Broadway Sensation Comes to Visit [ArticleImageHyperLink] Thursday, May 20, 2010 By By Julian Yuen ‘10 Advertising Coming back to Midwood after 53 years, Carole Demas, the first Sandy Dumbrowski in the Broadway version of Grease, spoke with the current cast of Grease about her experiences and thoughts. “Back when I was in high school, there were real greasers roaming around with their D.A. haircuts and pig pants,” said Demas. “All the girls wore flat shoes and there were never any heels.” After she graduated in ’57, it was not long before she found a job playing Sandy for the new Broadway show Grease. In fact, Demas only had to act like she was in high school all over again when she performed. She also starred in the TV series “The Magic Garden” along with her friend Paula, who graduated from Midwood in the same year.  Demas had many choices she could have worked at but she was fond of “The Magic Garden” and the idea of acting in high school was appealing to her. Most of the guys in Grease were rock singers with long hair, which was reluctantly cut because of the fashion style at the time. Brylcreem was used to make their D.A. hair shiny and stationary. However it took many washes to remove and was generally inconvenient. “It’s not surprising that the first Mexican Grease was called ‘Vaselino,’” said Demas. Demas still keeps in touch with some of the people that were in the original play, including the ensemble and stage crew. They hold a reunion every decade. Everyone was important in making the show a success, no one had any importance over another. This is emphasized because without the stage crew, the show would not have been possible. Demas also gave advice to the current cast of Grease. Even though some of the parts were played incorrectly, as long as everyone puts their full effort into it, it will work. When Carassee Souvenir ‘10, Sandy Dumbrowski of our own play, introduced herself, Demas noted that “You have spirit.” No matter what kind of show is put on, spirit will make it possible. At the end of the event, Souvenir presented a “Pink Ladies” t-shirt to Demas. “The way she talked with us gave inspiration to put more effort into our own play,” said Jules Mayard ’11, Kenickie of our Grease. “It takes everyone’s energy and commitment to make the audience satisfied,” said Demas, “it gives the show life and makes it more real.”

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