Grease

Grease is one of the coolest musicals to ever grace the West End and Broadway stage. Featuring a score by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, the musical is named for the 1950s working class youth subculture in the USA who were known as ‘greasers’. Set in a fictional High School, the show follows a group of boys and girls in their senior year as they deal with all sorts of teenage angst, from drive ins to burger bars and teenage pregnancy. The show is one of the most performed musicals in the world and was made famous by the 1978 movie starring Olivia Newton John and John Travolta.

Grease

by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey

by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey

by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey

Kenneth Waissman & Maxine Fox

Tom Moore

Patricia Birch

Productions
Grease Original Broadway

Original Broadway Production

Eden Theatre, Broadhurst Theatre, Royale Theatre, Majestic Theatre. - Opened 14 Feb 1972, closed 1 Apr 1980, 3388 performances

Cast: Barry Bostwick 

Grease Original London

Original London Production

New London Theatre - Opened 1 Jun 1974, closed 1 Jan 1970

Cast: Richard Gere, Patrick Swazee, Paul Nichols and Elaine Paige

Grease 1st Broadway Revival

First Broadway Revival

Eugene O'Neill Theatre - Opened 11 May 1994, closed 25 Jan 1998

Cast: Brooke Shields and Rosie O’Donnell played Rizzo; Hunter Foster played Rodger; Megan Mullally played Marty

Grease 1st London Revival

First London Revival

Cambridge Theatre, Dominion Theatre - Opened 1 Oct 1996, closed 1 Dec 1999

Cast: Shane Ritchie (Kinickie), Sally Anne Triplett (Rizzo).

Grease Piccadilly 2007

Second London Revival

Piccadilly Theatre - Opened 1 Aug 2007, closed 1 Apr 2011

Cast: Danny Bayne and Susan McFadden

Grease 2nd Broadway Revival

Second Broadway Revival

Brooks Atkinson Theatre - Opened 19 Aug 2007, closed 4 Jan 2009

Cast: Max Crumm and Laura Osnes



What was your favourite production? Add your thoughts in the comments box

Synopsis

Twitter Synopsis:

High School drama on a summer night leads to an unlikely couple who break the social mold, proving that PVC always helps win your man. 

Add your own Twitter style synopsis (140 characters only!) in the comments box


It’s 1959 and a new school year for seniors at Rydell High School. After an eventful summer, the Burger Palace Boys and the Pink Ladies settle back into their school routine and parody their school’s Alma Mater. They sit at opposite sides of the dining hall, whilst they hear about everyone’s successful summer romances. New girl at school Sandy Dumbrowski is pulled into the pack of Pink Ladies who quiz her about her summer romance with a mysterious man. Whilst she tells the girls about their emotional connection, Danny Zuko tells his side of the story to the Burger Palace Boys, focusing much more on the physical. Danny and Sandy soon bump into each other in the corridor, and whilst Sandy is excited to see Danny, he brushes her off trying to be cool. Doody entertains the school with his new guitar, giving a concert in the bathrooms.

Marty hosts a pajama party to initiate Sandy into the Pink Ladies. They talk about wine, cigarettes and try to pierce Sandy’s ears. Marty tells the girls she is in love with a Marine named ‘Freddy’. The boys meanwhile tease Kenickie about his new broken down car, nicknaming it ‘Greased Lightning’.

At school Sandy is recruited to join the cheerleaders by class president Patty Simcox. Danny tries to apologise to Sandy but she refuses to speak to him, wishing they hadn’t met. Rizzo teases Danny about picking a real life ‘Sandra Dee’. The gang decide that they will always stay together, even after High School ends.

The High School Hop opens Act II and the kids from Rydell High are partying in the school gym. Sandy stays at home feeling sorry for herself, singing about it raining on prom night. The dance is hosted by their favourite DJ Vince Fontaine who leads a hand jive competition amongst the couples. Danny and Rizzo are supposed to dance together, but Danny dances with Cha Cha from a rival school, causing much upset. They win the contest and Rizzo and Kenickie dance together. Sandy hears about Cha Cha and feels betrayed.

At the Burger Palace the gang run into Frenchie who has dropped out of Rydell High and now also Beauty School. Danny takes up the track team in order to win back Sandy, but she is not impressed. Cha Cha’s boyfriend’s gang have challenged the Burger Palace Boys to a rumble, but Danny is too focused on winning Sandy back. He invites her to the drive in movie, but moves too fast for her and ends up being alone once again. Jan hosts a party in her basement and the group listen to each other sing and wonder about life after High School. Rizzo reveals that she may be pregnant, and tells Kenickie that he is not the father. She struggles to find sympathy, saying ‘There are Worse Things I Could Do’. Sandy also questions what she can do to fit in, and the girls come up with a plan.

Sandy is transformed into a greasers ideal woman, with leather pants and big hair. Danny is astounded at the change and the two are finally together. Rizzo finds out she isn’t pregnant after all, and the gang are all happy as they rush towards their final days in High School.

Songs

ACT I

  • Rydell Alma Mater
  • Rydell Alma Mater (Parody)
  • Summer Nights
  • Those Magic Changes
  • Crossover Into Greased Lightnin’
  • Greased Lightnin’
  • Rizzo’s Entrance and Chaser (Instrumental)
  • Rydell’s Flight Song
  • Mooning
  • Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee
  • We Go Together

ACT II

  • Shakin At The High School Hop
  • Freddy My Love
  • It’s Raining On Prom Night
  • Into High School Hop (Scene Change #3)
  • High School Hop (Underscore)
  • Miss Lynch’s Entrance
  • Vince Fontaine’s Entrance
  • Born To Hand-Jive
  • Crossover Out Of High School Hop
  • Beauty School Dropout
  • Beauty School Dropout (Reprise)
  • Into Alone At The Drive-In Movie (Scene Change #4)
  • Alone At The Drive-In Movie
  • Rock `N’ Roll Party Queen
  • There Are Worse Things I Could Do
  • Look At Me, I’m Sandra Dee (reprise)
  • Out Of Sandra Dee (Scene Change #5)
  • All Choked Up
  • We Go Together
  • Crossover
  • Finale
  • Bows and Exit Music
  • House Exit Music

SONGS ADDED FOR THE MOVIE

  • Grease
  • Hopelessly Devoted To You
  • Sandy
  • You’re The One That I Want
  • Blue Moon
  • Hound Dog
  • Tears On My Pillow
  • Rock ‘N’ Roll Is Here To Stay
  • Love Is A Many Spendored Thing
  • Grease (Reprise)

New Broadway Cast

  • Since I Don’t Have You
  • Grease Megamix
Awards

1972 Drama Desk Awards: Oustanding Choreography, Outstanding Costume Design, Theatre World Award

The show has been nominated for 11 Tony Awards, but has won none.

Licensing

UK: Samuel French

USA: Samuel French

 

 

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