‘Grea se’ opens at Mann Hall Nov. 3

COURTESY PHOTO Taylor Hicks comes to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in the musical “Grease” Nov. 3. After spending a hopelessly devoted summer with Sandy Dumbrowski, the new girl in town, Danny Zuko’s world is thrown upside down when Sandy appears at Rydell High on the first day of school. What follows is a rock n’ roll celebration of growin’ up, cruisin’ with friends and goin’ steady. The new version of “Grease” features, for the first time ever in a Broadway production, songs from the smash hit 1978 film including “Sandy,” the Academy Award nominated song “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “Grease” and “You’re the One That I Want,” both of which were No. 1 hits on the Billboard Top 100. These songs are heard in addition to the Jim Jacobs/ Warren Casey songs made famous by the original stage production including “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’” and “We Go Together.”

COURTESY PHOTO “Grease” opens the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall’s Broadway Series that includes “Spring Awakening,” “Jersey Boys,” “Cirque Dreams Illumination” and “Beauty and the Beast.” “Grease” opens at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall Tuesday, Nov. 3, and features American Idol winner Taylor Hicks as “Teen Angel.”

This new production of “Grease” is directed and choreographed by twotime Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall (“The Pajama Game,” “Wonderful Town”), with book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. Additional songs from the film are by Barry Gibb, John Farrar, Louis St. Louis and Scott Simon.

“Grease” originated in Chicago and made its premiere at The Kingston Mines Theater in 1971 before making its New York premiere off-Broadway at the Eden Theatre in 1972. After 128 sold-out performances, the show made the transition to Broadway, taking up residence at the Broadhurst Theatre.

The current Broadway production of “Grease” opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in 2007.

The film version produced one of the best-selling soundtracks in history and is the highest-grossing movie musical of all time. The two John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John duets, “You’re The One That I Want” and “Summer Nights,” were both No. 1 hits and appear on the United Kingdom’s All-Time Best- Selling Singles list. The song “Hopelessly Devoted to You” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Music - Original Song and the film’s title song, “Grease” was a No. 1 smash hit single for singer Frankie Valli.

Grease” runs through Sunday, Nov. 8. For more information, go to www.bbmannpah. com or www.greaseonbroadway.com. 

if you go

>> What: “Grease”

>> When: Nov. 3 through Nov. 8

>> Where: Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 Edison Parkway, Fort Myers

>> Cost: $40-$75

>> Information: (239) 481-4849 or www. bbmannpah.com