Johnny Contardo (born December 23, 1951) is a former singer with the musical group Sha Na Na, which he left in 1983. In 1978, he appeared with Sha Na Na in the movie musical Grease as Johnny Casino and the Gamblers. His performance of the song 'Those Magic Changes' was featured in the film and on the soundtrack for Grease.
Getting permission to use the script, which was first performed in Chicago in 1971 before moving to Broadway the next year and the silver screen in 1978, was a challenge in the first place. Grease (1978) Full Cast & Crew. Directed by (1) Writing credits (4) Cast (74) Produced by (3) Cinematography by (1) Film Editing by (1) Casting By (1). Script and Continuity Department (1) Transportation Department (3) Additional Crew (12) Thanks (4) See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Get the IMDb App. Grease: School Version retains the fun-loving spirit and immortal songs of the blockbuster show, but removes any profanity, lewd behavior, and Rizzo's pregnancy scare. The song 'There Are Worst Things I Could Do' is also deleted from this edition. Grease: School Version is approximately 15 minutes shorter than the standard version of Grease. Deposits made with Skrill or Neteller Johnny Casino Grease Live do not qualify for welcome bonuses. The bonus spins are valid for 48 hours from the moment they're credited. The maximum bonus bet limit is $/€6.25 on slot games, and $/€25 on Johnny Casino Grease Live table games. The bonuses are subject to 40x bonus amount wagering requirements. Original Grease Script. Broadway Legend joined:3/20/04. Broadway Legend joined: 3/20/04 Original Grease Script #1 Posted: 7/25/07 at 9:08pm.
Early years[edit]
Johnny Contardo was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. His first singing experience was at the age of six, in a Boston church choir.[citation needed]
His mother took him into night clubs when he was a teen to perform for audiences. She discovered that he had stage presence and personality in addition to his singing talent.[citation needed]
After graduating from Brookline High School in 1969, Johnny attended the Boston Conservatory of Music, studying voice, acting, and dance.[1]
At age 19, Johnny took a minor role in a Boston production of the musical Hair. After six months, he played the lead role. He then received an offer to be understudy for the lead role on Broadway, and an offer to join Sha Na Na.[citation needed]
The Sha Na Na years[edit]
Johnny joined Sha Na Na in 1971. The television show Sha Na Na, aired from 1977 to 1981.[2]
The show was primarily made up of 1950s song covers, and featured musical and non-musical guests and comedy sketches. Johnny performed many ballads, doo-wop, and rock and roll songs on the program.[citation needed]
In 1983, he left the group and began a solo career. He appeared in a minor role in the movie Scarface, released two albums and did live performances.[citation needed]
Eventually, he left the business and worked in advertising for a number of years. He taught voice lessons as well.[citation needed]
Recent life[edit]
In 2005, Johnny returned to show business at the urging of his fans. He rehearsed in his garage, then made his comeback in a show in Florida, with headliner Frankie Avalon, who had also appeared in Grease.[citation needed]
Johnny Casino Grease Script Download
Johnny's comment about his return to the business was, 'My fans are unbelievable. They pushed me to do this. When I got on that stage again, it was like I never left Sha Na Na.'[citation needed]
In June 2007, Johnny did a reunion performance with Jon 'Bowzer' Bauman. He sang a few songs and a duet with Bowzer at Bowzer's Rock 'N' Roll Party Volume VI, held in Connecticut.[citation needed]
As of July 2008, Johnny is performing as a solo artist in concerts around the U.S. He holds an occasional Meet and Greet, which consists of a performance, followed by a gathering of his fans. At these events, there are photo opportunities, a chance to get Johnny's autograph, and to talk with him.[citation needed]Contardo also enjoys cooking and runs a catering business in California.[citation needed]
In the early 1970s, guitarist Joe Jammer, who worked with many classic groups including Led Zeppelin, assembled a group of musicians to record an album of funk/rock tunes called 'Headway,' with Contardo on vocals. The album sat on the shelf for years but was finally released in February 2015.[citation needed]
