Grease (musical)

Grease
Original Broadway Cast Recording
Music	Jim Jacobs Warren Casey
Lyrics	Jim Jacobs Warren Casey
Book	Jim Jacobs Warren Casey
Productions	1971 Chicago 1972 Broadway 1973 West End 1978 Film 1979 West End revival 1993 West End revival 1994 Broadway revival 1994 U.S. national tour 2001 West End revival International productions 2007 West End revival 2007 Broadway revival 2008 U.S. national tour 2010 - 2011 U.S. Non Equity National Tour 2011 Chicago

Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School (loosely based on William Howard Taft School), follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love, cars, and drive-ins. The score attempts to recreate the sounds of early rock and roll. In its record-breaking original Broadway production, Grease was a raunchy, raw, aggressive, vulgar show that since has been sanitized and tamed down by subsequent productions.^[1] The show tackles such social issues as teenage pregnancy and gang violence; its themes include love, friendship, teenage rebellion, sexual exploration during adolescence, and, to some extent, class consciousness/class conflict.

Grease first was performed in 1971 in the original Kingston Mines Theatre in Chicago, located in an old trolley barn (now the site of a hospital parking garage). From there, it has been successful on both stage and screen, but the content has changed drastically and its teenage characters have become less Chicago habitués and more generic. At the time that it closed in 1980, Grease's 3,388-performance run was the longest yet in Broadway history, although surpassed by A Chorus Line a few years later. It went on to become a West End hit, a hugely successful film, two popular Broadway revivals in 1994 and 2007, and a staple of regional theatre, summer stock, community theatre, and high school and middle school drama groups.^[2] It remains Broadway's thirteenth longest-running show.^[3]

Production history

Original productions and Broadway

The show's original, grittier 1971 incarnation has been described as either a musical from the start^[4] or a play with incidental music.^[5] In either case, it was first staged under the name Grease Lightning at the original location of the Kingston Mines in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. The script was based on Jim Jacobs' experience at William Taft High School.

In April 2011 writer Jim Jacobs finally said Sandy's character was based on Jeanie Kozemczak.^[6]

Producers Ken Waissman and Maxine Fox saw the show and suggested to the playwrights that it might work better as a musical, and told them if the creative partners were willing to rework it and they liked the end result, they would produce it Off-Broadway. The team headed to New York City to collaborate on what would become Grease. The new production, directed by Tom Moore and choreographed by Patricia Birch (who later directed the ill-fated sequel of the film adaptation of Grease), opened Off Broadway at the Eden Theatre in downtown Manhattan on February 14, 1972. Though Grease opened geographically off Broadway, it did so under first class Broadway contracts.^[7] The show was deemed eligible for the 1972 Tony Awards, receiving seven Tony Award nominations.

On June 7, 1972, the production moved to Broadway and the Broadhurst Theatre, and on November 21, it moved to the Royale Theatre, where it ran until January 27, 1980. For the five final weeks of the run, the show moved to the larger Majestic Theatre. By the time it closed on April 13, 1980, it had run 3,388 performances.

The original cast included Barry Bostwick as Danny and Carole Demas as Sandy, with Adrienne Barbeau, Timothy Meyers, Alan Paul, and Walter Bobbie in supporting roles. Replacements later in the run included Jeff Conaway, Marilu Henner, Peter Gallagher, Ilene Graff, Judy Kaye, Patrick Swayze, John Travolta, Jerry Zaks, and Treat Williams. Richard Gere was an understudy for many roles in this production, including Danny Zuko, Teen Angel, and Vince Fontaine.

1973 London

The London production opened at the New London Theatre in June 1973 with a cast that included a then-unknown Richard Gere as Danny, Stacey Gregg as Sandy, Jacqui-Ann Carr as Rizzo, Derek James as Doody, and Stephen Bent as Roger.^[8][9] Later Paul Nicholas and Elaine Paige, who had been in the London production of Hair, took over the leads. Kim Braden would also play Sandy. It was revived in London at the Astoria in 1979 with Su Pollard and Tracey Ullman.

1993 London revival

The revival opened at the Dominion Theatre and transferred to the Cambridge Theatre in October 1996, where it ran until September 11, 1999. Directed by David Gilmore, the opening cast included Craig McLachlan (Danny), Debbie Gibson (Sandy) (Samantha Janus and Sonia also both played Sandy during the revival), Mike Doyle (Vince Fontaine), Shane Ritchie (Kenickie) and Sally Ann Triplett (Rizzo). (Variety, Review Abroad Grease, 8/2/93-8/8/93) Other performers who played Danny were Luke Goss, Ian Kelsey and Darren Day. The huge success led to the 1st National Tour featuring Shane Ritchie as Danny, Helen Way as Sandy, Toby Hinson as Vince Fontaine / Teen Angel, Alex Bourne as Kenickie and Michele Hooper as Rizzo to name but a few.

