CAPE TEEN PERFORMS IN CHORUS OF `GREASE' AT MUNY THIS WEEK

Quinn Eudy had never appeared in even a grade-school production before his mother took him and a couple friends to a recent audition held by The Muny in St. Louis. They did it "just for the experience," he says.

About 1,400 people tried out for Muny roles. Among those few who were called back was Quinn Eudy.

The son of Jennifer and Eddie Eudy, 1600 Kurre Lane, Quinn is appearing in the chorus of the current Muny production of "Grease." The musical is being presented nightly through Sunday at the Forest Park Amphitheater.

Monday was opening night, and sold out. Though he says there were some missed cues in the production, his performing debut was "about like I expected it to be."

Quinn dances and sings in three numbers as one of 75 members of the chorus, whose costumes are the basic '50s uniform of dark jeans and white shirt.

"Grease," which starred John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in the film version, is a musical about star-crossed '50s lovers who find a way to stay together. The Muny production stars Rex Smith, who appeared in "The Pirates of Penzance" and on TV's "As the World Turns" as Danny Zuko, and Caryn Richman ("The New Gidget," "A Very Brady Christmas") as Sandy Dumbrowski.

Quinn, 14, will be a ninth-grader at Central Junior High School in the fall. At school he plays safety on the football team and runs the 100-meter hurdles on the track team.

He auditioned for a Muny role after his mother spotted a notice in the Southeast Missourian.

He is one of the chorus' youngest members. He's not sure what quality caused him to be picked. "They just made sure I had a low voice," he said. "They said I was too tall to be in `Peter Pan.'"

Aside from receiving two complimentary tickets, members of the chorus don't get paid. "Most of the people, at least the ones in the chorus, are just doing it for a summer pastime," he said.

But he sounds like someone who's at least been landed on by the acting bug. "I like it a lot," he said. "I'll go into high school plays now."