The glitter that made the world dance: Grease

In 1970, the story of Grease began with two unemployed actors, Kim Jacobs and Warren Casey, who wrote a show to make ends meet and recreate the emotions of their student life in the late 1950s.

John Travolta, barely seventeen years old, was already present in the role of Doody, the boy who idolizes Danny, and to get him to work, the producers were forced to also hire his sister Ellen for the chorus. The new show debuted on February 14, 1972, at the Eden Theatre in Chicago, a theater converted from a former bus depot.

The choice of title was certainly not random: “Grease” to evoke the 1950s style, with hair slicked back with plenty of pomade and the presence of greasy fast food. The musical is much more irreverent than the film in presenting youth slang without any sugar-coating.

The debut of “Grease” was received better by the public than by critics. The Tony Awards committee decreed that the show could not receive any nominations since the Eden Theatre was part of off-Broadway. The producers threatened legal action; thus “Grease” received seven Tony nominations and transferred to Broadway.

“Grease” became widely popular in the United States, and not a week went by without some high school staging a revival of the show.

And the musical was also hugely popular here, as was the film. I find it impossible not to start dancing as soon as the notes of “You’re the one that I want” begin. And that Olivia in black leather pants and cascading curls has remained in many hearts, I believe. Don’t you agree?