Grease Monkey

It’s almost unfair for any post-Travolta production of Grease to even exist in the world. Once someone takes over a character like Danny Zuko–flat, meatheaded at best–and turns him into a sex symbol for the ages, any subsequent portrayal that isn’t a spitting image of the original is going to seem a little bit sad. But the musical is so well known and the songs so well loved, productions low- and high-value just keep being churned out for a culture that loves remakes. But really, even if the new Broadway production of Grease is coming to a Bass Hall near you, why go instead of just renting the Olivia-Newton-John-Travolta version for far less cash? Because Taylor Hicks is in the new stage production omg omg omg! You know Hicks! He’s the salt-and-peppered unlikely 2006 winner of American Idol and will be appearing as Teen Angel. Grease runs this Tuesday through Sunday, September 1 to 6 at the Bass Performance Hall, 525 Commerce St. in Fort Worth. Tickets are $30 to $85 and showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with weekend matinees at 2 p.m. and a final 7 p.m. show on Sunday. Visit GreaseOnTour.com.

Sept. 1-6, 2009