"GREASE" SETS YOU IN HAND JIVE HEAVEN

Relive the glory days of high school, courtesy of the Connecticut Cabaret Theatre of Berlin, as they roll out that perpetual, perennial favorite "Grease," with book, music and lyrics penned by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey.  Dig out your black leather jackets and poodle skirts and let the fun gang at Rydell High bring back memories of school proms, weekly infatuations, school rings and English lit exams.

Connecticut Cabaret Theatre is set to rock and roll and rumble weekends until March 23 as the slick, cool and cute Danny Zuko (Chris Pearson) unexpectedly reunites with his summertime romance, the sweet and naive Sandy Dumbrowski (Kaite Corda) in the halls of old Rydell.  Their bumpy relationship is complicated by his pals, the Thunderbirds (Kevin Ladd, Bobby Schultz, Jonathan Escobar and Chris Brooks) who razz him about his new girl while Sandy gets advice from the Pink Ladies (Carleigh Schultz, Sandra Lee, Melissa Ingrisano and Jessica Frye) who accuse her of being a Sandra Dee innocent.

All the angst of teenage years is explored as Sandy gets indoctrinated into the Pink Ladies, one of the T-Birds Kenickie gets a new used car "Greased Lightnin'," the local DJ Vince Fontaine (Bill Moskaluk) oversees the school hop with his lead singer Johnny Casino (Jeff Vega) serenading the couples, Danny ditching Sandy for the dance and taking a hot Cha-Cha DiGregorio (Nicole Ciriello) from a rival school and a Teen Angel (Joe Artuoro) singing encouragement to Frenchy when she flunks out of her beauty classes.  Authority is locked in the capable hands of Miss Lynch (Nancy Ferenc) while head cheerleader Patty Simcox (Chelsea Neville) practices her pom poms on the class nerd Eugene (James J. Moran).  Kris McMurray keeps a steady hand on the merry mayhem that ensues as this boisterous troupe of performers gives their all for the cause.  Musical director Pawel Jura keeps the hot tunes like "Summer Nights," "We Go Together," "There Are Worse Things I Can Do" and "Hopelessly Devoted To You" flowing like a champagne fountain.

For tickets ($30), call the Connecticut Cabaret Theatre, 31-33 Webster Square Road, Berlin at 860- 829-1248 or online at www.ctcabaret.com.
Performances are Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7:15 p.m.  Remember to bring goodies to share at your table or buy desserts at the concession stand.  Acting classes are now being offered at the cabaret's new studios next door.

Start practicing your great hand jive moves so you'll fit right in at the rock and roll hop with some of the coolest cats from the fifties.