Hopelessly Devoted to Performing: MCPHS Students Shine in the Musical ‘Grease’
By Jennifer PersonsThe Colleges of the Fenway Theater Ensemble cast of "Grease."
With a cast and crew of over 60, this student-led production is one of the Colleges of the Fenway biggest yet.
Students from the Colleges of the Fenway (COF) are bringing back poodle skirts and leather jackets, drive-ins and malt shops, high school romance and rock ‘n’ roll with their upcoming production of the musical “Grease.”
“If you’re familiar with the movie, you’re going to enjoy this show,” said Grace McCarthy, a fourth-year health psychology student at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS). “The music is upbeat and energetic, and we’re doing some really fun things with it.”
McCarthy is President of the COF Theater Ensemble. She plays Patty Simcox, the type-A, overbearing cheerleader at Rydell High. “Patty will do anything to get her way. She also has these bursts of energy, which makes her fun to play.”
McCarthy has been involved with COF Theater since her first semester at MCPHS, but her time on stage started long before.
“My first show was ‘Sleeping Beauty,’” she recalled. “I was 6 years old, and I played a caterpillar that turned into a butterfly.” McCarthy did theater throughout high school, and although she didn’t choose a college based on its theater program, COF Theater came into her life at just the right time.
“Theater sign-ups were two weeks after classes started, and I was having a really hard time making friends,” she said. “I figured it was a good way to meet new people. Now, all my friends are from this program.”
McCarthy said she hopes the camaraderie and closeness formed within the troupe will translate on stage in “Grease.”
“My favorite number in the show is ‘Born to Hand Jive,’ which is during the prom. Everyone is on stage doing the same thing together, and it feels like I’m just dancing with my friends.”
Off stage, McCarthy is about to earn her Bachelor of Science in Health Psychology and is pursuing job opportunities in mental health services. She previously worked with adults with developmental disabilities and volunteered for the Crisis Text Line.
“It’s important to be dedicated to your profession as a student, but there should also be room to explore and enjoy your hobbies,” she said. “For me, it’s important to have work-life balance, so I make time for theater.”
McCarthy is one of several MCPHS students cast in featured roles in “Grease.” Leila Zuniga, BSN ’25, and Tiffany Esteves, BS Medical and Molecular Biology ’27, play Pink Ladies—Rydell High’s rebel girl gang—as Marty and Jan, Sofia Totino, BSN ’25, plays the no-nonsense teacher, Ms. Lynch, and Pedro Aguilar, BS Premedical Health Studies ’28, is a featured singer in the hit song, “Beauty School Dropout.” Other MCPHS students appear in the ensemble and assume important behind-the-scenes roles in the crew.
“Participating in theater doesn’t mean you have to get on stage,” McCarthy said. “There’s set building, lighting, sound design, stage management, and so much more. Anybody can come, learn new skills, and get to know people from the other schools. I would love for more MCPHS students to join.”
No two productions of “Grease” are the same, and McCarthy said the COF cast has a few surprises in store. “The musical and the movie are different, so we added a few songs from the movie into the show. We also have so many people in the show that we’re using every part of the auditorium, especially for big dance numbers.”
The COF Theater Ensemble is a non-auditioned group, meaning any COF student who wants to be involved can be. With more than 60 students in the cast and crew, this is the biggest production McCarthy has been a part of.
“Obviously, I’m biased, but I think this is going to be a great show.”
Performances of “Grease” are April 11-13 at the Tower Auditorium at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt). Tickets are available online. Students, faculty, and staff from COF schools get a discount.
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