The Cast Photo by Mikki Schaffner

The original Broadway version, 1972-1980, had a record-setting 3,388 performances; it became a 1978 feature film with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John with a handful of new songs, themselves destined for rock-and-roll fame; it's been revived on Broadway twice (1994 and 2007); and it's been produced at regional theatre companies, summer stock, community theaters, and schools, as well as internationally. It's as familiar as the mid-century products represented on vintage advertising posters surrounding the action on the Carnegie's Otto M. Budig Theatre stage–Lucky Strike cigarettes, Popsicles, McDonalds, Tide, Good & Plenty candy–designed by Tyler Gabbard, the Carnegie's artistic director.

Sitting through a performance of Grease in 2025, as I did this week, you'll likely be surrounded by fans who know all the words to all the songs and aren't ashamed to sing along or do the "Hand Jive." The full house at the Covington venue had numerous fans wearing "Pink Lady" jackets and t-shirts, conjuring up past performances as the show's bad girls. Virtually every number was greeted with squeals and shrieks of recognition.

This is not another ho-hum, let's-do-a-show-everybody-loves with minimal commitment production. Thanks to tight direction by Eric Byrd, featuring his own exhausting and authentic 1950s choreography, performed by a spirited cast, this production is evoking enthusiastic audience responses that rival the fans of Hamilton. That's in no small part thanks to Byrd, who teaches at UC's College-Conservatory of Music. He has recruited about two-thirds of his spirited cast from present CCM students–all Broadway-bound triple threats who can sing, dance and act. Teamed with additional talented performers from regional university theatre programs–Xavier, Otterbein College, Elon University, and Ohio Northern University–they bring youthful vigor to fuel a production of unstoppable energy.

Much of what makes this production so much fun is that each performer is fully committed to every moment she or he is onstage. The characters are caricatures, to be sure, but they are lovably comic. The company numbers are sharply danced and sung, evoking the styles of 1950s pop hits. From the opening song, "Grease," to the mega-mix finale, "We Go Together," during which the audience is encouraged to sing along (as if they haven't been doing it all along), it's apparent that everyone is having a great time with this nostalgic, heartfelt material.

During "Greased Lightning" a fire-engine red convertible rolls onstage for one of the show's most memorable numbers, performed by hubcap thief Kenickie (Evan Blust) and his buddies. Jack Haroutunian and Grace Baker team up as Roger and Jan for the song, "Mooning," which ends ... let's just say, authentically. Josh Galloway turns in a great caricature as Vince Fontaine, a fast-talking, smooth-rhyming radio DJ, and he's back as "Teen Angel" for "Beauty School Dropout," offering some pithy advice to Frenchy (Annika Jonker), who's at a crossroads in a career decision.

Chief bad boy Danny Zuko (Nick Abouzeid) and innocent sweetheart Sandy Dumbrowski (Monique Churchill) are the characters the story revolves around. He has the looks, moves, and sullen curls that are the calling card for the boy all the girls dream of. It's especially amusing when he decides to run track to impress Sandy; his commitment to athletics is half-hearted, puffing a cigarette as he runs. Churchill is a petite package with a big voice, just right for the plaintive "Hopelessly Devoted" at the end of the first act. When she undergoes her transition to a Greaser chick to win Danny's heart after they've come apart, she's back with big hair and skin-tight leather pants. Together they sing the frisky, ardent "You're the One That I Want," the show's coda.

Thanks to Grease's half-century evolution, it's possible that you've seen it in a watered-down version that's not quite as raunchy as this one. Lots of smoking, drinking, and sexual innuendo flavor the storytelling. Rizzo, the hyper-bad girl, is portrayed fiercely by Indya Lincicome, especially for her number, "There Are Worse Things I Could Do," when she has to make a hard choice about an unexpected pregnancy. All of these traces of Grease's original production are onstage here, and they add authenticity and texture to the storytelling.

Grease is the final production of the Carnegie's 2025 summer season. For the second season, shows have been produced with skill and polish, well received by audiences. Last summer's hit, The Rocky Horror Show, is coming back in October, and it's likely to be another sold-out presentation. Next summer's season, just announced, will offer Dear Evan Hansen, Murder for Two and La Cage aux Folles, promises more theatrical entertainment in Covington.

Grease runs through August 24, 2025, at The Carnegie, 1028 Scott Blvd., Covington KY. For tickets and information, please visit www.thecarnegie.com or call 859-957-1940.