1994 Broadway revival and U.S. tour

After twenty previews, a Broadway revival directed and choreographed by Jeff Calhoun opened on May 11, 1994 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, where it ran for 1,505 performances. Featured were Ricky Paull Goldin (Danny), Brooke Shields and Rosie O'Donnell (Rizzo), Susan Wood (Sandy), Megan Mullally (Marty), Hunter Foster (Roger), and Billy Porter (Teen Angel).

A U.S. national tour of the 1994 production started in September 1994 in New Haven, Connecticut, and ran for several years. The opening tour cast included Sally Struthers (Miss Lynch), who stayed with the tour for several years, Angela Pupello (Rizzo), Rex Smith (Danny), Trisha M. Gorman (Sandy), and Davy Jones (Vince Fontaine). Brooke Shields (Rizzo) started on the tour in November 1994 before joining the Broadway cast. Other notable performers on the tour were Mickey Dolenz (Vince Fontaine), Adrian Zmed (Danny), Debbie Gibson, Heather Stokes, Mackenzie Phillips and Jasmine Guy (Rizzo), Sutton Foster (Sandy) and Marissa Jaret Winokur (Jan), and Lucy Lawless (Rizzo, 1997).^[10]

2003 U.S tour

This tour was directed by Ray DeMattis and featured choreography by Christopher Gattelli. The cast starred Frankie Avalon as the Angel, with Jamey Isenor (Danny Zuko) and Hanna-Liina Vosa andy Dumbrowski)Danny Smith (Sonny LaTierri), John Ashley (Kenickie), Sarah Hubbard (Frenchy), Craig McEldowney (Doody), Kirsten Allyn Michaels (Marty), Jaqueline Colmer (Betty Rizzo), Jason Harper (Roger), Kristen Bedard (Jan), and Arthur J. Callahan (Vince Fontaine).^[11]

2007 Broadway and London revivals

A second Broadway revival, directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, began previews at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on July 24, 2007 and opened on August 19, 2007. Max Crumm and Laura Osnes were selected to portray Danny and Sandy via viewer votes cast during the run of the NBC reality series Grease: You're the One that I Want!. The original score includes four songs written for the film adaptation: "Hopelessly Devoted to You," "Sandy," "You're the One That I Want," and the title number. The Burger Palace Boys' name is the T-Birds in this revival. The production ended on January 4, 2009 after 31 previews and 554 performances.^[12]

A West End revival opened at the Piccadilly Theatre, London on August 8, 2007 and ran for nearly four years (the longest running show in the Piccadilly Theatre's history). The leads were similarly cast via ITV's Grease Is The Word, with Danny Bayne and Susan McFadden playing Danny and Sandy.^[13][14] The production closed on April 30, 2011 after over 1,300 performances with a U.K. tour to begin on May 6, 2011 in Edinburgh.^[15]

The UK Tour features Danny Bayne as Danny, Carina Gillespie as Sandy, Ricky Rojas as Kenickie, Kate Somerset How as Rizzo, Derek Andrews as Roger, Laura Wilson as Jan, Richard Vincent as Doody, Lauren Stroud as Frenchy, Josh Dever as Sonny, Lois Urwin as Marty, Darren John as Eugene, Sammy Kelly as Patty, Jason Capewell as Teen Angel/Vince Fontaine, Nancy Hill as Miss Lynch and Sophie Zucchini as Cha Cha.

2008 U.S. tour

A U.S. national tour began on December 2, 2008 in Providence, Rhode Island and closed on May 23, 2010 at the Palace Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio.^[16] Taylor Hicks reprised his role as the Teen Angel, with Eric Schneider as Danny and Emily Padgett as Sandy.^[17] Lauren Ashley Zakrin replaced Emily Padgett as Sandy in October and Ace Young joined the tour as Danny on December 1, 2009.^[18] In the U.S. Tour, before the show begins, the DJ of WAXX, Vince Fontaine, plays music from the 1950s for the audience to sing. Thereafter, he reminds about safety instructions before the show begins.

