My Trip to New York City April 2006
by Craig B.
When I was in California last January to meet Connie Stevens and Tab Hunter, Maxwell Caulfield called to express his apologies for not being able to make the autograph show because he was working on a new play in NYC called TRYST. After debating a while, I decided to use my United Airlines free ticket to fly to NYC and support him the weekend of April 7-10. I spoke with Leif Green and he said he would meet me outside the theatre and we could see the play together. Sure enough, The Friday I arrived, there was a message waiting for me from Leif and everything went off without a hitch.
During the intermission, we were in the lobby and he bought me double chocolate ice cream, endearing me for life! Then after the play (which was great!) Leif asked an usher if we could go backstage and see Maxwell. After finding out who we are, the guy left and returned a few minutes later instructing us how to get to his dressing room through the labyrinthine, narrow passageways. We finally get there and Leif says "Guess who I brought!" and I walk through the door and see a big smile on Maxwell's face (still covered with heavy stage makeup) as he begins to shake our hands, he was so excited! He asked what we thought of the play and answered our questions. We were there about a half hour when his co-star showed and he introduced us. Amelia was amazing in her role! She and I talked a bit about how the play evolved, then the Director came and needed to have a meeting with them.
Since my hotel was over by Times Square/Broadway, Leif suggested we just walk back (like 30 blocks!) Along the way we discussed the promotional tour that the cast went on weeks before Grease 2 premiered. Leif, Chris and Peter toured the upper United States while Maxwell & Michelle had the lower states and Lorna, Adrian and the Pink Ladies filled in everywhere else. Tthey all met in NYC for the premiere at the Zigfield Theatre. Interestingly enough, this Theater was on our way back and he took me there and described all the excitement of the night! He remembers that as he got out of the car, a loud speaker blasted, "And here's Actor Leif Green who plays T-Bird Davey Jaworsky!" All the big stars were there like Liza Minelli (there to support her sister, Lorna), Cher, Andy Warhol, Jeff Conaway (Kenickie from Grease ) and more! Entertainment Tonight was interviewing everyone and promotional flyers were everywhere!
Leif did say that while the beginning of the tour was fun, it quickly took a bummer turn when critics started to negatively review the film (before it officially opened) and when they would get to a city, the reporters were pretty nasty saying things like "So did you know this movie was going to be as bad as it is?" The cast would call each other to see what was up and it was the same way all over the country, all the cast was getting the cold shoulder from reporters and critics. Paramount's publicity tour still had many days to go, so they were all professional and made the best of it.
When we talked about celebs that visited the set, he stated that most visited in the very beginning of the production when they were all rehearsing on the Paramount Studios lot (before they shot on location at Excelsior High School). One of the celebs was Marie Osmond, who was shooting a Christmas Special in a nearby studio and she met everyone. He also believes that John Travolta showed up at one point during the early days of the production and Olivia, as well, to see her boyfriend Matt "Brad" Lattanzi .
Leif also said that on his birthday, he was led blindfolded, taken to an area, where the cast proceeded to throw cream pies at him! Now we know where that scene at the luau came from! It was a great conversation and he is such a hoot to listen to. He has a great memory when it comes to the production days of Grease 2! He is very supportive of a 25th anniversary reunion for Grease 2 next year! We left each other at Times Square, but I am sure we will meet again!
The next day , I received an email from Grease 2 Director Patricia Birch, who wanted to set up a meeting with me, we agreed on Sunday morning for brunch. As I waited at my hotel, a diminutive woman walked through the revolving doors and began waving at me. I recognized her but was surprised that she recognized me first! I showed her my large Grease 2 subway poster that the cast has been signing over the years and she added her signature (while I was freaking out) and she was kind enough to let me take a photograph of her before we went to eat. She led me to one of her favorite restaurant's not far away. Once seated, she asked me how I had gotten so involved in the world of Grease 2! I explained how I first heard of the film, saw it at a drive-in, and over the years my love for it just grew.
