“I’ve got chills, they’re multiplying…”

That is because Ghostlight is at it again with its latest production.

Grease is coming to the Colonnade in Ringgold this weekend, and the cast and crew have officially entered the infamous “tech week.”

This is the point when months of hard work begin to come together. Hours of rehearsals, singing, learning lines, practicing choreography, remembering cues, building sets, preparing costumes, and coordinating countless moving parts finally begin to resemble the finished production audiences will see on opening night.

Tech week is also when the unexpected tends to reveal itself.

Last-minute changes are made.

Lighting and sound cues are adjusted. Performers learn how the set moves beneath their feet. A rehearsal space is rarely identical to the actual venue, so new challenges inevitably arise once the company steps onto the stage.

I was given the honor of poking my head in and watching some of that work unfold. Full disclosure: I have never seen the stage version of the show, only the movie with Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. It is apples and oranges and it’s not fair to all the people that have poured their heart and soul into the show. I digress. I won't bore you with the Grease history lesson, but I will say that in this particular case, I was pleasantly surprised to hear a gem that was not in the movie. 

As I entered the theatre, I saw the cast of 24 gathered in the center of the stage, already in costume. They talked, laughed, and waited together for Director Nolon Barry and Stage Manager Madison Hargis to announce the beginning of their first tech-week run.

For a few moments, they were simply a group of performers enjoying one another’s company. If you have ever been through a tech week, it is the calm before the storm. 

Then the rehearsal began, the lights came up, and Rydell High started coming to life.

The unmistakable opening notes of “Grease” began, and I was locked in.

It did not take long to realize that this cast is packed with vocal talent.

Several names were already familiar to me from other local productions. Eli Nelson stars as Danny Zuko and recently appeared in Ghostlight’s Broadway Cabaret, where he delivered a powerful rendition of “Bui-Doi” from Miss Saigon.

Charlie Stebbing plays the sweet and demure Sandy, and she is a perfect fit for the role. She portrays the character with a gentle humility reminiscent of Olivia Newton-John’s iconic 1978 performance, quickly leaving the audience just as smitten.

MJ Moyle appears as a quadruple threat as choreographer for the show, whilst dancing, singing, and acting with her castmates. Katie Forrester is the sultry Cha-Cha, and dazzles as she dances.  

Bekah Griggs plays Jan and was recently seen in Much Ado About Nothing at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. In that production, she mesmerized audiences with her angelic voice during a song she helped compose. 

In Grease, Griggs and castmate Levi Witt, who plays Roger, harmonize beautifully in a duet about mooning.

Yes—mooning.

That is not a typo.

The song is sweet, funny, unexpectedly charming, and checks all the boxes for great entertainment. It was one of the evening’s delightful little gems.

Those familiar faces are joined by an entire cast of performers who bring energy, personality, and impressive vocal ability to the stage. From the first number, it was clear that this production would not simply rely on the audience’s nostalgia for a beloved musical.

This cast has the talent to make the music feel fresh, immediate, and alive. I found myself dancing in my seat and singing right along with them—silently, of course.

A brief theatre-etiquette reminder: please do not sing out loud with the cast. The people sitting around you did not buy tickets to hear your performance, so feel free to mouth every word, tap your feet, and enjoy the nostalgia without becoming an unofficial member of the ensemble.

Ghostlight’s production of Grease opens this weekend at the Colonnade, at 264 Catoosa Circle in Ringgold. It will run through July 26.

 Performances are scheduled for:

• Fridays at 7:30 p.m.

• Saturdays at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.

• Sundays at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at Ghostlight.site.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Seating is general admission, meaning you will not select a specific seat from a seating chart when purchasing your tickets.

Don’t despair!

As part of my scouting mission, I stood in each corner of the house and watched the cast perform. I am happy to report that you will be able to see and hear the production from anywhere in the theatre.

Still, get your tickets now—and arrive early when the house opens—to claim the seats you want.

Maybe I’ll see you there!