2010-2011 U.S. tour

A U.S. national tour began October 12, 2010 in Denver, Colorado and closed May 15, 2011 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Directed by David John O'Brien and choreographed by Joyce Chittick, the cast featured Dominic Fortuna as DJ Vince Fontaine, Alyssa Herrera as Sandy and Matt Nolan as Danny.

The tour also included Patrick Cragin as Kenickie, Chris Duir as Eugene, Audrey Filson as Patty Simcox, Kelly Teal Goyette as Miss Lynch, Patrick Joyce as Sonny, Alicia Kelly as Marty, Brad Lawson as Roger, Ashley Rubin as Frenchy, Lauren Elaine Taylor as Rizzo, Lauren Turner as Jan and Marc Winski as Doody.

Chicago revival 2011

American Theater Company artistic director P.J. Paparelli and Grease co-creator Jim Jacobs staged the restored original version of Grease on Chicago’s North Side, starting on April 21, 2011 and ending on August 21, to coincide with the fortieth anniversary of the musical's début.^[19] This was a revival of the original 1971 version first staged at the old Kingston Mines Theatre in Chicago. Procuring the rights to the original music was, for the most part, easy, while certain legal issues were preventing this production from being staged.^[20]

This production went on to win Best Production - Musical at the 2011 Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards on November 7, 2011. The Original Revival Cast reconvened to perform their A Cappella version of "We Go Together," the finale to Act 1 in the production. Despite many nominations and personal wins for performers and designers, this is the first time in the storied history of "Grease" that the show itself has actually won an award.

International productions

There have been professional productions of Grease in Argentina (cast: Zenon Recalde/Marisol Otero/Florencia Peña/Gustavo Monje), Austria (cast:Pia Douwes, Andreas Bieber, Susanne Eisenkolb, Brian Carmack, Eric Minsk), Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Czech Republic, Colombia, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and Poland.

In 1984, the Mexican group Timbiriche, starred in the musical, with Sasha Sokol and Benny Ibarra in the leading roles, getting an overwhelming success. Also recorded a CD with musical themes. Also participating: Diego Schoening, Mariana Garza, Eduardo Capetillo, Alix Bauer Paulina Rubio, Alejandro Ibarra, Erik Rubin, Stephanie Salas, Thalía, Edith, Lolita Cortés, among others.

A Spanish revival ran successfully at Teatre Victòria, Barcelona from October 3, 2006 to January 6, 2008. After a short national tour, the production was transferred to Teatro Nuevo Alcalá, Madrid, where it ran from October 14, 2008 to January 31, 2010 and then continued touring Spain until its finally closing on August 1, 2010, becoming one of the Spain's longest running production in history with 1090 performances. Directed by Ricard Reguant, the original cast included Carlos Solano (later alternating the role with Tony Bernetti) as Danny Zuko, María Adamuz as Sandy (later Replaced by Edurne and Gisela), Elena Gadel as Betty Rizzo, Daniel Millet as Kenickie (later replaced by Marc Parejo), Marisa Gerardi as Miss Lynch and Xavier Mateu as Vince Fontaine/Teen Angel (later replaced by Victor Díaz).

The New Zealand Production, based on the London West End Revival, ran at the Civic Theatre in Auckland during August 2010. The production featured the South African cast, with Jonathan Roxmouth as Danny, Bethany Dickson as Sandy and Genna Galloway as Rizzo.^[21][22]

Synopsis

Act I

In 1959, Rydell High School's rebellious, happy, thrill-loving students start a new year. The "greasers" are the Burger Palace Boys (in the revival, the T-Birds) and the Pink Ladies ("Alma Mater Parody") are their auxiliary. In the revival, the play begins with the T-Birds and the Pink Ladies singing, "Grease (is the Word)". The start of the new school year means lousy food ("You want my coleslaw?") and dreaded teachers ("I got Old Lady Lynch for English again. She hates my guts."). The Pink Ladies sit on one side of the lunchroom, and the Burger Palace Boys sit on the other.

There is a new girl at school, Sandy Dumbrowski. She and the leader of the Burger Palace Boys, Danny Zuko, had a brief love affair the summer before, but the summer ended for them with unresolved feelings of love. In describing the fling to the Pink Ladies (Jan, Marty, Frenchy, and Betty Rizzo), Sandy focuses on the emotional attachment that she and Danny had, while Danny lies to the Boys (Roger, Doody, Sonny, and Kenickie) about the physical aspects of their relationship ("Summer Nights"). Sandy and Danny soon bump into each other at school, and while Sandy is happy to see Danny, he brushes her off, pretending to be too cool. Meanwhile, the teenagers gather in the hall as Doody, the youngest Burger Palace Boy, 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, 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 ingénue, 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. The kids declare that they will "always be together" and they will always be friends ("We Go Together").

