52 | AUGUST 19 • 2021 

ARTS&LIFE
THEATER

L

ike other theater companies in 
Metro Detroit, the Jewish Ensemble 
Theatre (JET) is returning to the live 
stage — only moved outside with a musi-
cal production planned to attract family 
audiences.
Grease, a romp about 1950s teens and 
the issues they face, features a cast num-
bering more than 20 and spotlights songs, 
played by a live band, that became pop-
ular beyond the show — “Shakin’ at the 
High School Hop,” “Freddy My Love” and 
“Summer Nights.”
It will be staged Friday-Sunday, Aug. 
27-29, on the grounds of the Walled Lake 
Farmers Market. Kevin Keller takes the 
part of Eugene, the class valedictorian, a 
supporting role in the show created by Jim 
Jacobs and Warren Casey. The main char-
acters, Sandy and Danny, are played by 
Sarah Kmiec and Grant Cleveland.

“Grease is just a ball of energy from start 
to finish so it’s a really nice step back into 
theater,” said Keller, 24. “We’re having a 
great time as a cast and glad to be outside 
in the summer. Beyond this production, 
I’m drawn to supporting parts that round 
out the show’s environment while the leads 
go off and do their heavy lifting.”
Before graduating Wayne State 
University in 2020 as a theater major, 
Keller had been featured in the JET 
production Shame, which is one of the 
anti-bullying plays presented to groups of 
young people, and he is glad to be moving 
on to a mainstage show in addition to 
retaining that element of JET.
Keller, who lives in Sterling Heights, 
was introduced to theater participa-
tion by a teacher at L’
Anse Creuse High 
School–North. She asked if he would like 
to audition for a program that combined 

The 1950s teen musical Grease will be performed outside.
JET Theatre Is Back Live!

SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Kevin Keller, who plays Eugene, studies 
the script.

The JET ensemble rehearses for Grease.

Details
Grease will be performed at 
8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Aug. 
27-28, and 7 p.m. Sunday, 
Aug. 29, at the Walled Lake 
Farmers Market, 1499 E. West 
Maple Road. $16-$20. Bring 
your own chairs. Food and 
beverages on sale. (248) 
788-2900. jettheatre.org.

