Dan Partridge is no stranger to the iconic role of Danny Zuko, having starred in the touring productions of Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey’s musical Grease. Now, the musical will play the West End’s Dominion Theatre, directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Phillips.
Dan has been working in the business for the last eight years, and having studied a Musical Theatre degree course he’s enjoyed roles in big productions such as Hairspray and Mamma Mia, but this will be his first leading role in the West End.
When Dan was first cast in the touring production he says he was intimated by the response on social media, “a lot of people were commenting that I didn’t look like Danny Zuko, because people have this image of the character that they are so passionate about,” explains Dan, “I realised that it just wouldn’t work if I tried to impersonate John Travolta, I had to create my own Danny.”
But the way Danny looks might not be the only surprise for fans of the film, “ the script has been rewritten, so there are literally new scenes and new songs, so people might be a bit surprised at first, but there’s still lots of their favourite moments and songs in there, I can see people in the audience getting really excited when they hear one of the original songs.”
This version of the show takes Grease back to its roots, “these kids are growing up in the late ’50s and the show looks at what was really going on for them at that time, because the writers, Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, they’re writing about their own upbringing in Chicago at that time.”
Dan is keen though to hold onto the core principals of the character, “there’s a sensitive soul in there, out of all the boys, he’s the one that is maybe a little bit further down the line in his maturity and sexual awakening, and the only one who maybe has had this experience. So the boys look up to him in that fraternal like, big brother way, and I think I wanted to tap into that.”
Dan says the new script also allows that side of Danny Zuko to come through too, “it also shows his vulnerability, so the audience can really see two sides to Danny.”
Dan is also a fan of some of the new songs, “there is one song that I really enjoy, which is called The Tattoo Song, I don’t want to give too much away, but basically the guys are talking about their dreams and aspirations, and they all band together and say, ‘It would be really cool if we all got matching tattoos.’ It’s a bit of a laugh, but musically it’s got this rock thing going and it’s really fun.”
Alongside Dan Partridge as Danny, Grease also features Peter Andre, and at certain performances, Jason Donovan, “I’ve heard they are really nice guys,” says Dan, “so just spending time with them will be great, but these guys aren’t stars for no reason, so I hope I can also learn from them too.”
Dan already has plenty of experience with the role, and he’s looking forward to working with new cast members, “There’s only a couple of us staying on from the touring cast, everyone else is new, and it’s a bigger cast too, which I’m excited about, because obviously we have a much bigger stage to fill.”
“It’s great seeing all the new cast get to grips with the show, and put their own spin on the characters, I’m enjoying helping them to find a balance between what we already know works, and what they could do differently.”
A bigger stage also means a bigger set, “When we had the first tour, we had a pretty massive set, but touring has its complications, the size of the set and the spaces it can go into can be a problem. So with the show sitting in one place, it allows more scope, especially with the Dominion where there’s a vast, very wide stage, there is opportunity to play.”
One thing that Dan hopes will change is the onstage car, “we had the same car for the whole tour, it was really funny because obviously it’s supposed to be this hunk o‘ junk that’s ready to fall apart every time you touch it, and our car was literally falling apart,” laughs Danny, “so I’m pretty sure they’ve got us a new car for the West End!”
Dan is preparing to take on his first West End leading role, but already knows it’s a role that requires lots of energy, “you definitely need to pace yourself doing this show, I think being in one place will help because touring in itself is quite exhausting. When I first started I didn’t know how I would keep the energy up, because I think the longest I’m ever off stage is three to four minutes, but like any job you just get used to it.”
Grease follows a run of Dirty Dancing at the Dominion, another movie musical that audiences have fond attachments to, “I think the good thing about stage versions of movies is that they attract a multi-generational audience, Grease will be the first movie musical that a lot of people have seen, and who hasn’t been up dancing to the Grease mega-mix in a nightclub. People are really attached to it, so they are keen to see how it’s done on stage, and after everything we’ve been through, this is the show we all need right now.”
Grease, starring Dan Partridge as Danny Zuko, is at the Dominion Theatre from 3rd May 2022
Comments 3