Act II

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 the favorite radio disc jockey of the Burger Palace Boys and the Pink Ladies, Vince Fontaine, is the MC at the dance, which takes place in the gymnasium. He is warming the kids up for the hand-jive dance contest. Kenickie dumps his blind date, Cha-Cha DiGregorio, and pairs off with Rizzo. Danny originally entered the contest with Rizzo, but she instead chooses to dance with Kenickie. Meanwhile, Kenickie pairs Danny up with Cha-Cha despite Danny's protest. He and Cha-Cha then proceed to win the dance contest ("Born to Hand Jive"). In the revival, Sandy hears the news that Danny and Cha-Cha got up close and won. She feels betrayed but she cannot stop thinking about Danny ("Hopelessly Devoted to You").

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 since she failed all of her classes ("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", with "Sandy" substituted in the revival). A couple 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", with "You're the One That I Want" substituted in the revival). Rizzo reveals that she is not pregnant, and she and Kenickie reunite. All ends happily ("We Go Together [Reprise]").

Revival changes

Due to the popularity of the 1978 film adaptation, which made several changes to the musical's songs and themes (many to accommodate its casting choice for Sandy, Australian singer Olivia Newton-John), the subsequent revivals adopted several of the changes made in the film, particularly the replacement of several songs, and the renaming of the Burger Palace Boys to their film name, the T-Birds. However, in the revival, the role of Sandy Dumbrowski is not changed from the original Broadway production.

School Version

In order to make the original musical suitable for young performers and audiences, Jim Jacobs decided to write a "School Version" of the play. This edition eliminates all of the references and uses of cigarettes and alcohol, as well as any swearing or bad language. Practically all of the songs have undergone changes as well; the numbers are all shortened tremendously and edited for content/language. Some plot lines are missing from the school version, such as Rizzo's pregnancy and her song "There Are Worse Things I Could Do." This section is entirely cut from the script and score. The beginning of the pajama party in Marty's bedroom is cut as well. (In this version, the Pink Ladies do not offer Sandy cigarettes or wine. Instead it begins directly with piercing her ears.) Overall, this version is considered to be G-rated.

The following songs of the School Version have undergone lyric changes:

• Alma Mater Parody
• Summer Nights
• Freddy, My Love
• Greased Lightning
• Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee
• Beauty School Dropout

The remainder of the songs have been edited severely for time, deleting several verses from the original songs.

Roles and notable stage cast

The professional, notable stage performers include:

• Danny Zuko – The protagonist. Handsome, cocky leader of the Burger Palace Boys (later, the T-Birds). Originally portrayed by Barry Bostwick in the original Broadway production. Falls in love with Sandy Dumbrowski over the holidays. Notable Dannys have included John Travolta (film version), Treat Williams, Patrick Swayze, David Hasselhoff, Toma Ikuta, Paul Nicholas, Adrian Zmed, Craig McLachlan, Shane Richie, Rex Smith, Jonathan Wilkes, Ricky Paull Goldin, Ian Kelsey, Greg Evigan, Jarrod Carland, Peter Gallagher, Jeff Conaway, Jon Secada, Max Crumm, Richard Gere, Park Jung Min, Ray Quinn,, Steven Houghton, Noel Sullivan, Eric Martsolf, Ace Young, Richard Scott, Matt Nolan, Kim San-ho, Justen Montgomery, and most recently Noel Sullivan.
• Sandy Dumbrowski – New in town, a wholesome, pure, kind, clumsy, and innocent girl. Created for the original Broadway production by Carole Demas. Sandy originally planned on going to a Catholic school but changed plans and went to Rydell High. She is a goody-goody who does not drink, smoke, swear, or rat her hair, and the Pink Ladies tease her about her attitude. Falls in love with Danny Zuko over the holidays. Notable Sandys have included Olivia Newton-John (film version), Natalie Bassingthwaite, Andrea McArdle, Lea Salonga, Christiane Noll, Lindsay Hartley, Elaine Paige, Sutton Foster, Aubrey O'Day, Laura Osnes, Ashley Spencer, Susan McFadden, Lisa Kelly, Debbie Gibson, Sonia, Samantha Janus, Siobhan Dillon, Leann Meyer, and most recently Lauren Samuels.
• Betty Rizzo – Tough and sarcastic leader of the Pink Ladies; does not like to hang out with Sandy because she is not tough enough. Smokes, drinks, and does not care what others think of her. Rizzo is also a girl with a "reputation". She feels Sandy is too virginal and pure to be a Pink Lady. Notable Rizzos have included Stockard Channing (film version), Adrienne Barbeau (original Broadway production), Lucy Lawless, Rosie O'Donnell, Debbie Gibson, Danica McKellar, Linda Blair, Debby Boone, Sheena Easton, Jasmine Guy, Joely Fisher, Maureen McCormick, Mackenzie Phillips, Jody Watley, Brooke Shields, Jenny Powers, Sally Ann Triplett, Dannii Minogue, Allie Schulz, Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni, Angelina Torre, Victoria Hamilton-Barritt and Lauren Padula.
• Frenchy – Fun-loving and foolish but very friendly member of the Pink Ladies; dropped out of high school to enter Beauty School; a little light-headed and in her own world and somewhat dumb. Cares a lot about her appearance. Notable Frenchys have included Didi Conn (film version), Tracey Ullman, Madison Marmion, and most recently Faye Brooks.
• Marty Maraschino– Called the "beauty" in most production scripts. Most attractive member of the Pink Ladies; tries to act sophisticated. She likes older guys. Notable Martys have included Dinah Manoff (film version), Marilu Henner, Dianna Agron, Lisa Maxwell, Megan Mullally, Kristy Cates, Liny Marmion, Sherie Rene Scott

