Scottsdale Prep Faculty Takes Center Stage in “Grease”

Scottsdale Prep recently staged its first-ever faculty production, bringing together 17 staff members from various disciplines to perform Grease: School Edition.

The February 2025 production was a celebration of Mrs. Clement’s 10th year leading Scottsdale Prep Theatre Arts, a tenure during which she has directed over 75 productions.

Reflecting on this milestone, Mrs. Clement shared, “I knew I wanted to do something different in our 10th season. A bigger show wasn’t enough, I wanted to challenge what our audience has come to know us for. Before I knew it, the answer was right in front of me. It is hard to talk about classical musicals and not think of Grease. I always had the show on the back of my brain as a bucket list production. Everyone should do Grease at least once, but I knew I never wanted to do it with high school students. Then in March of 2024, I stood up in front of a faculty meeting and asked if people would be interested in creating a faculty musical with me for our 10th season. I was shocked at the number of hands that went up, and plans were set in motion.”

The idea for a faculty production stemmed from the belief that if students are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones in fine arts classes, faculty should be willing to do the same. The experience fostered camaraderie among educators from departments such as Math, Latin, Spanish, Humane Letters, History, Literature & Composition, Special Education, Fine Arts, and Administration, many of whom were performing in a theatrical production for the first time.

Scottsdale Prep Theatre Arts students played a crucial role in making the show a success. Senior Abby Guttman served as choreographer, teaching the cast the show’s iconic dance numbers. Junior Esther Sutherland designed the costumes, ensuring an authentic 1950s look. Senior Michael Marriott took on the role of Stage Manager, overseeing students who designed and built the set, props, lighting, sound, and managed the run crew. Their dedication and technical expertise brought the production to life.

Mrs. Clement spoke of the incredible dedication of her colleagues, saying, “It has been so enjoyable to go on this journey with my colleagues. Our talents and interests vary vastly, but one thing we all have in common is that we enjoy and respect each other greatly. Every day these teachers walked in after long hours in classrooms and as administrators to hard work that sat in front of us. They gave their time freely to us, and then in just 7 rehearsals and 3 tech days, they pulled together an incredible production. I was happy enough to be directing it, but then out of need stepped into the show alongside them, a choice I will forever be grateful for.”

The nostalgic factor of Grease resonated deeply with the faculty cast, particularly given the support from the school’s thespian troupe. “The nostalgic factor of Grease for our cast is highlighted by being supported by our thespian troupe. These students have walked in every day working to make us look talented even when we forget the dance steps or step out of the spotlight accidentally. We truly could not have done this without their support,” Mrs. Clement noted.

As the curtain closed on this landmark production, the success of the production left many wondering if faculty performances might become a new tradition at Scottsdale Prep. Regardless of what the future holds, this production proved the power of the arts to bring people together and create lasting memories.

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