They Go Together: Checker a perfect fit for stage production of ‘Grease’

Friday, Jan. 24, 2003 | 9:14 a.m.

What: "Grease."

When: 8 p.m., Tuesday through Feb. 1; 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2; 2 p.m. Feb. 1-2.

Where: Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Tickets: $25, $35 and $55.

Information: (702) 785-5000.

Show business axiom: There are no small roles, only small actors.

Twist king Chubby Checker is no small actor, but he does have a cameo in "Grease," which opens Tuesday at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts.

"It's a very important part of the show," Checker said during a recent telephone interview from his home near Paoli, Pa.

The 61-year-old Checker portrays Teen Angel.

"One of the girls is in a lot of trouble and can't get it together," Checker said. "She's not good at anything and asks for help. Suddenly, heaven opens up and here I come to give her some good information.

"It happens in the middle of the show, and things start to happen after that. The moment has that magic touch. It's great."

Checker compares his brief appearance in one of the world's most successful stage and screen musicals to that of the appearance of Marlon Brando in the 1979 movie "Apocalypse Now," in which Brando played the pivotal character Col. Walter E. Kurtz.

"It's almost like that waiting for Marlon Brando to show up," Checker said.

Las Vegans don't have to wait too long for productions of "Grease" to show up.

Every three years or so another one hits town a 1997 version at the old Aladdin featured Mackenzie Phillips (one of the stars of "One Day at a Time") and Sally Struthers (of "All in the Family"); in 2000 at the MGM Grand the star power was the team of Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka, who played Shirley Feeney and her beau, Carmine "The Big Ragu" Ragusa on "Laverne & Shirley."

"Grease," which has been around for more than 30 years, has spawned many stars.

Barry Bostwick was original male lead Danny Zuko on Broadway in 1972, a role played by Richard Gere in the London production the following year and by John Travolta in the 1978 movie (which featured Frankie Avalon as Teen Angel). Travolta, at age 17, played the nerdy Doody for a national tour of the production in 1972.

Grease was written by Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs and debuted as an amateur production at the Kingston Mines Theatre in Chicago.

The story, which takes place in the 1950s, revolves around Danny Zuko, King of the Burger Palace Boys, and Sandy Dumbrowski, a wholesome, naive and pretty transfer student whose life changes after meeting the tough-yet-vulnerable Rizzo, leader of the Pink Ladies.

Adrienne Barbeau portrayed Rizzo in the original production. Jacquie Comer has the role at the Aladdin.

"Betty Rizzo is a great character," said Colmer, who has been touring with the show about six months. "She is my favorite, a tough cookie who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to get it. She holds the Pink Ladies together.

"She's sarcastic and funny, but has a really warm heart. She has a strong guard that she won't let down."

"Grease" opened in New York on Valentine's Day, 1972, at the off-Broadway Eden Theatre, where it ran for 128 performances and was nominated for seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

On June 7, 1972, "Grease" moved briefly to Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre and then to the Royale Theatre, where it remained until closing on April 13, 1980.

During its almost eight-year run on Broadway, there were 3,388 performances -- briefly making it the longest-running musical ever, a position now held by "Cats."

The musical re-opened at the Eugene O'Neill theater on May 11, 1994, and ran for 1,505 performances.

Since its original opening, there have been seven "Grease" road companies. This is not the first time Checker has been in the production.

"I was in it in 1996 on Broadway," said Checker, who last performed in concert in Las Vegas Dec. 30 at Bally's. "I do it every now and again. If I'm not playing anywhere, I do it."

For years Checker has expressed anger about not being a regular headliner at venues on the Strip. He sees his appearance in "Grease" as a showcase for producers to see that he is still a draw and should be given a room.

"When they said they wanted Chubby Checker in 'Grease' at the Aladdin, I jumped at the chance," he said.

But he has his sights set on bigger game.

"I want to play where Tom Jones or Engelbert Humperdinck or Paul Anka play," Checker said. "This gives me a chance to show what I can do."

He says he has thought about taking out an ad that says, "Play me."

"I want to play main rooms in Vegas," Checker said. "I want to play every day like Elvis did, not just weekends.

"When I play in Atlantic City I perform Tuesdays through Sundays for two weeks and I have 91-percent attendance. No one else plays six days a week, two shows per night, and does that kind of business."

Checker says he is picky about his venues and can afford to wait until the right one comes along.

"I am really sick, sick about not playing in the main rooms in Las Vegas. This show really satisfies my frustrations about not playing at the MGM or Caesars," he said. "I know if I showed up at those places it would be a sellout. I tried Harrah's once, and I sold out every night for two weeks."

Checker said if the twist, a dance craze he ignited in the early '60s, had not come along he might have had an entirely different career.

"I was getting ready to go to Broadway," he said. "I was 17 or 18 when the twist came along and the rest is history. Sometimes I regret it. I would have gotten more into acting. I would have been more of a legitimate performer onstage like Liza Minnelli. But I got so caught up in the dance thing that I never got into theater."

Although he is only performing in "Grease" during the Las Vegas leg of its tour, he probably will have more opportunities to play it in the future. The production isn't likely to disappear from the playbill anytime soon.

"It has been received amazingly well on this tour," Jacquie Colmer said. "We signed a year's contract and I'm almost positive the contract will be renewed."