IVINS — Grease cruised into Broadway in the Canyon this weekend as the third show of the summer outdoor repertory season. The creation of Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, Grease follows summer lovers Danny and Sandy who find themselves newly in the same school, Rydell High, and face all the pressure of their peers to maintain a certain social image. Tuacahn’s production is a hilarious summer romp that, with intelligent direction and creative performance choices, leans into the best interpretations of the character and story beats for a plot that hasn’t aged well. I had the opportunity to attend the preview night as a guest, and was stunned to find that Tuacahn caught greased lightning in a bottle and turned into an incredible night.
One of the challenges with Grease is the ultimate message often is that in order for a gal to get her guy, she needs to be willing to give up what makes her who she is. In Sandra’s case this includes her personality, style, and values. I was impressed by the direction of Aaron DeJesus and his team which leans away from this in thoughtful ways. Throughout the show, Danny has his characteristic and script demanded iciness towards Sandra despite their summer love. However, the ensemble worked hard to pull Danny in that direction and the social pressure felt like a meaningful factor in mitigating Danny’s immature choices.
Kyle Southern, playing Danny Zuko, helped this by letting his moments of ego flair be tinted with humor and insecurity. Southern found several nice moments to show that Danny was torn, and this landed well with the show’s ultimate conclusion.
Malia Monk plays Sandra Dumbrowski, and is charming, charismatic, and just the right amount of self-righteous to demonstrate that may need a little shake up. Monk’s beautiful and soulful voice made songs like “Hopelessly Devoted to You” emotionally powerful.
Southern and Monk have great chemistry with one another. Their romance from the beginning of “Summer Nights” through to the end has a good tension to it. Even when the characters were off-again, they have the kind of twin flame connection through stolen glances that demonstrates they still thought about each other constantly.
Julianne Roberts was a showstopper playing Rizzo. Not only does she exude venom with every line, but when she finally breaks down at the end of the play singing “There Are Worse Things I Could Do” she had full command of an audience of thousands. It was quiet in the summer air as she commanded the stage with the virtue of one who would not be judged. I’ve thought about that performance ever since. Stunning work.
This show was full of moments with the ensemble elevating the production. The Freshman class had fun transitions and danced at the high level of their professional castmates through the show. The entire mooning song sequence between Rump and Jan, played by Sittchai Chaiyahat and Mary Savocchia respectively, was hilarious. Their simpering banter made each line and gesture funnier than the last. Casey Lamont’s portrayal of Cha-Cha Digregorio dancing with Danny demonstrated breathtaking dancing ability and fluidity. Janna Cardia stole the show each time she appeared as Miss Lynch including jumping in on the “tell me more” sequences, and being a delightful menace throughout the play. Perhaps no one stole more, however, than Christian Tyler Dorey who opened the show, sang teen angel, and had some of the smoothest dancing I’ve ever seen on the Tuacahn stage – a truly high bar. Every time he was on stage, the show sparkled.
The singing from top to bottom was strong, and perfectly in sync with the live orchestra conducted by Christopher Babbage. The sound of the music was so clear throughout the show with the exception of a few mic drops that are common in previews as the last tech moments are still worked out. It was paired well with Candi Boyd’s high level, exciting to watch choreography. The show was an endlessly entertaining bop from start to finish.
Tuacahn continues to impress theatrically with their use of every kind of showmanship. Pristine classic cars drove through the stage transporting people in seamless scene changes. The iconic Greased Lightning car was a 1940’s Ford pickup that rolled on looking decidedly junky and had a fresh, fast transition into the gloriously customized dream car with flames and dual exhaust stacks.
The costume design work by Julie Thiry was immaculate. Grease has a distinct look straight out of the late fifties with turned up jeans and leather jackets for the men, and fit-and-flare day dresses with the iconic ‘Pink Ladies’ emblazoned jackets for the women of the clique. Throughout the play, the silhouettes worked. The costumes not only realized the visual story, but had some fun transitions such as pull aways for the jumpsuits in “Greased Lightin”. Additionally, they helped complete the story arc for Danny and Sandy. Complaints about the show tend to focus on Sandra’s changing entirely into the greaser grunge look for Danny without any sacrifice on his part. In this production, Danny’s wearing a track suit and letterman jacket by the end showing he’s making changes too. It was excellent work that adds immensely to how the story lands with a modern audience.
It’s almost inextricable to cite the work of Paul Black (scenic and lighting design) alongside Brad Peterson (Video Designer). Their designs worked in tandem so well. The use of various video and scenic elements to set the stage for Rydell High, the Palace, parks, and various scenes is so crisp and clean, and the transitions are incredibly clear.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about this production is that I wasn’t prepared to like it so much. Tuacahn artistic director Scott Anderson said, “Grease is one of our most requested shows every time we do a patron survey.” I – and I think many in my demographic – have a version of this story in High School Musical that lands more nostalgically. In this production, under the guidance of DeJesus and an inspired cast and crew, I can say that I didn’t walk away feeling that way. Instead, I had a blast. There was a ton to look at. The stage talent was beyond impressive. The music was fun, including an end of show audience sing along of “We Go Together” punctuated by fireworks at the end. The characters were complex, relatable, and enjoyable to watch. This was a show that I’d sock hop back to any time.
MORE INFO: GREASE is playing at Tuacahn Center for the Arts (1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins, UT 84738) in the outdoor Tuacahn Amphitheatre as part of Tuacahn’s 2026–27 Broadway season. Performances run on select evenings from July 10 through October 22, 2026. Curtain times vary throughout the season, generally moving earlier as the fall progresses. Tickets currently range from $53 to $177, depending on the performance date, seat location, and availability. For the complete schedule, current pricing, and official ticketing, visit the Tuacahn Center for the Arts website: https://tuacahn.org/
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