Travel back with us to 1959, where the 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 rip-roaring musical that is both a homage to the idealism of the fifties and a satire of high schoolers’ age-old desire to be 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. The whole gang sings and dances around Danny and Sandy’s romance, with hit songs such as “Summer Nights”, "Greased Lightnin'" and "You’re the One That I Want”. 

 

Wakatipu High School’s 2021 production of Grease, written by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, is directed by Jake Hansen with musical direction from Alison Price, vocal direction from Margaret O’Hanlon and choreography by Zoe Barham, Brooklyn McLeod and Carmen Woodhouse.

 

The Musical involves around 100 students in both on stage and off stage roles. Local talent Ollie McLean and Hannah White along with rising star Kira Almquist are featured in the roles of Danny, Rizzo and Sandy, respectively.