She heard me discuss how I came across GREASE2.NET with Amy and meeting her at Excelsior High School for a personalized tour and how thrilled I was. Pat said that back during filming, that whole area was considered a "Real bad part of town" with real motorcycle gangs cruising by! I told her about the Midnight Showing of Grease 2 at the Nuart Theatre on Santa Monica Blvd in Los Angeles and that Chris McDonald called me in response to my invitations and that we sat together laughing our asses off! She was amazed that people thought to do a Rocky Horror version of it and was pleased that it was successful. I talked about the Reunion we had last year with Maxwell, Lorna, Maureen, Leif and Pamela, as well as the October convention with Maxwell in Chicago and the one a few months ago where I met up with Connie Stevens and Tab Hunter. She loved that we were giving the film so much attention and that the actors were so willing to be involved. “We all had a fun time making Grease 2” she said.
Pat Birch started off with the fact that no one expected to do a Grease 2. She was interested in another project, and so were the producers, but Paramount Pictures really wanted a sequel to the highest grossing musical ever made and since Pat Birch had been involved with the previous stage version of Grease and the original Feature Film, it was thought to be a natural progression that she lend her talent as Choreographer to that of Director for GREASE 2. As far as titles go, she thought SON OF GREASE was going to be it but Paramount wanted short and to the point. Pat felt that the biggest problem was that the script was never quite finished and that once it was handed to her, she had to work with what she had. She loved the visual look of GREASE 2 and credits Frank Stanley for his expert use of the camera. I mentioned how great the costumes were and she agreed that the colors and design really added to the feeling. The music worked fine for her and she was pleased with how it turned out.
Pat talked about the auditions and the guys up for the part of Michael Carrington such as Tom Cruise “Way too young”, Rick Springfield “Way too old”, Timothy Hutton “just not right” and how the producers of the film came across Maxwell doing a play and thought he would be perfect. At this point Pat mentioned that she came across Michelle Pfeiffer at the William Morris Talent Agency and that Maxwell and Michelle had great chemistry when they did the Diner scene together. As far as the rest, she thought the T-Birds and Pinks Ladies were even better cast than the original film. When asked what she thought was her most creative effort in GREASE 2, she replied “The BACK TO SCHOOL AGAIN number” She had wanted the opening number to have a lot of energy, to introduce the main cast and establish the mood. She also felt that the Bowling alley number and Cool Rider scenes were well done. It seems that the hardest numbers to work with were the slower songs like Charades and Let’s Do it for our Country, which didn’t involve dancing but needed good blocking and a visual sense of style.
Pat said she is very proud of GREASE 2 and knows that it has now gone on to cult status and is gaining popularity every day. She was curious how the cast was doing so I told her what I knew and when she asked about Lorna, I thought we should just call and ask her! Lorna was excited to hear from Pat and they talked a few minutes. I asked about her daughter Alison Price, and mentioned how long we were all looking for her and Pat said that Alison still owns a Restaurant and is keeping busy with that.
I brought up the fact that we were hoping to have a 25th anniversary get together for cast & crew of GREASE 2 next year and she was agreeable to that stating “It depends what people are all doing at that time, however, it would be fun!” She had noticed that Michelle Pfeiffer had not signed my poster yet and I felt that probably wouldn’t happen anytime soon. Pat said “You never know!” With that, we walked out onto the windy streets of New York City, she said to “keep in touch!” and gave me a big hug and a smile. Pat melted in to the crowd and I melted onto a bench where my knees were weak with excitement! She was so nice and tells it like it is.
By the way, when I flew back home and checked my email, there was a message from an address I did not know and in the subject heading it stated “RHONDA RITTER”. It turns out that Pat mentioned to Alison that I was trying to contact her and she emailed me so I can ask her questions! All in all, a great weekend. I am so happy that things turned out as well as they did.
On a final note, everyone start saving for next year's 25th Anniversary! You never know who will show up!
- Craig