Film appearances[edit]
- 1972: Dynamite Chicken (with Sha Na Na) - as himself
- 1978: Grease (with Sha Na Na) - as Johnny, of Johnny Casino and the Gamblers
- 1978: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (with Sha Na Na) - as himself, in the all-star finale recreation of the famous album cover
- 1983: Scarface - as Miguel Echevierra
General references[edit]
Johnny Casino Grease
- ^'The Teaching Staff'. The Performer’s Academy. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
- ^The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present. Ballantine Books. 2003. p. 1058. ISBN0-345-45542-8
External links[edit]
Johnny Casino Grease Script Pastebin
- Johnny Contardo on IMDb
- Johnny and Bowzer reunion music video on YouTube
Sandy Dumbrowski, the new girl at school and Danny Zuko, the leader of the 'Burger Palace Boys,' had a brief love affair over the summer. Sandy recounts her version of the fling to the 'Pink Ladies' (Jan, Marty, Frenchy, and Betty Rizzo), while Danny tells the Boys (Roger, Doody, Sonny, and Kenickie) his rendition (Summer Nights). Sandy and Danny soon bump into each other at school, and while Sandy is happy to see him, he plays it cool. Meanwhile, the kids gather in the hall as Doody shows off his new guitar. The rock star wannabe gives an impromptu concert in the hall (Those Magic Changes).
At Marty's pajama party, the girls experiment with wine, cigarettes, and pierced ears, and talk about boys. Marty tells about her long-distance courtship with a Marine (Freddy, My Love). Meanwhile, the Burger Palace Boys are busy stealing hubcaps and teasing Kenickie about his new (used) car (Greased Lightning).
Danny sees Sandy again and tries to apologize for his behavior, but she is hurt to find out that he has told his friends that she is 'easy.' Head cheerleader Patty Simcox interrupts to prompt Sandy to join the squad and to tease Danny about his latest indiscretions (Rydell Fight Song). The kids take their newfangled portable radios for a rock and roll picnic in the park and plan how they will pair off at the upcoming school prom, while Roger shares his love for Jan and his favorite hobby (Mooning). Rizzo teases Danny for falling for a girl who resembles the excessively proper teenage ingenue, Sandra Dee (Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee). Sandy realizes that Danny is putting her off to be cool and wishes she had never met him.
Then Danny suggests that Marty go out with Eugene, and she chases after him. Act I ends with a spirited pledge of friendship (We Go Together).
At the High School Hop, everyone is dancing, except Sandy (Shakin' At the High School Hop). She is home feeling sorry for herself (It's Raining on Prom Night). Meanwhile, favorite radio DJ Vince Fontaine, is warming the kids up for the hand-jive dance contest. Kenickie dumps his blind date, Cha-Cha DiGregorio, and pairs up with Rizzo. Danny and Cha-Cha then proceed to win the dance contest (Born to Hand Jive).
A few days later at the Burger Palace after school, a couple of the guys run into Frenchy, who flunked out of Rydell and has now dropped out of beauty school (Beauty School Dropout). Danny, who has taken up track in order to win back Sandy's affections, does not know that Cha-Cha's boyfriend's gang has challenged the guys to a rumble. He is more concerned about patching things up with Sandy at the Twi-Light Drive-In, but he moves too fast for her, and she leaves (All Alone at a Drive-In Movie). A couple of days later, the 'greasers' are having a party in Jan's basement, as Doody and Roger sing 'Rock 'n' Roll Party Queen.' Rizzo is worried that she is pregnant, but she is so mad at Kenickie that she tells him he is not the father. Rizzo rejects the kids' offers of help, especially Sandy's (There Are Worse Things I Could Do). Sandy wonders what she needs to do to fit in at Rydell (Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee - Reprise).
The next time Sandy meets up with the Burger Palace Boys and the Pink Ladies, she has transformed herself into a greaser's dream date (All Choked Up). Rizzo reveals that she is not pregnant, and she and Kenickie reunite. All ends happily (We Go Together - Reprise).
If you require the JUNIOR VERSION of the script please click here (This version cuts Rizzo’s scene and song “There are Worse Things I Could Do” as well as more appropriate language throughout the script).