of my modern take on the classic movements and signature dances that everyone knows and loves from Grease.
The amount of work, time spent rehearsing, blood, sweat and tears poured into this show, I believe, will make it a better performance than previous Grease productions.
After seeing all the hard work and passion being put into this I can say that when we get on that stage, seeing a thousand faces, all the energy and passion will bring the show to life and inspire a performance that will hopefully exceed everyone’s expectations.”
Christina Zingel who plays Betty Rizzo in the production also tells us about her part in the musical.
“The character I’m playing is Betty Rizzo, she is a sarcastic and witty flirt who is the leader of the Pink Ladies. Rizzo puts on a tough façade because she sees vulnerability as a weakness however deep down she is a very emotional person.
I was over the moon to play Rizzo. She has always been my favourite character in Grease and I believe the character with the most depth too. She has so many layers…it’s challenging but so rewarding as an aspiring actress to work on showing Rizzo’s toughness as well as her vulnerable side in her song “Worse Things.”
I auditioned because I have loved the performing arts all my life and aspire to pursue it as my career in the future.
I hope audience members absolutely love our production. I know it’ll take them on an emotional rollercoaster, from laughing to crying to laughing again. I hope they all sing along to the songs and feel inspired by the musical theatre style!”
Come and support our school production and see Christina and Cameron in action. Tickets are on sale at the school cashier’s office or online at:
https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2018/sancta-maria-college-grease/auckland/manukau-city
When:
Wed 6 Jun 2018, 11:00am–1:30pm
Wed 6 Jun 2018, 7:00pm–9:30pm
Thu 7 Jun 2018, 7:00pm–9:30pm
Fri 8 Jun 2018, 7:00pm–9:30pm
Sat 9 Jun 2018, 7:00pm–9:30pm
Gabriel Nito
