Hunter Foster and Jen Cody Direct & Choreograph NC Theatre's GREASE, Starting Tonight

North Carolina Theatre, the region's premiere nonprofit professional regional theatre producing Broadway musical revivals, welcomes Broadway couple Hunter Foster and Jennifer Cody for this month's production of GREASE as director and choreographer, respectively. The power couple starred together in the 1994 Tony-nominated Broadway revival of GREASE for several years, during which the two were married.

NC Theatre's production of GREASE runs tonight, February 9, through February 14, 2016 in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

Director Hunter Foster, who met wife Jennifer Cody while on tour with CATS, has appeared on Broadway as an actor in shows including The Bridges of Madison County, Hands on a Hardbody, Million Dollar Quartet, The Producers, Little Shop of Horrors, Urinetown, Footloose, King David, GREASE, and LES MISERABLES. Foster is the Artistic Associate at the Bucks County Playhouse where he has directed Company, The Rocky Horror Show (2013 & 2014), Ain't Misbehavin', Summer of '42, National Pastime and It's a Wonderful Life. Other directing credits include: My Fair Lady (Cape Playhouse) and Million Dollar Quartet (Ogunquit Playhouse).

Jennifer Cody, who last appeared at North Carolina Theatre as "Little Red Ridinghood" in their October production of Into the Woods, will choreograph the musical. On Broadway she has performed in shows including A Christmas Story, Shrek, Pajama Game, Taboo, Urinetown, No No Nanette (Encores!), Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Actor's Fund), Seussical the Musical, Mr. Magoo's Christmas (Actor's Fund), GREASE, Beauty and the Beast and CATS. Cody has choreographed the Off-Broadway shows Debbie Does Dallas (Jane St. Theatre), Prodigal (York Theatre) and Henry and Mudge (Theatreworks), as well as regional productions of Million Dollar Quartet and It's A Wonderful Life.

"We have been fans of Hunter and Jen for a long time and are excited about the energy and special vision they are bringing to this well-loved show," Producer Carolee Baxter said.

Set in 1959 at Rydell High School, GREASE follows the lives of ten working-class teenagers as they follow their hearts and their dreams. While the musical score recreates the sounds of a bygone era, the story deals with issues that are still current - falling in love, fitting in, never giving up on your goals.

Casey Hushion leads the creative team as NC Theatre's Artistic Director with Carolee Baxter serving as Producer. Musical Direction by Edward G. Robinson, who has conducted and musically directed several shows at North Carolina Theatre including Into the Woods, LES MISERABLES, CATS and The Drowsy Chaperone. The talented creative team also includes Lighting Design by Charlie Morrison, Sound Design by Eric Alexander Collins and Brian L. Hunt, Hair Design by Brittnye Batchelor, Costuming by Kimberly Genna Bryant and Properties by Aline Johnson. Bill Yates, Jr. will serve as the Technical Director.

GREASE is a 1971 musical with book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The production was first performed in Chicago, and quickly moved Off-Broadway to the Eden Theatre. In June of 1972, the show moved to Broadway and was nominated for seven Tony Awards, and went on to run 3,388 performances across multiple theaters. The fan-favorite musical about 1950s teenagers has gone on to be produced many times on the West End, National Tours, as a hit motion picture, 2 Broadway revivals, and was recently featured in the live television production January 31, 2016 on FOX, starring Aaron Tveit and Julianne Hough. It has been nominated for several Tony® Awards, and has won Theatre World and Drama Desk Awards. The film adaptation was nominated for multiple Golden Globe Awards and was the recipient of several People's Choice Awards.

For tickets to NC Theatre's production of GREASE, visit NCTheatre.com or call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. For groups of 10 or more, call 919- 831-6941 x6949. Also coming up in our 2015/2016 season: Once, December 1-6, 2015; Ragtime, January 12-17, 2016; Wit, April 29- May 8, 2016; Disney's & Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, July 26- 31, 2016.

 

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