RALEIGH, N.C. –North Carolina Theatre, the region’s premiere nonprofit professional regional theatre producing Broadway musical revivals, is ready to electrify audiences this February with the world’s favorite musical, Grease! Leading the cast is Broadway star John Arthur Greene who hails from Raleigh stepping into the role of teenage heartthrob, Danny Zuko. John Arthur joins Broadway couple Hunter Foster and Jennifer Cody, who will direct and choreograph the perennial favorite at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh, February 9-14, 2016.

John Arthur Greene most recently performed on Broadway in the hit musical Matilda (Doctor, u/s Mr. Wormwood), and also starred as “Riff” in West Side Story. He is also recognized for his performance as “Robert Mullins” from NBC’s live television presentation of Peter Pan last November, and performs solo music all over NY, most recently performing during Andrew Lloyd Webber’s New York Times Talk. John Arthur was one of the original students in NC Theatre’s “Kids on Broadway” program, which later became the North Carolina Theatre Conservatory, and has appeared in several NC Theatre mainstage shows including Joseph…, Sound of Music, South Pacific, and A Chorus Line.

In her North Carolina Theatre debut is Emily Behny, playing Danny’s love interest, Sandy Dumbrowski. Emily has appeared in National Tours including Wicked (Nessarose) and Beauty and the Beast (Belle). Lauren Cipoletti (Heathers: The Musical at New World Stages, Macbeth at Classic Stage Company) joins the cast as “Rizzo”, the too-cool-for-school leader of the Pink Ladies, and Michael Warrell (All That Glitters, Tours: Spamalot, Fame, Grease) will lead the Burger Palace Boys in “Greased Lightnin’” as “Kenickie”.

Joining the Pink Ladies of Rydell High will be Ryah Nixon as “Marty”, Lilly Tobin as “Frenchy”, and Amy Toporek as “Jan”. The Burger Palace Boys include Matthew Rodin as “Doody”, F. Michael Hayne as “Roger”, and Casey Shane as “Sonny”.

The cast also includes Kelsey Walston (Cha Cha DiGregorio), John T. Wolfe (Eugene Florczyk), Malcolm Armwood (Teen Angel), Carly Prentis Jones (Miss Lynch), and Adam Poole (Vince Fontaine). Dance Captain Peyton Royal, Kinsland Howell, Randy Cain, and Emily Thomas complete the ensemble.

The Rydell High student body is completed with students from the North Carolina Theatre Conservatory: Leilani Carr, Joseph Gaitens, Carly Grissom, Joshua Keen, Victoria E. Marsh, Ahmad Ratliff, Jack Richardson, and Cady van Venrooy.

The creative team of North Carolina Theatre’s production of Grease is led by Artistic Director Casey Hushion, and Producer Carolee Baxter.

“We are thrilled to announce this exceptional, dynamic cast. The caliber of Broadway talent in this company and creative team guarantees that this will be a fresh and inspired take on one of the most popular musicals of all time,” said Casey Hushion, Artistic Director.

About GREASE:

Grease is a rock-n-roll celebration of growing up and falling in love set against the sights and sounds of the fabulous fifties. On Broadway, Grease was nominated for seven Tony® Awards, and won Drama Desk Awards and a Theatre World Award. The hit film adaptation was nominated for multiple Golden Globe Awards, and was the recipient of several People’s Choice Awards. Grease will also be performed in a live television production January 31, 2016 on FOX, starring Aaron Tveit and Julianne Hough.

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. Coming up in our 2015/2016 season: RAGTIME January 12-17, 2016; GREASE, February 9-14, 2016; WIT, April 29- May 8, 2016; DISNEY’S & CAMERON MACKINTOSH’S MARY POPPINS, July 26- 31, 2016.