• Teen Angel – Guardian Angel from above that tries to guide Frenchy when she drops out of beauty school. Notable Teen Angels have included Frankie Avalon (film version), Alan Paul, Donny Most, Davy Jones, Eddie Mekka, Chubby Checker, John Farnham, Mary Bond Davis, Billy Porter, Jennifer Holliday, Al Jarreau, Darlene Love, Taylor Hicks, and Jimmy Osmond, Ezra Stoller.
• Vince Fontaine – An egotistical, slimy radio disk jockey trying to relive his teenage years. Notable Vinces have included Edd Byrnes (film version) Mickey Dolenz, Joe Piscopo, Jeff Conaway, Richard Wilkins, Peter Scolari.
• Doody – The youngest member of the Burger Palace Boys (later, the T-Birds); generally foolish, and gullible. Notable Doodys have included John Travolta, Martin Ericsson, Ray Quinn, Sander Jan Klerk, Sam Harris, and Max Crumm.
• Jan – Funny, loud, overweight, and awkward member of the Pink Ladies. Notable Jans have included Mimi Kennedy, Marissa Jaret Winokur
• Kenickie Murdock – The tough and rude second-in-command of the Burger Palace Boys (later, the T-Birds). Notable Kenickies have included Jeff Conaway (film version), Shane Ritchie, Max Crumm, Ace Young & Ben Richards.
• Dominic “Sonny” LaTierri – An obnoxious yet tricky member of the Burger Palace Boys (later, the T-Birds); funny Italian-American; "Wise Guy" of the Burger Palace Boys. Notable Sonnys have included Seán Hogan, and Eliot Bacon.
• Roger (name was changed to Putzie for the movie) – A jolly prankster member of the Burger Palace Boys (later, the T-Birds); loves "putting people on"; loves Jan. Notable Rogers have included Ethan McCarter, Walter Bobbie (1972), Hunter Foster (1994 revival), Max Savage, and Adam Tardiff.
• Charlene “Cha-Cha” DiGregorio - Apparently the best dancer at St. Bernadette's; wins the dancing competition with Danny. Played by Annette Charles (film version), and Julie Henderson (Original London production).
• Eugene Florczyk – A silly, pompous but gullible nerd. Played by Eddie Deezen (film version), Ian Tardiff.
• Johnny Casino – All-American, rock-star student at Rydell High, whose real name is Clarence. Notable Johnnys have included Alan Paul, Richard Short, Rivers Cuomo, Micky Dolenz, Glenn Carter, Steph Sutor.
• Miss Lynch (name was changed to Principal McGee for the film) – A loud, no-nonsense, serious, English teacher. Notable Lynches have included Sally Struthers.
• Patty Simcox – A pretty, peppy, cheerleader, and perky. She's a bit of a pain and unpopular with the Pink Ladies; nominated for Student council. Notable Pattys have included Ilene Kristen, Dominique Dawes, Tamsin Outhwaite, Siobhan Dillon, and Christie Whelan.
• Sheila, Hero, and Scientist - Characters in the movie playing at the Drive-in.
• Burger Palace Boys (later, the T-Birds) – The boys' gang of working-class "greasers-to-be."
• Pink Ladies – The greasers girls' gang, named for the pink satin jackets they wear.

