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PUTNAM NEWS
Fans visit 'Grease' star on Broadway
Last week in New York City, Winfield fans Chris Barton, Leann Murray, Ryan Carney, Faith Burchett and Jillian Carney pose with former General Admissions Show Choir member Derek Keeling (center, gray shirt) after watching Keeling's performance as Danny in "Grease."
NEW YORK CITY -- They came, they saw, now they're gushing.
A busload of Putnam County residents rode through the night last week to see Winfield's own Derek Keeling perform the lead role of "Danny" in "Grease" on Broadway.
"The long, uncomfortable trip to NYC was more than worth it to see an old high school classmate perform on a Broadway stage," said Katie Toney. "I spent three years of middle school and four years of high school with Derek. We were in show choir at Winfield together for four years and he sang at my wedding in June of 2000.
"It was an awesome opportunity to watch him, knowing that he has worked so hard to get to this point in his career. He did an amazing job as Danny and I look forward to being able to see him in many more Broadway performances to come," she said.
The Winfield Show Choir Booster who planned the trip knew she was taking a chance. Would people be more willing to spend the money for a hotel stay in New York City to see Keeling, or would they prefer to save money on a whirlwind trip with overnight accommodations on a motoring bus?
Maybe trip coordinator and booster Kathy Carney should have asked, "What won't fans do to see Derek Keeling?"
She chose the second option, and the drive-up-one-day, back-the-next-trip, appropriately dubbed "Greased Lightning," was born.
"Some people were stunned about the 32-hour run," Carney said. "No hotel? No shower? For each who shunned the idea, we had twice as many with no second thoughts. New York and Derek Keeling were worth sacrificing a night in a comfortable bed and a frothy shampoo.
"We filled 50 open slots within days. A second bus was possible, but the show tickets made us sweat a little bit. It took a week to confirm we could get another batch."
Participants decided the sleep deprivation was worth it.
"Even though the bus trip was a little uncomfortable, it was well worth it," said Arianna White. "I could not have asked for a better first-time trip to New York! I want to go back and be able to visit the few sites that I didn't get to visit."
"'Grease!' was phenomenal, said Jillian Carney, of Winfield Middle School. "I have always been a big fan of the Olivia Newton-John/John Travolta movie and the storyline itself. It was so well-performed; I think Derek (Keeling) and Ashley (Spencer) made the perfect Danny and Sandy couple. One of my favorite parts was when Taylor (Hicks) was the Teen Angel that Frankie Avalon plays in the movie. He came out wearing a stunning glitter-studded blue suit and was basically just Taylor in angel form."
The show was followed by a meet-and-greet with the cast, and Keeling was more than gracious, Kathy Carney said.
"Derek had arranged this. Even Taylor Hicks came out and dropped down on the stage with the gang to talk with us," she said. "Afterwards, we joined the crowd packed around the stage door for autographs and pictures with cast members. Taylor Hicks appeared to have security with him. Most made a quick pass through the fans and then disappeared back into the theater. Keeling was the first out and the last to leave. I know because I left him pounding on the door trying to get back into the theater."
Fans were enthusiastic, not just about the show, but also about Carney's organization of the trip and being part of the Putnam County link to the Big Apple.
"A big thank you to Kathy Carney for organizing the trip," said Cyndie Ray. "I was able to witness Derek's talent in show choir for the four years he was in it with my daughter. Having seen him on TV last year, I knew he would be on Broadway soon, no matter how the voting went. Now he's actually there, and I'm so glad that my daughter and I had the opportunity to see him on the Broadway stage. He was fantastic!"
