‘Grease’ to conclude Dayton Playhouse season

How to go

What: “Grease”

Where: Dayton Playhouse, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton

When: May 1-17; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays

Cost: $18 for adults; $16 for seniors and students.

Tickets/more info: Call (937) 424-8477 or visit online at www.daytonplayhouse.com.

The cool, rebellious gang at Rydell High who enthusiastically promised they would always be together reunite once more as the Dayton Playhouse presents Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey’s popular 1972 musical “Grease” beginning Friday.

Set in the late 1950s, “Grease” spotlights 10 teens trying to navigate the ups and downs of high school, friendship and the intricacies of love. The charming relationship between the tough yet sensitive Danny Zuko and the innocent Sandy Dumbrowski sets the tale in motion, but the interactions between the Burger Palace Boys and the Pink Ladies, particularly Kenickie and his sarcastic girlfriend Rizzo, are equally engaging. The fun, tuneful score includes “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightning,” “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee,” “Born to Hand Jive,” “Beauty School Dropout,” and “There Are Worse Things I Could Do.” Despite the familiarity of the musical’s hit 1978 film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, the Playhouse is producing the original script and only adding the movie’s upbeat finale “You’re the One That I Want.”

“The original version of ‘Grease’ is a true ensemble piece,” said director Tina McPhearson, who staged “Hairspray” for the Playhouse last season. “I love the movie, but the original version features more fleshed-out characterizations. All of the roles are meaty. There are some supporting actors in the show, but for the most part the five girls and the five guys are the leads. Our cast is working hard singing and dancing and having a great time.”

“I think the enduring popularity of ‘Grease’ is primarily caused by the show’s characters and story,” echoed Maximillian Santucci, who will offer his musical theater debut as Sonny Latierri and notably appeared last season in “An Inspector Calls” at the Dayton Theatre Guild. “‘Grease’ is a cartoon of the Greaser life in the 1950s. It is very colorful and a delight to listen to. The characters and story do not deal with particularly complex emotions or situations, but rather scenarios we have all been in or can easily imagine. The characters and dialogue certainly paint a beautiful picture of it. We can see and appreciate (its) distinctive style.”

The cast includes Bobby Mitchum (Danny Zuko), Amanda Carter (Sandy Dumbrowski), Desmond Thomas (Kenickie), Kelli Locker (Betty Rizzo), Tyler Henry (Doody), Tori Kocher (Jan), Naman Clark (Roger), Emily Church (Frenchy), Allie Jackson (Marty), Theresa Kahle (Miss Lynch), Melanie Barrett (Patty Simcox), Tyler Smith (Eugene Florczyk), Andrew Spoon (Teen Angel), Tamar Fishbein (Cha-Cha DiGregorio), William Scarborough (Johnny Casino), and Malcolm Casey (Vince Fontaine).

“The most exciting part about the material for me is the fact that we get to recreate the past for people that actually lived in that era,” said Kocher, a standout in the Playhouse’s productions of “Hairspray” and “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” “And then for those of us who didn’t (live in that era), we get a glimpse of what life was like from the hair, to the dancing, to the costumes, and just every aspect of what it would be like to be in high school in the 1950s.”

The production will also feature choreography by Paige Hanshaw (the Playhouse’s “Oklahoma!”), music direction by Brad Mattingly, and scenic design by Chris Newman, who will be the Playhouse’s resident set designer next season.

“I really hope the audience will enjoy being taken back to a more naive time,” McPhearson said. ” ‘Grease’ is such a solid ensemble, nostalgic show.”