Notable cast and characters

Role	Broadway Première (1972) Broadhurst Theatre	London Première (1973) New London Theatre	Motion Picture (1978) N/A	London Revival (1993) Broadhurst Theatre	Broadway Revival (1994) Eugene O'Neill Theatre	Chicago 40th Anniversary Revival (2011) American Theater Company
Danny Zuko	Barry Bostwick	Richard Gere/Patrick Swayze	John Travolta	Craig McLachlan	Ricky Paull Goldin	Adrian Aguilar
Sandy Dumbrowski (Olsson in movie)	Carole Demas	Stacey Gregg	Olivia Newton-John	Debbie Gibson	Susan Wood	Kelly Davis Wilson
Betty Rizzo	Adrienne Barbeau	Jacqui-Ann Carr	Stockard Channing	Sally Ann Triplett/Katie Verner	Brooke Shields/Rosie O'Donnell	Jessica Diaz
Roger "Rump" (Putzie in movie)	Walter Bobbie	Stephen Bent	Kelly Ward		Hunter Foster	Rob Colletti
Doody	James Canning	Derek James	Barry Pearl			Bubba Weiler
Frenchy	Marya Small		Didi Conn			Jessie Fisher
Marty Maraschino	Katie Hanley		Dinah Manoff		Megan Mullally	Carol Rose
Teen Angel	Alan Paul		Frankie Avalon	Toby Hinson	Billy Porter	Bryan Howard Connor
Vince Fontaine	Don Billett		Edd Byrnes	Mike Doyle	Toby Hinson	Michael Accardo
Jan	Garn Stephens		Jamie Donnelly			Sadieh Rifai
Kenickie	Timothy Meyers		Jeff Conaway	Shane Ritchie		Tony Clarno
Dominic "Sonny" LaTierri	Jim Borrelli		Michael Tucci			Patrick De Nicola
Charlene “Cha-Cha” DiGregorio	Kathi Moss	Julie Henderson	Annette Charles			Hannah Gomez
Eugene Florczyk	Tom Harris		Eddie Deezen		Hank Rion	Adam Shalzi
Johnny Casino	Alan Paul	Glenn Carter	Sha-Na-Na			Bryan Howard Connor
Miss Lynch (movie: Principal McGee)	Dorothy Leon		Eve Arden		Sally Struthers	Peggy Roeder
Patty Simcox	Ilene Kristen		Susan Buckner	Katie Verner		Alaina Mills

Musical numbers

Original 1972 production

Act I “Alma Mater” – Miss Lynch, Patty, Eugene and Company “Alma Mater (Parody)” – Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys “Summer Nights” – Sandy, Danny, Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys “Those Magic Changes” – Doody, Burger Palace Boys and Pink Ladies “Freddy, My Love” – Marty and Pink Ladies “Greased Lightnin’” – Kenickie and Burger Palace Boys “Rydell Fight Song” – Sandy and Patty “Mooning” – Roger and Jan “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” – Rizzo [We Go Together” – Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys

Act II “Shakin’ at the High School Hop” – Company “It’s Raining on Prom Night” – Sandy and Radio Singer “Shakin’ at the High School Hop (Reprise)” – Company “Born to Hand Jive” – Johnny Casino and Company “Beauty School Dropout” – Teen Angel, Frenchy and Choir “Alone at a Drive-in Movie” – Danny and Burger Palace Boys “Rock ’N’ Roll Party Queen” – Doody and Roger “There are Worse Things I Could Do” – Rizzo “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee (Reprise)” – Sandy “All Choked Up” – Sandy, Danny, Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys “We Go Together (Reprise)” – Company

* The 1972 version is the standard version licensed to professionals and amateurs through Samuel French Inc.

Grease: School Version

Act I “Alma Mater” – Miss Lynch, Patty, Eugene and Company “Alma Mater (Parody)” – Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys “Summer Nights” – Sandy, Danny, Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys “Those Magic Changes” – Doody, Burger Palace Boys and Pink Ladies “Freddy, My Love” – Marty and Pink Ladies “Greased Lightnin’” – Kenickie and Burger Palace Boys “Rydell Fight Song” – Sandy and Patty “Mooning” – Roger and Jan “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” – Rizzo We Go Together” – Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys

Act II “It’s Raining on Prom Night” – Sandy and Radio Singer “Shakin’ at the High School Hop” – Company “Born to Hand Jive” – Johnny Casino and Company “Beauty School Dropout” – Teen Angel, Frenchy and Choir “Alone at a Drive-in Movie” – Danny and Burger Palace Boys “Rock ’N Roll Party Queen” – Doody and Roger “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee (Reprise)” – Sandy “All Choked Up” – Sandy, Danny, Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys “We Go Together (Reprise)” – Company

* Some aspects are not present in this edition of the play at all, including Rizzo's pregnancy and her song "There Are Worse Things I Could Do." Many of the musical numbers have undergone lyric changes, and have been arranged to make the songs much shorter.

