Explore this Show

Overview

Synopsis

It’s 1959, and Rydell High School’s senior class is in rare form. The too-cool-for-school “Burger Palace Boys” are stealing hub-caps and acting tough and their gum-snapping, chain-smoking “Pink Ladies” are looking hot in bobby sox and pedal pushers. The 1950s high school dream is about to explode in this rollicking musical that is both an homage to the idealism of the fifties and a satire of high schoolers’ age-old desire to be rebellious, provocative and rebellious. At the heart of the story is the romance between hot-rodding gangster Danny Zuko and the sweet new girl in town, Sandy Dumbrowski. They had a secret romance in summer, but now back in the context of school, peer-pressure and cliques make their love a bit more complicated. Can Danny maintain his cool dude status and still get make demure Sandy his girl? The whole gang sings and dances around Danny and Sandy’s romance, through such hit songs as "Greased Lightnin'", "We Go Together”, and “Mooning”, recalling the music of Buddy Holly, Little Richard and Elvis Presley that became the soundtrack of a generation. Starting off with an eight-year Broadway run, Grease is among the world’s most popular musicals and has a cult-like following, especially among teens!

Show Information

Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1971
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
1950s, rydell high school and surrounding locations
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Rock Combo
Dancing
Some Dance
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, High School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Includes Late Teen, Early Teen, Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Large Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Sandy Dumbrowski

Lead

Female

Soprano

Danny Zuko

Lead

Male

Tenor

Doody

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Sonny Latierri

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Betty Rizzo

Supporting

Female

Alto

Kenickie

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Roger

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Frenchy

Supporting

Female

Alto

Marty

Supporting

Female

Alto

Jan

Supporting

Female

Alto

Vince Fontaine

Featured

Male

Spoken

Miss Lynch

Featured

Female

Spoken

Radio Voice

Featured

Female

Soprano

Cha-Cha (Charlene Digregorio)

Featured

Female

Alto

Patty Simcox

Featured

Female

Alto

Eugene Florczyk

Featured

Male

Tenor

Johnny Casino (Clarence)

Featured

Male

Tenor

Teen Angel

Featured

Male

Tenor

The Pink Ladies

Ensemble

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

The Burger Palace Boys

Ensemble

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Students at Rydell High School

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Songs

Act One

  • 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, Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys
  • *Freddy, My Love – Marty and Pink Ladies
  • *Greased Lightning – Kenickie and Burger Palace Boys
  • *Rydell Fight Song – Sandy and Patty
  • Mooning – Roger and Jan
  • *Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee – Pink Ladies and Rizzo
  • *We Go Together – Company

Act Two

  • *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 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
  • *All Choked Up – Sandy, Danny, Pink Ladies and Burger Palace Boys
  • *We Go Together (Reprise) – Company

Editor's Note: This show guide reflects the original Broadway production, but beginning with the 1993 London and 1994 Broadway revivals, four songs from the film are often included and/or replace some of the original numbers. Those songs are the film's title number Grease (Ensemble), Hopelessly Devoted to You (Sandy), Sandy (Danny), and You're the One That I Want (Sandy, Danny, Ensemble).

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    A young person in the process of developing from a child into an adult.

    This is a contemporary term that references a singer who is able to balance the chest and head voice depending on what the repertoire requires.

    A contrasting section of music in a song that connects two more familiar sections, such as a verse and the chorus.

    Something that is named after a person, such as a show or song title.

    The character type of an innocent or naïve young woman, often a love interest.

    The script of the musical, separate from the musical orchestrations.

    A type of popular dance music originating in the 1950s, characterized by a heavy beat and simple melodies.

    A form of comedy that presents ridiculous extremes in order to make a point about society or human nature.

Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.

Quote Analysis

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.