The latest revival of "Grease," now a classic American musical, slid into National Theatre on Pennsylvania Avenue this week. And, Washington, if you want to leave your snowed-in cars or iced sidewalks behind, slide yourself down to this high-energy production that never lets up. The singing, dancing and life-lessons of the teenagers of Rydell High School from more than 50 years ago holds up, too. (It was cute to hear a 10-year-old gasp, "They're smoking!" as the actors lit up on stage.)
The big draws are two notables from "American Idol": Taylor Hicks as Teen Angel, and Ace Young as Danny Zuko. But the girls punch out some top talent, too: Lauren Ashley Zakrin as Sandy Dumbrowski and Laura D'Andre as Betty Rizzo. The rest of the cast of these lovable greasers is quite strong, pushing the story along with creative and colorful staging.
Hicks, as the Teen Angel, descends from an ice cream cone atop the Burger Palace and sings "Beauty School Dropout," trying to persuade Frenchy to go back to school. He enjoyed and hammed up his brief part perfectly. The audience had been waiting for him -- and got to hear him again after the show. Hicks sang "Seven Mile Breakdown" from his latest album, "The Distance."
So, here is your winter weather alert: Think of "Summer Nights" and "Greased Lightning." Those were the days, whether a less than year ago or many more.
Top:
= Ace Young ("Danny Zuko") and Lauren Ashley Zakrin ("Sandy Dumbrowski") at the cast party at the Hard Rock Cafe after press opening night.
= Taylor Hicks, signing his CD in the National Theatre lobby, with Riley Miller of Gainesville, Va.
["Grease" runs through Feb. 21 at the National Theatre,
1321 Pennsylvania Ave., NW. -- 800-447-7400.]
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