1994 revival

Act I Alma Mater (We Go Together) – Company We Go Together – Kids, Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys Summer Nights – Sandy, Danny, Pink Ladies, Burger Palace Boys, Eugene and Patty Those Magic Changes – Doody and Burger Palace Boys Freddy, My Love – Marty and Pink Ladies Greased Lightnin' – Kenickie and Burger Palace Boys Greased Lightnin' (Reprise) – Rizzo and Burger Palace Boys Rydell Fight Song – Sandy and Patty Mooning – Roger and Jan Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee – Rizzo Since I Don't Have You – Sandy We Go Together – Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys

Act II Shakin’ at the High School Hop – The Company It’s Raining on Prom Night – Sandy, Jan and Radio Singer Shakin’ at the High School Hop (Reprise) – Orchestra and Kids Born to Hand Jive – Johnny Casino and Company Beauty School Dropout – Teen Angel and Female Angels Alone at a Drive-in Movie – Danny and Burger Palace Boys Rock ’N’ Roll Party Queen – Doody and Roger There are Worse Things I Could Do – Rizzo Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee (Reprise) – Sandy and Rizzo Finale Medley (includes "All Choked Up") – Cast

2007 revival

Act I Prologue – Instrumental Grease* – Company Summer Nights – Sandy, Danny, Pink Ladies, T-Birds, Eugene and Patty Those Magic Changes – Doody and T-Birds Freddy, My Love – Marty and Pink Ladies Greased Lightnin' – Kenickie and T-Birds Rydell Fight Song – Sandy and Patty Mooning – Roger and Jan Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee – Rizzo We Go Together – Pink Ladies and T-Birds

Act II Shakin’ at the High School Hop – The Company It’s Raining on Prom Night – Sandy and Jan Born to Hand Jive – Vince Fontaine and Company Hopelessly Devoted to You* – Sandy Beauty School Dropout – Teen Angel and Female Angels Sandy* – Danny Rock ’N Roll Party Queen – Doody and Roger There are Worse Things I Could Do – Rizzo Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee (Reprise) – Sandy You're the One That I Want* – Danny, Sandy, Pink Ladies, and T-Birds We Go Together (Reprise) – Cast Grease Medley - Cast Note*: "Grease Medley" is sung during the final curtain call.

* The 2007 revival incorporates some changes from the popular film version. Some numbers were eliminated, and others were added to the score: "Grease" was written by Barry Gibb, "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and "You’re the One That I Want" are written by John Farrar, and "Sandy" is by Louis St. Louis and Scott Simon.^[23]

Orchestration

The original score calls for a piano, two tenor saxophones, bass guitar, percussion, and two guitars. The 2007 revival includes two pianos, two reeds, trombone, trumpet, guitar, bass guitar, and percussion.

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

Year	Award Ceremony	Category	Nominee	Result
1972	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Choreography	Patricia Birch	Won
		Outstanding Costume Design	Carrie Robbins	Won
	Theatre World Award		Adrienne Barbeau	Won
	Tony Award	Best Musical		Nominated
		Best Book of a Musical	Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey	Nominated
		Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical	Barry Bostwick	Nominated
		Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical	Timothy Meyers	Nominated
		Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical	Adrienne Barbeau	Nominated
		Best Choreography	Patricia Birch	Nominated
		Best Costume Design	Carrie Robbins	Nominated

1994 Broadway revival

Year	Award Ceremony	Category	Nominee	Result
1994	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical	Sam Harris	Nominated
		Outstanding Choreography	Jeff Calhoun	Nominated
	Theatre World Award		Brooke Shields	Won
	Tony Award	Best Revival of a Musical		Nominated
		Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical	Marcia Lewis	Nominated
		Best Choreography	Jeff Calhoun	Nominated

2007 Broadway revival

Year	Award Ceremony	Category	Nominee	Result
2007	Tony Award[24]	Best Revival of a Musical		Nominated

See also

• Grease: You're the One that I Want!

