I always love a chance I get to support teens and high school theater. Maybe it’s because that’s the only time I have ever acted in productions is high school (and it was such a positive experience) but I love supporting the students in any way I can. Plus, the teen productions in Utah are so good that it hardly seems like a hard task to review their work. This week I had the chance to see teens put on Grease: High School Edition and it was a really fun night of theater. The young people should be very proud and I’m glad Hopebox gave them this opportunity.

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In so many ways Grease is a perfect choice for a high school or teen production. Most obviously it is set in a high school and is about teenagers and even though it is set in the 50s a lot of the issues the characters at Rydell High are dealing with are still faced by teens today: Fitting in, being the new kid, falling in love, what are you going to do with your life, dealing with adults etc. This high school edition does tone some of the darker themes down (such as Rizzo thinking she’s pregnant) but it’s still more real than sometimes given credit for as a show.

The production at Hopebox is directed by Wyatt Welch, and he has cultivated a nice chemistry among his teen actors and given them all choreography and moments to shine, which is what I like to see in a high school production. They also have a bright jukebox diner inspired set by Curtis Dalton and props that moved and transformed with ease. I particularly admired a car they put together in pieces for “Grease Lightnin’ and then they used it again for a very clever drive-in setup before Danny sings ‘Sandy.’ They even have a make-shift movie screen with clips of James Dean and other 1950’s films. One doesn’t expect those kind of details from a production like this. (The costumes by Livvy Noonchester are also really impressive.)

While the leads are good, it was the ensemble members that stood out most in this show. I saw the Silver cast but Grant Sorensen plays Eugene/Teen Angel in both casts and he is really terrific as both the nerd and singing star. Emery Andrus is a standout as Marty doing a very good ‘Freddy, My Love’ and Clara Gittins and Caden Carver are fantastic as Jan and Sonny respectively. Avery Koford is probably the best singer of the group as Rizzo in ‘Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee.’

Everything went off pretty smoothly the night I saw Grease at Hopebox. There were a few odd lighting choices where the spotlight moved around too much and the characters were left in the dark for too long but nothing too distracting. Hopebox does have a wonderful mission and the high school shows are no exception. This production is donating to a high school senior Afu Fiefia who is undergoing chemo treatments currently. What a wonderful purpose making a night of entertainment even better and more impactful. Grease: High School Edition is playing through April 26th and tickets can be purchased here.

Grease has music, lyrics and book by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey

If you enjoy my writing and would like me to review your production I’d love to. I also have a patreon which is a great way to support my shorter logs for shows I don’t get to review. I have some really fun perks like bonus episodes, patron polls and monthly Q&As with actors, directors and writers. Please take a look here.

ps. I used to think Grease was too outdated but a few years ago I had a change of heart about it. See my review