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A close look at how many times each character speaks led to some interesting thoughts upon who the story belongs to overall or during any scene. This is not to say the characters with the most line had the most presence, but it’s just another tool we used to delve into the details of the play. The line counts are listed below in order of most to least:
DANNY – 88
RIZZO – 80
SANDY – 66
ROGER – 57
KENICKIE – 53
FRENCHY – 35
MARTY – 33
PATTY – 17
LYNCH – 4
CHA-CHA – 3
DANNY – 88
RIZZO – 80
SANDY – 66
ROGER – 57
KENICKIE – 53
FRENCHY – 35
MARTY – 33
PATTY – 17
LYNCH – 4
CHA-CHA – 3
Listed below are the songs from Grease including a breakdown of who is singing and the action that takes place just before and just after the song. This may help give one a feel of the moments in the play leading up to the musical numbers as a dramatic crescendo and the moments after that may have been impacted by the vocal performance of the characters:
“Grease is the Word”
Who is singing? ALL
What happened just before the song? A new day is beginning. Vince Fountane is on the radio.
What happens just after? Roger and Kenickie tell each other what they've been up to over the summer.
“Summer Nights”
Who is singing? ALL
What happened just before the song? The girls and boys are conversing about Sandy and Danny's summer fling.
What happens just after? The girls realize Danny is the boy from Sandy's story. Rizzo says he's no good.
“Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee”
Who is singing? Rizzo
What happened just before the song? Frenchy has taken Sandy into another room to pierce Sandy's ears.
What happens just after? A new scene. Roger and Danny in the garage, working on a car.
“Grease Lightning”
Who is singing? Danny and Kenickie
What happened just before the song? The boys were working on a car.
What happens just after? A new scene. Sandy and Danny are attempting to reconnect.
“Rydell Fight Song”
Who is singing? Patty and Sandy
What happened just before the song? Danny and Sandy were discussing Danny trying out for the track team.
What happens just after? A new scene. Vince announces on the radio the upcoming dance contest.
“It’s Raining on Prom Night”
Who is singing? Marty and Sandy
What happened just before the song? Vince (now in person) announces the start of the high school dance. He then begins hitting on underage girls.
What happened just after? Rizzo asks Danny to be her partner for the dance contest.
“Born to Hand Jive”
Who is singing? Vince
What happened just before the song? Vince explains the rules of the dance contest.
What happens just after? The winners of the dance contest (Danny and Cha-Cha) are announced.
“Hopelessly Devoted to You”
Who is singing? Sandy
What happened just before the song? Sandy has run off from the dance contest, upset with Danny.
What happens just after? Danny tries to apologize and make up with Sandy.
“Beauty School Dropout”
Who is singing? Teen Angel
What happened just before the song? Frenchy sadly contemplates her future.
What happens just after? A new scene. Drive-in movie where a hero is rescuing a damsel in distress.
“Sandy”
Who is singing? Danny
What happened just before the song? Sandy angrily leaves the drive-in after Danny tries to sexually assault her.
What happens just after? A new scene. Garage. The gang is discussing the last day of school and departing.
“There Are Worse Things I Could Do”
Who is singing? Rizzo
What happened just before the song? Rizzo and Sandy get in an argument.
What happens just after? Frenchy asks Sandy for help.
“You’re the One that I Want”
Who is singing? Danny and Sandy
What happened just before the song? Danny admires the way Sandy has conformed to chauvinistic American fashion.
What happens just after? The gang decides to hang out one more time.
“We Go Together”
Who is singing? ALL
What happened just before the song? The gang has gotten back together.
What happens just after? The play ends. In the movie version a car flies away as to symbolize white guilt rising above the mistreatment of the women and people color.
Who is singing? ALL
What happened just before the song? A new day is beginning. Vince Fountane is on the radio.
What happens just after? Roger and Kenickie tell each other what they've been up to over the summer.
“Summer Nights”
Who is singing? ALL
What happened just before the song? The girls and boys are conversing about Sandy and Danny's summer fling.
What happens just after? The girls realize Danny is the boy from Sandy's story. Rizzo says he's no good.
“Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee”
Who is singing? Rizzo
What happened just before the song? Frenchy has taken Sandy into another room to pierce Sandy's ears.
What happens just after? A new scene. Roger and Danny in the garage, working on a car.
“Grease Lightning”
Who is singing? Danny and Kenickie
What happened just before the song? The boys were working on a car.
What happens just after? A new scene. Sandy and Danny are attempting to reconnect.
“Rydell Fight Song”
Who is singing? Patty and Sandy
What happened just before the song? Danny and Sandy were discussing Danny trying out for the track team.
What happens just after? A new scene. Vince announces on the radio the upcoming dance contest.
“It’s Raining on Prom Night”
Who is singing? Marty and Sandy
What happened just before the song? Vince (now in person) announces the start of the high school dance. He then begins hitting on underage girls.
What happened just after? Rizzo asks Danny to be her partner for the dance contest.
“Born to Hand Jive”
Who is singing? Vince
What happened just before the song? Vince explains the rules of the dance contest.
What happens just after? The winners of the dance contest (Danny and Cha-Cha) are announced.
“Hopelessly Devoted to You”
Who is singing? Sandy
What happened just before the song? Sandy has run off from the dance contest, upset with Danny.
What happens just after? Danny tries to apologize and make up with Sandy.
“Beauty School Dropout”
Who is singing? Teen Angel
What happened just before the song? Frenchy sadly contemplates her future.
What happens just after? A new scene. Drive-in movie where a hero is rescuing a damsel in distress.
“Sandy”
Who is singing? Danny
What happened just before the song? Sandy angrily leaves the drive-in after Danny tries to sexually assault her.
What happens just after? A new scene. Garage. The gang is discussing the last day of school and departing.
“There Are Worse Things I Could Do”
Who is singing? Rizzo
What happened just before the song? Rizzo and Sandy get in an argument.
What happens just after? Frenchy asks Sandy for help.
“You’re the One that I Want”
Who is singing? Danny and Sandy
What happened just before the song? Danny admires the way Sandy has conformed to chauvinistic American fashion.
What happens just after? The gang decides to hang out one more time.
“We Go Together”
Who is singing? ALL
What happened just before the song? The gang has gotten back together.
What happens just after? The play ends. In the movie version a car flies away as to symbolize white guilt rising above the mistreatment of the women and people color.
***For an amazing article about an all-female cast production of Grease that was not allowed to come to fruition due to the threat of being sued for licensing reasons click here.