"Grease" Hits the Stage… And It’s Electrifying
Review of Grease at Village Theatre
Written by TeenTix Newsroom Writer LILY EGAN
Edited by Teen Editorial Staff Member MILO MILLER
Lisa Shriver’s production of Grease at Village Theater is nothing short of a spectacular remake of everybody's favorite classic that will leave you humming catchy hits for days to come. The musical is immersive, entertaining, and comedic, celebrating the high school experience of the 1950s whilst exposing the cruelties of teen culture.
Grease encapsulates dynamics between friendships, relationships, peers, and teachers that make the audience laugh, and music that makes it hard not to sing along. The story follows the rebellious teenaged Pink Ladies—a gum-chewing, hip-swinging, and sarcastic girl gang in matching pink jackets, and their counterparts—the Burger Palace Boys, greasers sporting leather jackets, obsessed with cars, and not afraid to get into trouble. When Sandy Dumbrowski, a new student at Rydell High School, shares a romantic, innocent romance with Daniel Zuko, a tough-acting Burger Palace Boy with a hidden, vulnerable heart, everything changes. As the characters noted how the Pink Ladies and the Burger Palace Boys decided not to show, the actors spoke directly to the audience, establishing a sense of togetherness, community, and shared experiences later developed within the play. By bringing the audience onstage alongside the characters, Grease developed an immersive and nostalgic atmosphere expanded upon by the set design, choreography, and heartfelt themes.
The set design and casting brought the high school experience of the late 1950s to life. Set designer Emma Antenen wowed the audience as they stepped into the theater to see the live band on a second level above the stage. The band’s presence onstage with the characters truly added another level to the performance. Among the more technically impressive set elements was a moving car nicknamed Greased Lightning by Burger Palace Boy Kennickie, and a retractable wall featured during the performance of the song “Beauty School Dropout.” Additionally, the costumes, hair, and makeup capture the style and teen culture of the 1950s, featuring pink and leather jackets, skinny jeans, greased hair and voluminous updos, and deep red lipstick. These elements brought life to the show, transforming the stage into a door into the late 1950s high school experience and connecting with audience members from all generations.
The fun did not stop there. The musical numbers and choreography by Katy Tabb played a key role in establishing the high-energy, passionate, and emotional story that makes Grease so memorable. The opening number, “Summer Nights,” sets the tone for the musical as Daniel Velasquez (Danny) and Maya McQueen (Sandy) stand atop tables and the lighting flips between them giving the impression that the characters are interconnected yet distant at the same time. The relationship between Danny and Sandy is a rollercoaster of emotions driven by the clash between their genuine affection and the pressures of high school social dynamics. Furthermore, the lively spirit of Grease can be traced back to enthusiastic numbers with satisfying choreography. “Those Magic Changes,” “Greased Lightning,” and “Born to Hand Jive” featured strong vocals and fun dance moves that made the audience wish they were on stage too. This bond created through comedy and energy built solidarity and togetherness amongst the crowd.
Despite the play’s upbeat tone, there are several heavy underlying themes within Grease that often get pushed under the rug. The musical depicts the experiences and emotions that come with growing up, including jealousy, peer pressure, misogyny, and bullying, which I found problematic and insensitive. The impacts of Grease’s unflinching representation of adolescence can be found in solo numbers, specifically Sandy’s “It’s Raining on Prom Night” and the Pink Lady, Rizzo’s, “There Are Worse Things I Could Do,” both detailing a pressure to conform to societal expectations. And while the show contains multiple instances of sexist jokes and vulgar language or actions, it is these unapologetic and authentic stories that reveal the true viciousness behind teen culture and the actions that must be taken in our current society. Nevertheless, the director’s attention to accuracy of the classic meant that the story lacked accountability and didn’t make much of an effort to build character development.
It is evident that the laughter, applause, and standing ovations following excellent performances by actors, entrancing instrumentals, and ridiculous one-liners are reason enough to go see the show. It’s vibrant, energetic, and sentimental, not to mention being the perfect musical to attend with friends and family. Grease is at the Village Theater in Issaquah until May 3rd, after which it will move to their Everett location from May 9th to June 7th. So, don’t miss your chance, but be warned, you won’t be able to stop singing!
Lead photo: The company of Grease at Village Theatre. Photo by Nikki Womac (2026).
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