Footnotes

1. ^ Miller, Scott (2007-03 30). "Inside Grease". New Line Theatre. http://www.newlinetheatre.com/greasechapter.html. Retrieved 2008-07-10. 
2. ^ TIME magazine reported in its May 26, 2008 issue, p. 51, that this musical ranked as the sixth most frequently produced musical by United States high schools in 2007.
3. ^ "Long Runs on Broadway" Playbill.com, August 14, 2011
4. ^ Williams, Albert. Chicago Reader (Jan. 9, 2009): The Jim and Warren Show; Chicago Reader: The Jim and Warren Show
5. ^ Sharbutt, Jay. Associated Press (Nov. 4, 1979): Untitled article about Grease; quoted in The Estate Project for Artists with AIDS: Warren Casey - Music Archive Catalog
6. ^ Jones, Chris. "'Grease' gets back its original Chicago grit — and goes back to Taft High School". Chicago Tribune. http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2011/04/grease-original-chicago-american-theater-chris-jones-tribune.html. Retrieved 2011-04-25. 
7. ^ Guernsey, edited by Otis L. (1972). The Best plays of 1971-1972. New York: Dodd, Mead. pp. 492. ISBN 0396066984. 
8. ^ Green, Stanley."'Grease', London, 1973" Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre, Da Capo Press, 1980, ISBN 0306801132, p.160
9. ^ Hepple, Peter."'Grease' history" glenncarter.com (from The Stage), 10 October 2002, accessed August 26, 2011
10. ^ "Lucy Lawless is Rizzo in Broadway's Grease! Musical September 1997". Lucylawless.info. http://www.lucylawless.info/grease/articles-photos.php. Retrieved 2010-01-18. ^{[dead link]}
11. ^ "'Grease' Listing at TUTS, October 14 - November 2, 2003" HoustonTheatre.com, accessed August 26, 2011
12. ^ "GREASE to Close on Broadway January 4, 2009". Broadwayworld.com. http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/GREASE_to_Close_on_Broadway_January_4_2009_20081203. Retrieved 2010-01-18. 
13. ^ Atkins, Tom."Review Round-Up of London Opening: Grease Not the Word for Critics" Whatsonstage.com, 9 August 2007
14. ^ Grease in London ThisIsTheatre.com, retrieved March 9, 2010
15. ^ Shenton, Mark."London Production of Grease to Shutter April 30, Prior to New U.K. Tour" Playbill.com, September 16, 2010
16. ^ " 'Grease' National Tour to Play Final Performance May 23" BroadwayWorld.com, accessed May 28, 2010
17. ^ Gans, Andrew."Grease Tour, with "American Idol" Winner Hicks, Kicks Off Dec. 2 in RI", Playbill.com, December 2, 2008
18. ^ "Ace Young, Allison Fischer, Laura D'Andre, Jesse JP Johnson and Jamison Scott Join GREASE TOUR". Broadwayworld.com. 2009-11-29. http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Ace_Young_Allison_Fischer_Laura_DAndre_Jesse_JP_Johnson_and_Jamison_Scott_Join_GREASE_TOUR_20091129. Retrieved 2010-01-18. 
19. ^ Simonson, Robert."'Grease' Returns to Its R-Rated Roots in New Chicago Production; Jim Jacobs Explains" Playbill.com, March 30, 2011
20. ^ Jones, Chris."The original, R-rated 'Grease' comes home to Chicago"Chicago Tribune, March 21, 2010
21. ^ "'Greasse' Overview" lunchbox-productions.com, accessed August 26, 2011
22. ^ Ward-Smythe, Kate."The Campest 'Grease' Ever" theatreview.org.nz, 12 August 2010
23. ^ The Broadway League. "Internet Broadway Database: Grease Production Credits". Ibdb.com. http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=458339. Retrieved 2010-01-18. 
24. ^ Internet Broadway Database listing, 'Grease', 2007 revival ibdb.com, retrieved January 26, 2010

References

• Synopsis and other information
• Newsday (Jan. 7, 2007): "Hopelessly Devoted to Grease", by Linda Winer
• Understudy (magazine of the Fulton Theatre, Lancaster, PA, Volume 1, September 2006)

External links

• Grease at the Internet Broadway Database
• Official website for 2007 Broadway revival
• Official website for West End production
• New York Times review, August 20, 2007
• Grease on Floormic.com
• Longest-running plays on Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Toronto, Melbourne, Paris, Vienna, and Berlin