Grease is the Word at the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre.

​I’m a firm believer that everyone has seen Grease at least once, or at least know one of the catchy songs from the 1978 classic. I mean, how many times have you heard a group belt out Summer Nights at a karaoke bar or have the popular Grease melody fill the dance floor at a wedding?
It’s one of those movies that stand the test of time! I was thrilled to become a Grease ambassador for the musical making its way into Toronto.  I was booked to see it on one of the early opening nights and soon found out a few other friends of mine snagged seats too! (Great minds think alike!) We booked a table a restaurant nearby to catch up before the show.

​I talked about how I used to watch this movie until the film strip on the VHS tape almost blurred. I would have dance parties with my friends in the basement. I longed to be a Pink Lady and loved how Rizzo didn’t take crap from anybody (but had a secret soft side!).
The thing I love about this musical is not only the perfect setting because how gorgeous is the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre!? (if you want to have some extra fun, be sure to come by early and enjoy the mini fairground set up by the merch table and bar area! What a great touch!) but just how much fun the audience had. I could see couples,mother and daughter dates and girl squads singing along in their seats.

Janel Parrish returns to play Sandy (a much different role than Mona from Pretty Little Liars) and I loved the casting for her. Sandy’s usually portrayed as an innocent, quiet blonde and it was a breath of fresh air to have Janel own the role!
Matthew Helfer, (Criminal Minds) who plays Danny Zuko, had an undeniable chemistry with our leading lady and tons of fun with the T-Birds. He may have had a few of us girls swooning in our seats!
My eyes were on Rizzo! She was always my favourite character so I may be a little biased, but Alicia Barbon who played her was such a song bird! She was hitting all the right notes and still keeping her tough demeanour. I loved the number “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” Who doesn’t love a strong female role?
The whole cast works perfectly together as a team and were totally high energy. The T Birds were goofballs and The Pink Ladies were sassing each other all night long. The song and dance numbers were so much fun to watch and leaves you wishing the songs would go on all night My friend Katie and I had a blast watching the gang bust out moves in their gymnasium to the hand jive. It was like a party! (People were LITERALLY screaming and wooing from the audience)

The play had a few of its very own songs worked in and wasn’t exactly like the movie, which I found to be a good thing. It kept my interest seeing new scenes being played out and really enjoyed Jan (Aisha Jarvis) belting out “It’s Raining On Prom Night.”

If you want to check out the second Toronto run of Grease (and at this point, why wouldn’t you!?) Jive your way over to GreaseOnStage.com to snag some seats. Prices range from $20-$169 and are selling fast! If you want to go with a group there is a special promo happening for June where you get 4 seats for the price of 3…and I love a good bargain ;) . Hurry though! Last day to see the play is on June 17th, 2018! You’ll be dancing in the aisles !
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