Grease
1950s rock and roll musical
The 1950s rock and roll musical about summer love at Rydell High.
About This Theme
Grease is a recital staple for good reason. The music is catchy, the aesthetic is fun, and almost everyone in the audience knows every word. From the hand jive in Born to Hand Jive to the romantic Summer Nights, the choreography practically creates itself. The 1950s setting gives you a clear visual identity. Poodle skirts, leather jackets, and slicked-back hair instantly transport your audience to Rydell High. It is one of those themes where costumes do a lot of the storytelling work.
Hand jive choreography is iconic and teachable to all levels. Summer Nights is a classic call-and-response number that gets the whole audience engaged. You're the One That I Want is the ultimate finale. The T-Birds versus Pink Ladies dynamic gives you built-in group choreography opportunities. You can have your boys and girls learn separate sections, then bring them together for memorable combined moments.
Age Groups & Casting
Key Roles & Characters
Song Suggestions
Costume Ideas
Pink Ladies wear pink satin jackets (easily sourced) with poodle skirts or capri pants. T-Birds need leather or faux-leather jackets with white t-shirts and jeans.
Sandy's transformation is key - start in pastels and end in black off-shoulder top and leggings. Danny's look is classic 1950s greaser - white t-shirt, leather jacket, hair slicked back.
Cheerleaders in Rydell colours, prom dresses for the dance scene, and 1950s swimwear for the beach scenes if you include them.
Staging & Set Ideas
Rydell High can be suggested with simple school-themed elements - lockers, a school banner, cheerleader pom-poms.
Key set pieces: Greased Lightnin' needs a car (can be a simple flat painted to look like a 1950s car, or dancers can suggest a car through formation). The carnival scene at the end can be simple or elaborate depending on your resources. A neon "Rydell" sign adds authentic atmosphere.
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