I've seen plenty of stage versions of the Broadway musical "Grease."

And every time it comes to town, there's always a new headliner.

To date, actresses Cindy Williams, Brooke Shields, Rosie O'Donnell and Sally Struthers have all taken turns playing the main female leads, in addition to one frigid version I watched with Olympic ice skater Nancy Kerrigan doing an "on ice" version. (*groan*)

I've also watched Davy Jones and Frankie Avalon appear in versions.

Up next, Broadway In Chicago is bringing "Grease" back to Chicago next month Jan. 6 to 18 at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University for a limited engagement.

"American Idol" Season Five winner Taylor Hicks will star in the Avalon Teen Angel role.

And as a bonus, Allie Schulz, a contestant on NBC's "Grease: You're the One That I Want," (remember that ill-fated summer reality show from a couple years ago?) will star in the role of bad girl Rizzo.

After spending a hopelessly devoted summer with "new girl in town" Sandy Dumbrowski played by Emily Padgett in the role Olivia Newton-John made famous in the 1978 film, tough guy Danny Zuko played by Eric Schneider in the John Travolta film role, finds his world is thrown upside down when Sandy appears at Rydell High on the first day of school.

This new stage version of "Grease," will for the first time ever in a Broadway production, includes many of the original songs from the smash hit 1978 film including "Sandy," and the Academy Award-nominated song "Hopelessly Devoted to You."

The new version of the musical also includes the songs from the film adaptation, "Grease" and "You're the One That I Want," both of which were Number 1 hits on the Billboard Top 100 list.

But remember, long before this was a movie on the big screen, it first was a stage musical and all those original Jacobs/Casey songs made famous by the original stage production also will be included, such as "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightnin' " and "We Go Together."

This newest and latest stage production of "Grease" opened on Broadway on Aug. 19, 2007, and was born out of the NBC reality show I previously described, a weekly talent competition that drew 90 million viewers and allowed America to vote for its favorite contestants to play the lead roles of Sandy and Danny on Broadway.

The first stage incarnation of "Grease," which originated in Chicago and premiered at The Kingston Mines Theater in 1971, made its New York premiere off-Broadway at the Eden Theatre on Feb. 14, 1972.

Tickets now on sale are $26 to $85 at (312) 902-1400 or BroadwayInChicago.com.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

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