Booked & Scene

Directed and choreographed by Kevin P. Hill, Grease at North Shore Music Theatre serves up the nostalgic high school romance we all know (and can probably quote in our sleep). Boy meets girl over summer vacation, they fall for each other, and then discover they’re at the same school: cue leather jackets, poodle skirts, and a battle between love and reputation. You know the rest, but that doesn’t make seeing it live any less fun. This production delivers all the iconic moments with a few surprises thrown in.

Hopelessly Devoted and Then Some

Caroline Siegrist’s Sandy Dumbrowski was a joy to watch—radiant vocals, heartfelt acting, and a final number transformation that was pure show-stopping bombshell. She brought just the right mix of sweetness and teenage spirit to the role. Nick Cortazzo’s Danny Zuko, meanwhile, balanced swagger with sincerity. His “Sandy” was a standout, but so were his dance moves and easy camaraderie with the T Birds. Together, they made the central romance feel fresh, even if we’ve seen it a hundred times.

The Pink Ladies & The T Birds: What a Crew

Bailey Reese Greemon’s Rizzo was sharp, confident, and layered—her “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee” had bite, and “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” hit hard. Her chemistry with Hank Santos’ Kenickie crackled, and his “Greased Lightnin” was as revved-up as the number demands. Brittany Zeinstra’s Marty charmed her way across the stage with impeccable comic timing and a gorgeous “Freddy, My Love.” Jayson Brown’s Doody brought boyish humor and buttery vocals to “Those Magic Changes.” Lily Kaufmann’s Frenchy was a delight, particularly in her scenes with Sandy and during the glittery “Beauty School Dropout” with Avionce Hoyles’ fantastic Teen Angel.

Cameos that Stole the Scene

Kathy St. George’s Miss Lynch was pitch-perfect—commanding when she needed to be, but always landing the laugh. Avionce Hoyles’ Teen Angel managed to make the familiar number feel fresh while still giving the audience the campy fun they came for. Ashton Lambert’s Johnny Casino and Chris Stevens’ Vince Fontaine brought infectious energy to the high school hop, while Alaina Mills nailed every hyperactive, type-A moment as Patty Simcox.

Design Done Right

Let’s talk about that car. Yes, a real car drove on stage for “Greased Lightnin,” and every time it reappeared, it felt like theatre magic. Jack Mehler’s scenic and lighting design kept the energy high, particularly the record décor, which lit up in shifting colors to match the mood of each scene. Rebecca Glick’s costume coordination embraced the visual language of Grease while still feeling lived-in and stage-ready. And Hill’s choreography? Crisp, dynamic, and packed with clever details that made even the most familiar songs pop.

Time to Change That Record

The projection screens above the stage, designed to look like diner jukeboxes, felt like a missed opportunity. The displayed songs never changed, even as scenes shifted—switching them up could have added an extra wink for the audience. Less fun were the repeated “fat jokes” embedded in the script. While this is largely baked into the material, trimming some of those lines or subverting expectations through casting choices could have steered the humor in a fresher direction.

Grease Lightning Strikes North Shore

This Grease hits all the right notes: iconic songs, heartfelt performances, real chemistry between the actors, and production elements that wow (seriously, that car). It’s everything you remember from the movie and more infused with the kind of live theatre energy that makes you want to dance out of the auditorium. Grab your tickets, slick back your hair, and get ready to hand-jive the night away. Grease is running now through August 24 at North Shore Music Theatre, get your tickets here. 

📸: Paul Lyden