'Grease: Sing-A-Long' Has Them Dancing in the Aisles

By Jo Piazza Posted Jun 14th 2010 03:00PM

'Grease' never fails to reinvent itself. First, it was a 1971 Broadway musical. Then it was a smash 1978 movie (let's not mention a certain sequel). More recently, it has been revived for the Broadway stage -- first in 1994 and again in 2007.

But the makers of 'Grease' have to be commended for not doing what so many studios are doing these days -- remaking classic films with modern-day actors. 'Grease' could very easily be done today with Zach Efron and Miley Cyrus, and everyone over the age of 20 would cringe while it raked in tween dollars at the box office.

But thankfully that remake has not been made (maybe a lesson was learned from that Michelle Pfeiffer-starring sequel). Where 'Grease' is reinventing itself this summer is in a re-release of the classic 1978 John Travolta and Olivia Newton John musical film -- with subtitles. Yes, coming soon in a limited engagement to a city perhaps near you is 'Grease: Sing-A-Long!'

The 'Sing-A-Long' will enjoy a special one-night engagement on June 25 at the Hollywood Bowl and will then play in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston, Dallas, Seattle, Miami, San Diego and Austin for two weeks starting July 8.

But we got a sneak peak of the amazingness that is 'Grease: Sing-A-Long' this weekend at the Seattle International Film Festival (a delightful month-long event with none of the pretentiousness of other film festivals).

Seattle loved 'Grease,' and if it is any indication of how things will go in the summer screenings, this 'Sing-A-Long' thing will be a huge success.

The theater was packed with women dressed as pink ladies and not just a few men dressed as T-Birds, in leather jackets and pompadours.

Rene Gray, traveled in from Snohomish, WA, in a poodle skirt, tight sweater and Pink Ladies pin.

"This is just required material for a 'Grease: Sing-A-Long,'" she told us.

Nearly 80% of the crowd raised their hands when asked if they had seen the movie more than ten times. There was one 'Grease' virgin. She was immediately shunned by the others. The instructions for the event were that singing is encouraged, if not mandatory, and dancing is not forbidden.

But things at my screening got off to a slow start.

Even original Pink Lady Dinah Manoff (Marty Maraschino) commented about how nice it was to see the words on the screen. "This is so great because I don't remember any of the words!" she said.

Singing in public is so awkward. It's like the first chant of "om" in a yoga class. You never want to be the first mover. So it was slow-going with a lot of mumbling during the opening number, 'Grease,' but by the time 'Summer Nights' rolled around, all dignity had gone out the window and folks with voices that only a mother could love were belting out their "Wella Wella Wella Huhs."

By 'Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee,' those same folks were in the aisles, doing their very best Rizzo.

It was a melee by the time 'Grease Lighting' rolled around.

The 'Sing-A-Long' may be the greatest thing you do all summer that you don't want to tell anyone about.

But word to the wise, practice your hand jive before heading to the theater, or you will be schooled during the senior carnival.

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Tags: grease

Comments

(14)

Monday 14 June

By philigan

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Hmmmmmm, Mamma Mia here we go again!!!

By Goldmember

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By garjaya

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Hey Goldmember then buy yourself a bob (battery operated boyfriend) and knock yourself out.

By BTDT

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Grease is the word. It has groove it has meaning.

By Wuz2MuchFoxer2dancewitter

Now that will leave a sczar.

By Cutie

That movie was so close to real life. We were so innocent back then. Riding in flashy cars and meeting at the A&W drive in for a root beer and then a dragrace on the other side of the police station. Can't believe we were that dumb.

By Kathy

I cannot wait to see it again!! Thirty-two years later and it is still a great movie!

By Dan

HOLY KARAOKE!

Tuesday 15 June

By kmaninlala

Amen!! As if I haven't heard "Summer Nights" enough! Nobody does "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" anymore; folks, give Stockard Channing some love! Any two-drink-minimum place ought to be better than this!

By Sweetie

CUTIE,,, It is Called Innocence and No Dumb!

By csi8299

Just when I thought it was safe to go back to the theatre; REVOLTA returns!

By Charmaine

WHOA WHOA WHOA! What's with the bashing of Grease 2???? I LOVE that movie it's one of my favorites!....could be b/c I was born in '87 and I had already loved Grease 2 years b4 I even saw the first...I like the sequel better BUT I would never wanna see the original re-made unless they had TOP NOTCH unknown actors....NO MILEY CYRUS OR ZAC EFRON!!!!

By Tim Corbitt

They should make a version that is true to the original Broadway play. Get rid of the terrible songs that were added, like Grease is the wor, and Sandy, and You're the One That I want, and put back Magic Changes, and Alone at the Drive in Movie, and All Choked Up. Also, give Greased Lightning back to Kenicke, instead of Danny Zucko singing it. I saw the original Broadway Play in 1974, and I hate the movie version.

Thursday 17 June

By Michelle

Stop with the Grease 2 bashing...yes it was corny but I loved it.

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