Gibson dons leather jacket, sheds lovelorn teen image

Gibson dons leather jacket, sheds lovelorn teen image

Singer and actress applies adolescent energy to role as
rebellious Rizzo in ‘Grease’

By Rodney Tanaka

Daily Bruin Staff

Debbie Gibson’s image is that of a perky teen singing about love
and loss. Sandy, from the musical "Grease," also spends her days
singing about her affairs of the heart. The singer and the
character seemed destined to intertwine.

However, in the current production of "Grease," at the Cerritos
Center for the Performing Arts, Gibson defies conventional wisdom
by taking the role of Rizzo, the rebellious Pink Lady who ridicules
Sandy’s squeaky-clean image.

"(Rizzo is) a more colorful character than Sandy," Gibson says.
"Sandy was more about controlled energy and with Rizzo you can let
loose like you do in a concert.

"She’s a sassy, troubled high school girl who needs to get
attention in all the wrong ways and doesn’t quite know where to
focus her energy," she continues. "Although I wasn’t a mischievous
high school student, I did have a lot of that kind of energy and so
I can relate to it on that level."

The role of Rizzo has attracted an eclectic array of stars to
the various stage productions, including Brooke Shields and Rosie
O’Donnell.

"You can be a comedian, or a model/actress or singer/actress,
and come at this role from so many different angles and put so many
different elements into it," Gibson says. "Anyone can take this
role and make it their own."

The popularity of "Grease" has spanned several decades and
included stage and theatrical renditions of the story. What about
Danny, Sandy and the rest of the students of Rydell High appeal to
viewers?

"People who were living in the ’50s want to relive it, people
who grew up with the movie and the musical want to relive it, and
their kids rent that darn movie all the time and can relate to the
energy," Gibson says. "Everyone knew the characters. Everyone had
those characters in their school."

Gibson stands close to the tape recorder in order to protect her
voice. She is visiting Planet Hollywood in Santa Ana, one of many
stops for her during the last two days. The balcony overflows with
movie memorabilia, and the restaurant has just added a "Grease"
leather jacket to its collection, courtesy of the cast members.

The cast treats patrons to an a cappella rendition of "In the
Still of the Nite," a tribute to the ’50s theme of the day. The
festivities continue with a bubble gum blowing contest that is a
bust. Gibson then signs autographs in this tribute to the Hollywood
dream factory.

"Only in my dreams

as real as it may seem

it was only in my dreams"

Gibson’s dream of a music career became a reality in 1987 with
the release of her album, "Out of the Blue." The record reached
multi-platinum status and yielded the number one single, "Foolish
Beat," making Gibson the youngest artist to write, produce and
perform a chart-topping song. Fame at the age of 16 resulted in
adjustments to her daily life.

"I had been doing so much theater as a child that I was familiar
with the performing part of it, I was familiar with the
discipline," Gibson says. "I was not familiar with the fame part of
it.

"I was kind of in denial that I would get recognized in the
street," Gibson adds. "I’d think, ‘Oh, I can go Christmas shopping
in the mall,’ and then get mobbed. I was trying desperately to have
a normal life and I think I kept it as normal as I could under the
circumstances."

Gibson’s music, from her first album to her current "Think With
Your Heart" album, focuses on the trials of love and maintaining a
positive attitude. Her musical influences have remained the same:
Billy Joel, Elton John and Barbara Streisand. Her desire to portray
a rebel like Rizzo may hint that the singer is leaning towards a
darker image.

"I personally love a good melody, but I can relate to artists
that focus more on the groove or more on attitude if it’s coming
from the heart," Gibson says. "For me, that doesn’t seem to work
because that’s not really part of my roots, but I can be more
open-minded overall."

Perhaps the future will not contain a darker, angrier Debbie.
Her past will always be available for herself and her fans to
relive on CD and video.

"I look back on it as a really fun, crazy time," Gibson says.
"It’s kind of funny to have all your awkward moments documented on
video, but it’ll be something to show the grandkids.

"I’m so glad I started when I did," she adds. "It’s really fun
to look back on that stuff and it all led me to the place I’m at
now, and I feel personally and professionally, I’m exactly where I
want to be."

That place can be summed up in one word, and "Grease is the
word, is the word …"

STAGE: "Grease" at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts
through Sun., Jan. 28. For more info call (800) 300-4345.

PATRICK LAM

Debbie Gibson plays Rizzo in "Grease."Comments to
[email protected]