For most of the over-40 crowd at Wednesday’s opening-night performance of “Grease” at Vista’s Moonlight Amphitheatre, the musical they saw onstage may not be the “Grease” they ed.
Since its Broadway premiere in 1972, the script and score of “Grease” have been reimagined four times, first for the 1978 John Travolta-Olivia Newton John film adaptation, followed by three subsequent revival productions. There’s also a PG-rated version that was created for K-12 school productions.
So, ticket-buyers who show up expecting the film version of “Grease” will be be surprised by the differences in this script, as well as the rearranged song lineup and additional songs that weren’t in the film. But if you’re coming for the nostalgia of the late ’50s, the familiar characters from 1959 Rydell High School and the terrific music, you’ll have a great time. Directed and choreographed by Nikki Snelson, this season-opening production really sings, with a strong vocal ensemble and exuberant, athletic dancing.
Where the “Grease” movie focused on the Danny-Sandy love story, the original musical was written as a coming-of-age story about the dawn of rock ‘n’ roll and teen sexual awakening. That’s why Danny and Sandy don’t have much stage time together in this stage version, though they’re portrayed wonderfully by Anthony Carro, a terrific singer-dancer, and Camie Del Rosario, a sweet and engaging performer who’s the only principal actor in the show who actually looks like a teenager.
The script itself is pretty spare — the show runs just 2 hours, 15 minutes with intermission — with the interactions between the of the T-Birds (boys) the Pink Ladies (girls) gangs mainly serving to tee up one big production number after another. Some of the many standout numbers in this show are “Summer Nights,” where Danny and Sandy recount very different versions of their summer romance; the high-energy “Born to Hand Jive” dance scene, led well by singer Eli Wood; and T-Birds leader Kenickie’s ode to his hot rod, “Greased Lightnin’,” featuring acrobatic stunts and sanitized lyrics.
The best surprise in this production is Naomi Tiana Rodgers’ knockout performance as the Teen Angel in “Beauty School Dropout.” Over the years, “Grease” has been criticized for lacking principal characters of color. So, Rodgers, who is Black, brings an entirely different vibe and absolute hilarity to the part. The Moonlight production is also diversely cast, and 1950s Black entertainers like Louis Armstrong are pictured in the show’s retro scenic design.
The show’s 26-member cast is filled with triple-threat performers. Some standouts include exceptional singer Kyle Frattini as T-Bird member Doody in the song “Those Magic Changes”; the adorably funny Jasmine January and Chase Lowary as awkward sweethearts Jan and Roger in “Mooning”; Aaron Stewart as radio host Vince Fontaine, who also performs several songs at the piano in a pre-show set; and Giovanna Martinez as the bitter, seen-it-all Pink Ladies leader Rizzo.
Music director Lyndon Pugeda leads the show’s eight-member rock ‘n’ roll band. Jordan Gray designed sound and Ryan Marsh designed costumes. Moonlight Stage Productions’ 2025 season will continue through September with “Waitress,” “Anastasia,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “The Prince of Egypt.”
‘Grease’
When: 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Through May 17
Where: Moonlight Amphitheatre, Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista
Tickets: $41-$62
Phone: 760-724-2110
Online: moonlightstage.com
