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Joe Ferri, known at Westlake High School as a football, basketball, and lacrosse star, is now the starring role in the 2016 Spring Musical.
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Ferri auditioned for Grease because he loved the movie growing up. Once he found out Westlake’s spring musical was Grease, he was ecstatic and wanted to try something new. According to Ferri, he has acted before but not in theater, so he did have experience in the arts, but not a lot.
The audition process for Ferri was unlike anything he’s ever done: “Sports I do on the daily, and I’m very familiar and comfortable with it. Going to try out for a musical I was so nervous and worried!”
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For his audition, he sang the popular song “Grease Lightning” the night before over and over again making sure it was perfect for his entrance to theatre.
Ferri remembered, “Going in, I really wanted Danny but the truth is, I didn’t think it would be reality.”
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Coming out of his audition, Ferri felt confident. He steered away from all the buzz that was going around about who would be cast. Ferri noted, “I just stayed out of it and tried my hardest every night” and hoped to be cast as the role he wanted.
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When Ferri found out he got the role of Danny Zuko, it was the best news he’s heard all year. He said he loves that role, especially John Travolta, who portrayed Zuko in the movie.
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“I was actually at a basketball game getting ready to play and before I went on the court, I checked my phone to see if Mr. Cutrone casted the play and there I saw my name next to Danny Zuko. It was the greatest feeling. After that day, I studied the way John Travolta played Danny almost every night,” Ferri celebrated.
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Because of this exciting moment in his life, Ferri’s friends and family were very supportive throughout his Grease journey. When he told his friends he wanted to try out, they thought it was a joke, but they still supported him by buying the majority of the house right seats for opening night. Although his friends were there for the first night, his family was sure to come to every performance and was always by his side.
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Naturally, opening night came which left Ferri feeling really nervous and somewhat excited. He said, “I saw opening night as the night I get to prove to people that I can do more than just play sports.” He further explained that when it comes to sports, he doesn’t get nervous and is able to stay composed, yet the nerves hit him when he was going to perform the first night in front of a sold out audience!
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Thankfully, the cast and crew were there to support him throughout his first performance.
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Over the four months of rehearsing, the cast of Grease grew very close. Ferri said, “I love every one of my cast mates, and I’m so glad I did the play and met all these new people who I hope to stay connected with forever.”
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Cast members were impressed with Ferri’s performance. Carina Papa, who played the role of Rizzo, said that at the beginning of the rehearsal process Ferri had to get the basics of being in a musical down, such as the way rehearsals were run and how to memorize all his lines. She also commented that he improved a lot throughout rehearsals and his talent grew.
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“His strengths were his lines and that he got off book really fast,” Papa added.
Another cast member, Rianna Cassone, who played the Pink Lady Babs, said that he brought a great energy to the cast and that he was really friendly, nice and easy to work with.
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She also explained how he was “very focused on his performance and he was willing to learn.”
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As one of Ferri’s cast mates, I personally have to say he proved to everyone that he can do more than just sports. He shined on the stage, and I couldn’t be more proud of him.
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Over Spring Break, the cast got together to practice the show, which also showed Ferri’s dedication. He handled the rehearsals very well and began to understand how to put on a great show.
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“We all pushed each other because we all wanted to do well,” Papa said.
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Mr. Cutrone, the musical’s director, said that Ferri impressed and amazed him, considering it was the first time he’s done a musical audition.
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Cutrone said Ferri was cast as the role because of his “swagger” and his ability to say his lines in a “relaxed way,” which was very special. Cutrone was also impressed by Ferri’s dedication to the show and how he took it seriously.
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Cutrone said that during the rehearsal process, Ferri would ask questions if he was stuck on how to deliver a line, which showed Ferri’s dedication and desire to exceed expectations.
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Not only did he exceed expectations as Danny Zuko, Ferri also made a great impact on the Westlake Players, drawing in a different type of audience: the athletes.
Opening night, one of the sections of the theater was filled with the football team. “He turned things around, which was also very impressive,” Cutrone noted.
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Cutrone said that Ferri is a very talented young man, and it was a privilege to work with him. Cutrone hopes to see him do the plays in the future.
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Luckily, Ferri will be returning next year for the spring musical and he hopes to continue them throughout his life. He says they are “really fun and a great experience.”
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Ferri’s advice: “People should try to go out of their comfort zone and try new things because you never know what you might like until you try it.”