NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Those Magic Changes!" A Two-Show Day at Walnut Street Theatre's Grease With Richard "Doody" CeratoRichard Cerato, currently dreaming rock and roll dreams a Doody in Walnut Street Theatre's production of the classic musical Grease, shares a recent day at the historic Philadelphia venue.
By
Matthew Blank
June 06, 2013
Join him on his pre-show travels and meet the kids of Rydell High!
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Those Magic Changes!" A Two-Show Day at Walnut Street Theatre's Grease With Richard "Doody" Cerato
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Those Magic Changes!" A Two-Show Day at Walnut Street Theatre's Grease With Richard "Doody" Cerato
Richard Cerato, currently dreaming rock and roll dreams a Doody in Walnut Street Theatre's production of the classic musical Grease, shares a recent day at the historic Philadelphia venue. Read the Playbill.com story.
23 PHOTOS
Hi Playbill! I'm Richard and I'm currently playing Doody in at the Walnut Street Theatre here in Philly. I'm having a rockin' time and am so honored to share my two-show day experiences with you...
Richard Cerato
I start off my day with some exercise. This is obviously a lie. What I actually do when I wake up is log onto The Facebook and check Playbill. Buuut most of the actors who do these photo exclusives work out and run, and I want to fit in and sound cool.
Richard Cerato
A run? In the morning? Ugh who am I kidding... It's a two-show-day and I'm conserving my energy. So obviously the four of us opt to walk instead and go explore sporting our hip T-Bird Jackets.
Richard Cerato
We make some pit-stops along the way at the library and the Rodin museum to do some quality learning and thinking. And by that I mean posing for Playbill.com.
Richard Cerato
I never saw "Rocky." So for me, this moment isn't too exciting. My 70's movie of choice is "The Godfather." But unfortunately Vito Corleone didn't run up the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps in the movie.
But for real, can you picture this moment with the Corleones? Running up with guns and cannolis… perhaps I'm getting carried away. The girl who took these pictures for us was playing the "Rocky" theme on her phone. Full volume.
Richard Cerato
Once upon a time, I dislocated my right shoulder during "Greased Lightning." It popped out during a Wednesday night performance in front of a sold out crowd. I head to Physical Therapy to take care of business.
Richard Cerato
But I'm not the only one with a Rydell High injury. Adolpho Blaire: Ankle. Elizabeth Racanelli: Shoulder. Tracey Dunn: Back. Kate Fahrner: Foot.
Richard Cerato
I finally make it to the theatre for our first show of the day!
Richard Cerato
In my dressing room I have all I need to get me through two shows: water, hairspray, ibuprofen and Grether's Pastilles. I consume one every show.
Richard Cerato
At half hour I like to check in with each dressing room to say hello. The following 9 photos are before and after transformations. Here is Laura Giknis (Sandy) getting some finishing touches by the amazing Deb Holloway.
Richard Cerato
Here is Matthew Ragas (Danny) taking a puff from one of our new vanilla flavored electronic cigarettes. Not very honest to the time period, but a great way to keep our voices consistent and our lungs healthy.
Richard Cerato
Kate Fahrner (Rizzo), Lilly Tobin (Frenchy), and Rachel Camp (Marty) have decided to form their own fake casting company. And it's very cut-throat. Notice the pineapple on the dressing room station. Yep, that's from me. I want some leads darn-it.
#Beauties. Tracey Dunn (Patty), Tara Tagliaferro (Jan).
Richard Cerato
My dressing room: Me with Matthew Rossoff (Sonny) and Michael Warrell (Kenickie).
Richard Cerato
#Stars. Mary Martello (Miss Lynch) and Eric Kunze (Vince/Teen Angel).
Richard Cerato
#HandsomeBros. (top photo) Owen Pelesh (Felix) and Matthew Steffens (Richie).
Richard Cerato
The Best dancers at Rydell and St. Bernadette's High, respectively: Kerri Rose (Brenda), Hallie Cercone (Maggie) and Elizabeth Racanelli (Cha Cha/Maria)
Richard Cerato
So we finished our first show and now we've got a couple hours to unwind before our second show. My favorite 2 show day meal is falafel with eggplant and hummus from Maoz. A vegetarian diet helps me cream Kate Fahrner at Bananagrams. Doody 1, Rizzo 0.
Richard Cerato
After my victory I chill with my guitar, Luca, the Fender I play in the show. I then read a chapter or two from the new Dan Brown book and doze off for a nap in Greased Lightning. She's a 1947 Plymouth Special Deluxe that was resized for our show.
Richard Cerato
This is Kashmere. She is a former model who is going blind and deaf and undergoing surgeries for Retinitis Pigmentosa and Usher Syndrome. She is the embodiment of strength and selflessness and I am dedicating the rest of my performances to her.
Richard Cerato
The end of our two-show day adventure. Thank you Playbill.com readers for coming with me! And a special thank you to the best pally a guy could ask for: Brad Greer (above), who helped me edit these pictures. Come see us!
Directed by Bruce Lumpkin, with choreography by Michelle Gaudette, this musical extravaganza opened on May 22nd and runs through July 14th on the WST Mainstage.
Rydell High’s class of ’59 is led by Matthew Ragas as Danny and Laura Giknis as Sandy, both making their Walnut debuts. The kids ruling the school include Michael Warrell (Kenickie), Richard Cerato (Doody), Matthew Rossoff (Sonny), Adolpho Blaire (Roger) and Lilly Tobin (Frenchy), also making their Walnut debuts.
Rounding out the Pink Ladies, Kate Fahrner returns to the Walnut as Betty Rizzo, Rachel Camp as Marty and Tara Tagliaferro as Jan.
The Captain of the Philadelphia Eagles 2012 Cheerleaders, Tracey Dunn, will play Rydell cheerleader Patty Simcox in her Walnut debut. Eric Kunze returns to the Walnut as Vince Fontaine and Teen Angel, Nate Golden as Eugene and Mary Martello as Miss Lynch. Brad Greer and Elizabeth Racanelli make their Walnut debuts as Johnny Casino and Cha-Cha Digregorio, respectively. The ensemble includes Hallie Cercone, Owen Pelesh, Kerri Rose and Matthew Steffens.
Grease runs at the Walnut May 14 through July 14. For tickets and information, call 215-574-3550 or 800-982-2787. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.
The production will include Bernstein’s incidental music for Lillian Hellman’s adaptation of The Lark, and Menotti’s The Unicorn, The Gorgon, and The Manticore.
Based on the novel and film by Frank Cottrell Boyce, the new musical will reunite Guettel with Tony-winning Light in the Piazza director Bartlett Sher.
