Last week we had the opportunity to head along to the Sydney based rehearsals of the upcoming, multi-million dollar revival of Grease: The Musical, which will be touring Australia from later in the month. Pictured below, courtesy of Nathan Atkins, are some photos from the cast rehearsing one of the musical’s most iconic tracks “Grease is the Word” and then read what happened when I sat down with Anthony Callea, who’s playing Johnny Casino in the production, alongside Rob Mills, Gretel Scarlett (who are playing Danny and Sandy, respectively), Bert Newtown, Todd McKenny and many more.
Congratulations on your new album. I know you’ve been touring a lot at the moment. How are you balancing rehearsals and touring?
Living out of a suitcase, which is always fun. The last few weeks and for the next month it is a bit full on, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m not going to complain after nine years of walking off that Idol stage. There’s definitely been some ups and downs, and there’s times when it’s quiet, but I think what i’ve learnt is to not complain when you’re busy. So many people complain when they’re busy, and I’m like “Don’t complain, Because you won’t be busy at one time or another”
You’re fully booked until March, which is not a bad thing is it.
No it’s good. I’ve got a few more shows up my sleeves as well, in terms of my own shows. I’m coming back to Sydney this weekend and then I’m going to the Gold Coast and Brisbane the weekend after that, which will finish those shows, and then we’ll move into Grease. I’ve been here for two days, so I was thrown all the movements and everything, so now I have to remember it all quick. And I’m no dancer!
I imagine you’re familiar with Grease as a musical.
Totally
Do you remember the first time you saw it?
When I was growing up and my parents worked during the school holidays, I would be dropped off at my grandparents, and it was either Grease, Sound Of Music or my grandmother had six kids, so we would watch one of their wedding videos. So it was one of those three.
I think it’s one of those musical that, I don’t think i’ve come across one person that doesn’t like it. So if you’re coming to see the show, because it’s a crowd pleaser, you don’t have to sit there and think about it too much, it’s just a fun musical.
I haven’t done many musicals, but when they came to me with this one…it’s a fun show to be a part of and I get to play a fun role, and do the whole hand-jive thing, and that’s basically it. I was like “Thank you!”
Tell us a little bit about your character.
Johnny Casino is (I believe) the heartthrob at the school hall in the movie, and so we do the big hand-jive production number. We ran through it the other day, just quickly. And to be honest I wasn’t looking at anyone, because I was just trying to work out where I have to run to and everything. So I’d actually love to see what it looks like from the front.
When we get to the theatre I think I have to get someone else to sing it for me so I can see it from the front, just to see what it looks like.
Have you ever seen Grease as a stage performance?
No. It was funny because when I did Wicked, I knew nothing about it. And three months into it I had to go to new york, and I thought while I was there I might as well go and see it, again because I hadn’t seen it from the front. And it gave me a whole different perspective, and I was sitting there going “Oh that’s what I’m meant to do”.
So i’ve never seen a production of Grease, which sometimes can work in your favour, because you don’t have anyone else’s interpretation informing yours; I just do it my way. I’m sure this production will have the shortest Johnny Casino ever, but that doesn’t matter.
Grease: The Musical will open at Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre on August 20, with seasons at the Sydney Lyric Theatre from October 13, and at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne from January 2, 2014.
Photos by Nathan Atkins. Interview transcription by Leo Silvestrini.
