Grease at Skokie Theatre

Grease was the word at Skokie Theatre Friday and Grease will be the word through July 28. Of course, I am referring to the musical Grease, playing at the Skokie Theatre.

Danny, Sandy and the gang captivated the full house as they sang their way through their senior year at Rydell High. From “Alma Mater” to “We Go Together,” the performers belted out more than 20 memorable numbers wrapped around scenes of young love and friendship.

The acting was just as solid as the singing. Seth Riley (Danny) and Olivia Daly-Short (Sandy) brilliantly portrayed the angst-ridden couple. Taylor Morris (Rizzo) perfectly balanced the hard-edge of Rizzo with her sadness over her reputation. Marcelo Nylund (Kenickie) oozed greaser coolness. The rest of the cast was tight whether delivering dialogue or joining in song.

Of course, the songs are a huge part of Grease. I found myself tapping and silently singing through "Summer Nights" and the other familiar tunes. I even did my awkward version of hand jive during "Born to Hand Jive." Although I was certainly out of rhythm with the cast, it didn't matter. I was having fun and didn't care.

Grease worked on two levels. It was a great production from every aspect. It was also just a fun romp.

These performers had two hard critics in the audience. The 1978 movie Grease is one of my favorites and Jodie adores the musical since performing in it in high school. This production of Grease totally wowed us and that is not an easy task.

The fun did not end after the standing ovation upon the conclusion of the production. As we meandered around the lobby, we briefly chatted and took pictures with several of the performers. Despite being mobbed by family and friends, they could not have been any nicer or more accommodating.

Still feeling the vibe the next morning, I posted about the evening on social media. Within the hour, several of my friends messaged me inquiring about future shows. As mentioned above, Grease runs through July 28, with shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, plus a Wednesday matinee July 17.

Lastly, I must praise Skokie Theatre and MadKap Productions. Celebrating its 10th anniversary season, MadKap Productions is the resident production company for the Skokie Theatre. A cornerstone of the Skokie community, the 150-seat theater offers amazing productions with clear, comfortable viewing from every seat. I am so happy that great local theater is just a short walk from my home.

Grease is only one of several productions scheduled for the Skokie Theatre. South Pacific (9/6-10/6), Boy Gets Girl (11/1-11/24) and Romeo and Bernadette (2/27-3/2/25) run later this year and into 2025. There are also several one-time productions throughout the year, as well as The Lightning Thief: A Percy Jackson Musical that started earlier this month and runs through July 28.