TURN IT ON, KATE!

It was cool to hear Grease producer David Ian tell recent BW grad Kate Rockwell that she was hands-down the best singer of all the competitors on the reality show Grease: You’re The One That I Want.

On the other hand, Ian pronounced that the ”only Sandy who could stand next to Olivia Newton John and look good is Ashley Spencer,” a Jackson High School graduate.

Not bad for a day’s work by two Northeast Ohioans.

I’ve seen both women perform on Northeast Ohio stages, so this is exciting stuff. Spencer seems to be a judge’s darling with her perfect Sandy looks and her dancing grace. But does she have the singing chops?

I first saw Rockwell (nee Kayte Wilfong — Rockwell’s a stage name) doing a workshop production at Carousel Dinner Theatre in 2005. At the time, I was so blown away by her star quality, I listed her as one of the top young Northeast Ohio actresses to watch for as her musical theater career progresses.

The judges said Rockwell had a natural sophistication and a knockout voice (which she does), but they wanted to see the girlish side of Sandy in the next episode of the competition.

Cincinnati native Rockwell is abundantly well-trained as a vocalist, thanks to Vicki Bussert and the other professors at Baldwin Wallace College who groomed her for a career in musical theater.

Rockwell’s voice is her biggest asset. But now it’s time for her to loosen up a bit and turn on her acting charm! I know she can do it because I have seen her play the adorable ingenue role quite well, specifically as Philia in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Great Lakes Theater Festival in September.

There’s a lot there that judges haven’t seen yet in Rockwell, so here’s to the next round of competition Feb. 11.

Guest Judge Olivia Newton John of Grease movie fame said the winning Sandy must strike a tricky balance: ”You’ve got to to have an equal balance of the sweetness and the sexuality and not be afraid to express them.”