Grease is the word…

Danielle Dooley
The show we have all been waiting for… Grease is now showing at the Teatro at Montecasino; the opening night was held on April 25 and delighted fans with all the unforgettable songs from the movie including "You're the One the I Want", "Grease is the Word", "Summer Nights", "Hopelessly Devoted to You", "Sandy", "Greased Lightnin'" and many more....

Following the show guests were invited for drinks and snacks at @Monte where they got to meet the cast members. GREASE South Africa 2010 stars Jonathan Roxmouth as Danny, Bethany Dickson as Sandy, Dane Paarman as Kenickie and Genna Galloway as Rizzo.

Since breaking out on Broadway in 1972, GREASE's place has been firmly established in the cultural Hall of Fame, having seduced the hearts of millions with its back-to-back sizzling tunes.

In 1979 GREASE took over the record as the longest-running show in the history of Broadway and the hit film starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John proved to be the highest grossing movie musical ever!

Although in the film John Travolta played the role of Danny Zuko, in the 1972 tour accross the US and Canada the 17 year old Travolta played Doody, the nerdy kid who idolises Danny.

When the show opened in London it was the then unknown Richard Gere who played the cool Danny, with Stacey Gregg as Sandy, followed by Paul Nicholas and Elaine Paige in the lead roles.

Over the years GREASE has maintained its everlasting popularity, proving that teenage angst and love's young dream remain timeless and universal themes. What GREASE is really all about - more than anything else - is having fun! So get to the magnificent TEATRO at Montecasino and sit back, kick off your blue suede shoes, and enjoy!

GREASE at the Teatro at Montecasino from April 17 to June 13, 2010. Tuesdays to Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2.30pm and 8pm, Sundays at 2pm and 6pm.
All bookings at Theatre and Computicket.

Grease facts
• On February 5 1971 in Chicago, Grease opened in a damp, draft; former trolley barn call the Kingston Mines Theatre. A non-professional cast of 18 actors (in a $171 budget production!) played the first of its scheduled “four performances only” to a full house of 120- seats. Almost immediately the show was extended… then again, and again, and again. The rest, as they say, is history.
• Grease opened on February 14 1972 at the Eden Theatre, New York.
• The film opened in the USA in 1978 and grossed over $400 million.
• ‘You’re The One That I Want’ reached top of the UK charts for nine weeks in 1978, followed by a seven week stint with ‘Summer Nights’ later the same year.
• Richard Gere was unknown in 1973 when he came to London to play Danny Zuko: he had previously been understudying the role on Broadway. Paul Nicholas, now Co-Producer of this production, took over the role from Gere.
• In 1973 Elaine Paige took over the role of Sandy playing opposite Paul Nicholas.
• Su Pollard and Tracy Ullman both appeared in the 1979 London revival at the Astoria playing Cha-Cha and Frenchy.
• Grease re-opened on July 15th 1993 with Craig Maclachlan playing Danny Zuko and Debbie Gibson playing Sandy.
• Since the show opened in London in 1993 it has been seen by over 10 million people and has grossed over £165 million in the UK alone.
• Other actors who have played Danny include: Shane Richie, Richard Calkin, Luke Goss, Ian Kelsey, Darren Day, Steven Houghton, Craig Urbani, Ben Richards and Jonathan Wilkes.
• Other actresses who have played Sandy include Sonia, Samantha Janus, Shona Lindsay, Marissa Dunlop, Irene Warren, Hayley Flaherty, Caroline Sheen, Hayley Evetts, and Suzanne Carley.

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Bethany Dickson and Jenna Robinson.