EPHRATA — The halls of Rydell High came roaring to life Thursday night as Ephrata High School kicked off opening night of “Grease: School Version” at the Ephrata High Performing Arts Center, a show bursting with energy, laughter and the kind of school‑spirit that would make even Danny Zuko crack a smile. 

The production marks the school’s first musical in years, and judging by the crowd’s reaction – cheering, clapping, and even singing along – the students’ hard work paid off. As of Friday morning, the show has sold 376 tickets for the opening week with 153 attendees opening night. The cast will return to the stage for four more performances on Feb. 13, 14, 20 and 21. 

“We did an amazing job for an opening night,” said Allison Moore, who plays Sandy Dumbrowski. “The crowd was amazing tonight… they reacted to everything, even things we didn’t think were funny. I didn’t see a frowning face in the crowd.” 

Director Marla Allsopp, herself a graduate of Ephrata High and former drama kid on the same stage, said seeing her students perform brought her to tears during final rehearsals. 

“I burst into tears over the last songs because I was just so proud of them,” she said. “Tonight, my cheeks hurt, because I could not stop smiling. They just had so much fun, and I could tell they were proud of themselves.” 

Allsopp said the cast poured in hundreds of hours; rehearsals six days a week, weekends spent building sets and running choreography, and countless hours students dedicated at home. 

“It was only a six‑week turnaround. They put in so much extra time,” she said. “Half of them had never even been in a play before. And none of them had been in a musical here. They’re just… good. That’s why people should come.” 

She added that the cast bonded deeply — “phones nowhere to be found” — and that theater helped quiet students step into themselves, just as it did for her as a teen. 

Backstage, Stage Manager Jordyn Dresser said opening night went far better than expected. 

“My favorite part is ‘Beauty School Dropout,’” she laughed. “But ‘Greased Lightning’ is a very close second. And yes — the car came to fruition. It’s a tight squeeze back there, so we may have put a few dents in it. But you can’t see them, so it’s fine.” 

The car, designed by Jeff Allsopp, drew cheers from the audience as it rolled onto the stage, a moment straight out of the movie, but kid‑friendly. 

That’s because the school is performing “Grease: School Version,” a licensed adaptation designed for younger audiences. 

“It takes out the drinking, smoking, language, and mature themes,” Allsopp said. “It’s wholesome. Parents don’t have to worry, but you still get the heart of the story — and all the fun references fans love.” 

Junior Nathan Wilkinson, who plays Teen Angel and Vince Fontaine, said stepping into the spotlight felt exhilarating. 

“It went a lot better than we were expecting,” he said. “I was really nervous, but once we were on stage, it was just so fun.” 

Wilkinson’s “Beauty School Dropout,” complete with silver curlers and heavenly lighting, earned loud applause. 

He hopes audiences will return for next week’s performances. 

“Lots of laughs, lots of fun music,” he said. “If you want something fun to do, come see us.” 

Allsopp emphasized that the production is funded entirely through ticket sales and local support. 

“We couldn’t do this without the community,” she said. “They come out, they spread the word, and they fill the seats. This is our way of giving something back.” 

Moore agreed, calling opening night “sweaty but amazing.” 

“We supported each other backstage the whole time,” she said. “There were hugs, prayers, pep talks… it felt like a family. And I think the crowd felt that too.” 

“Grease: School Version”
Ephrata High School Performing Arts Center
Feb. 20–21 

    The boys talk about what happened on those “Summer Nights” during the premiere of the EHS production of “Grease.”
  

    Marty (Cecilia Roth) snaps during the opening song of “Grease.”
  

    Camila Martinez plays Patty Simcox in “Grease.” Thursday was opening night with shows throughout the rest of the weekend and two additional shows on Feb. 20 and 21.
  

    The cast of Ephrata High School's “Grease” do the hand jive Thursday night.
  

    Allison Moore, who played Sandy, said opening night was “sweaty but fun.”
  

    Frenchy (Megan Truscott) had a ballad “Beauty School Dropout” sung to her by Teen Angel Nathan Wilkinson. Wilkinson said he may be biased but that’s his favorite part of the production.
  

    Danny Zuko (Ben McLain) rolls in on the full-sized car prop. Stage Manager Jordan Dresser said she was very proud of how the car turned out.
  

    As the 2026 Ephrata High School cast of “Grease” closed out opening night, they were met with cheering and clapping from the crowd.